Glass
Acoustic glass
Acoustic glass is a laminated glass made with a sound-damping interlayer, often used with panes of different thickness in a sealed unit. It reduces outside noise more than standard glass of the same thickness, and is rated by its Rw figure in decibels under BS EN ISO 717-1.
Where does it work well?
Cafes, restaurants, offices and consulting rooms on busy roads or near railways, and shops with flats above, where traffic noise or sound carrying through the frontage is a bigger problem than heat or security.
Pros
- Reduces traffic noise
- Also gives laminated safety benefits
- Can be built into a sealed unit
Cons
- Priced above plain laminated glass
- Only works if frames and seals are airtight
- Less effect on low-frequency bass noise
How long does it last?
Typically as long as the sealed unit or pane it sits in, if the edges stay dry.
What should you check when buying?
Ask for the Rw rating of the glazing as built, not just one pane, and state what noise you are trying to reduce. Door gaps, trickle vents and poor seals all let sound through, so check the frame and seals as well.
Common questions
How much quieter will acoustic glass make my shop?
That depends on the noise and how airtight the frontage is, so no honest supplier can give a single figure. Rw ratings compare glass products in a laboratory, and gaps around doors often matter as much as the glass.
Is acoustic glass the same as double glazing?
No. Standard double glazing mainly insulates against heat. Acoustic glass uses a damping interlayer and often different pane thicknesses to reduce sound, and it can be built into a double-glazed unit to do both.