Glossary
Understanding Acoustic Terminology: The Ultimate Glossary for Noise Control & Soundproofing
When it comes to acoustic and thermal insulation, understanding the language is essential. Whether you’re an architect, engineer, contractor, or simply someone researching how to make a space quieter, this glossary of acoustic terms will help you navigate the world of noise control and soundproofing.
At Pyrotek, we work with advanced acoustic materials, noise barriers, and vibration damping technologies across diverse industries - from marine to building construction or industrial applications. Here’s a breakdown of the key terms to assist you.
Acoustic Terms
Absorption
The process of soaking up sound waves to reduce echo and noise. Materials like polyester panels or treated foams absorb sound, improving speech clarity in homes, studios, or commercial spaces.
Acoustics
The science of sound, how it travels, behaves is and is controlled in different environments.
Barrier
A material layer that blocks sound transmission. A sound barrier like our Wavebar range is dense and flexible, ideal for isolating noisy equipment or partitioning spaces.
Composites
Engineered materials combining multiple constituents to achieve desired acoustic and thermal properties.
Decoupling
Separating materials to stop vibration and sound transfer. Used in sound proofing walls and ceilings, decoupling improves effectiveness by minimizing contact paths for noise.
DNV (Det Norske Veritas)
An international classification society that certifies marine and offshore products. Many of Pyrotek’s marine insulation products are DNV-certified, ensuring they meet safety and performance standards.
Echo Reduction
Minimizing reflected sound waves in a room. Acoustic foams and panels are designed for echo reduction in high-traffic areas or large open spaces.
Foams
Lightweight materials used to absorb sound. Special acoustic foams help reduce echoes and background noise. Pyrotek offers engineered foams that are fire-resistant and non-toxic for a variety of applications.
Noise Barriers
Materials that block or attenuate sound transmission.
Reverberation
Echo or sound that reflects off hard surfaces and lingers in a space. Too much reverberation can make it hard to understand speech - acoustic absorbers help reduce this effect.
Sound Absorbers
Products designed to absorb sound energy, reducing reverberation and echo.
Soundproofing
Blocking sound from entering or leaving a space. Soundproofing a room involves using materials that isolate noise - preventing outside sound from getting in or inside noise from escaping.
Sound Proofing
A common alternative phrasing for soundproofing. Searches like “sound proofing a room” often refer to solutions involving barriers, insulation panels, or damping compounds.
Transmission Loss (TL)
The amount of sound energy that a material blocks. High transmission loss indicates good sound isolation. It's key in evaluating soundproofing materials and you can find this information in our Technical Data Sheets.
Vibration Damping / Vibration Control
Reducing mechanical vibrations to lower structure-borne noise. Damping compounds like Pyrotek’s Decidamp range are key in marine, transport, building and industrial acoustics.
Product-Related Terms
Anti-Condensation Coating
A treatment applied to surfaces to prevent moisture accumulation and subsequent corrosion.
Decicoat® T35
A spray-on thermal insulation coating with anti-condensation and corrosion protection properties.
Decicoat® P60
An intumescent fire protection coating that expands under heat to insulate substrates.
Decidamp® SP
A range of vibration damping compounds suitable for various applications.
Hydrophobic
Insulation materials that repel water, preventing moisture-related degradation.
Non-Wicking
Materials designed to resist absorbing moisture, maintaining their insulating properties even in humid conditions.
Quadzero®
A range of foil-faced, mass-loaded vinyl barriers providing both acoustic insulation and low flame spread.
Silentstep®
A high-density bonded foam underlay designed to reduce impact noise from floors.
Sorberfoam®
A product range based on the use of flexible, combustion-modified acoustic foam with high noise absorption across a broad frequency range.
Sorbermel®
A lightweight, open-cell melamine foam based product series with excellent acoustic and thermal properties.
Sorberpoly™
A range of non-woven polyester insulation products offering both sound absorption and thermal insulation.
Specialty Products
Custom or application-specific solutions for unique acoustic or thermal challenges
Subdue®
Multi-layered panels constructed from specialty plywood and viscoelastic layers for noise reduction.
Thermal and Fire Protection
Products designed to insulate against heat and prevent fire spread.
Wavebar®
A range of flexible, mass-loaded vinyl noise barriers offering high transmission loss.
Thermal & Fire Protection
Thermal Insulation
Materials or methods used to reduce heat transfer between objects or environments.
Intumescent Coating
A paint-like substance that expands when exposed to heat, forming an insulating barrier to protect underlying materials.