On the subject of acoustical foam

Lisa Lane-Collins

Lisa Lane-Collins

Sophomore
Dec 9, 2012
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16
Adelaide, Australia
I've recently been offered a space to turn into a control room (studio mixing) which has got myself and the people supplying the space talking about acoustic treatments. They were going to lather the walls in 50 cm deep acoustic foam from clark rubber. Just as well I got into a conversation with a colleague about acoustic treatments and clark rubber because it turns out it isn't fire retardant by default (can be on request but I've no idea if the foam quoted for would of been of the fire retardant variety).

So, in trying to prove or disprove the flamable foam theory, I stumbled upon this The Station Night Club Fire (GRAPHIC) - YouTube probably old news (Though I'm very surprised to find it happened in this century). Very very sobering. I've never given foam much thought, who would?! I can think of a few venues around town with a fair whack of foam installed, I know the installer for two of them, he would have used the right stuff, but so so easy for someone who doesn't know not to. (Now thoroughly put off of egg cartons as cheap acoustic treatment too).

Also made me think about how the fire escape at my main venue has been barricaded with a metal bar. Might ask them to Not do that.
 
Re: On the subject of acoustical foam

Fiberglass panels are not flammable-but you have to be sure to cover them with non flammable material. Often the covering costs more than the fiberglass.

Whatever route you go-be sure to make it THICK-don't get sucked into the thin material. For a little bit more money the control will be much lower in freq.

2" minimum (assuming 6lbs/cubic foot)-with 4" being better.

You can "cheat" a little bit by raising the panels an inch or two off the wall and get lower control for the same thickness panel.
 
Re: On the subject of acoustical foam

A perfect circle :-D

I think that door has been barricaded cos no one has considered the possibility that fires Can happen. Management is pretty agreeable, I'm sure they'll abandon it when I mention its short comings.
 
Re: On the subject of acoustical foam

Ivan Beaver said:
Fiberglass panels are not flammable-but you have to be sure to cover them with non flammable material. Often the covering costs more than the fiberglass.
Click to expand...
I thought the epoxy binder in fiberglass is flammable. May be fire resistant variants. but check the documentation.
Whatever route you go-be sure to make it THICK-don't get sucked into the thin material. For a little bit more money the control will be much lower in freq.

2" minimum (assuming 6lbs/cubic foot)-with 4" being better.

You can "cheat" a little bit by raising the panels an inch or two off the wall and get lower control for the same thickness panel.
Click to expand...

Do you homework, there is a lot of information published on the subject.

JR
 
Re: On the subject of acoustical foam

Lisa Lane-Collins said:
A perfect circle :-D

I think that door has been barricaded cos no one has considered the possibility that fires Can happen. Management is pretty agreeable, I'm sure they'll abandon it when I mention its short comings.
Click to expand...

If they balk, an anonymous call to your local jurisdiction's fire marshall to point it out should be all that is needed. Actually, make the call, and don't tell the owners, better if you were totally out of that loop.

Best regards,

John
 
Re: On the subject of acoustical foam

Gonna peruse that link in the morning, looks good.

Nah nah, the voice of reason was heard, common sense won over and the barricade is gone :-) Veering off topic but the venue in question hires PA off of me, they only opened recently and people keep coming in and offering to hook them up audiowise (even the owner of one of the biggest AV companies in town - after a I handed in a resume to him which mentioned this gig - how rude), they're so cool every time they say "no thanks, we're good". Employer/client loyalty, makes me feel warm and fuzzy :-D
 
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