Acoustic wall insulation helps reduce sound transfer through internal and external walls in both residential and commercial properties, in order to enrich modern living.

Sometimes referred to as ‘sound insulation’, it promotes comfort and privacy, protecting people from ‘outside-to-inside’ noise such as traffic and ‘inside-to-inside’ noise from neighbouring dwellings.  

In modern times, noise has come to be recognised as a ‘pollutant’ capable of causing psychological and other health effects1 – making sound absorbing insulation all the more important. Installing acoustic insulation can support your soundproofing strategy. Put simply, it adds mass which makes it more difficult for sound to pass through the structure.

The ROCKWOOL range features acoustic insulation suitable for applications including:

  • Partition walls – stud walls separating spaces within a property
  • Party walls – cavity walls, timber and metal framed walls, and linings on base walls; all of which offer protection between dwellings
  • Cladded and ETICS Façade – insulation installed in façade and external wall systems (ETICS)

This page will provide more information on acoustic wall insulation, guidance on using ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation and much more.

Acoustic Wall Insulation Products

How acoustic wall insulation contributes to a soundproofing solution

Correctly installing acoustic insulation in external and internal walls will help to trap vibrations and absorb unwanted sounds, significantly reducing the overall transmission of sound through the structure.

Different insulation materials offer different levels of acoustic performance – and some products offer wider benefits including thermal performance and fire resilience. The thickness or weight of acoustic insulation you need depends on the insulation material you choose and your performance requirements.

ROCKWOOL acoustic insulation solutions such as ROCKWOOL FLEXI® are available in thicknesses from 50mm to 180mm or higher, to suit all kinds of specifications and applications.

When researching acoustic insulation and soundproofing measures, you might also read about R-values and U-values. These both relate to thermal performance. R-value is the reciprocal of U-value, which means you should look out for high R-values and low U-values (the latter are more commonly used in relation to insulation). 

ROCKWOOL Acoustic Calculator

The factors affecting insulation thickness requirements include type of wall, surface area and the thickness of the cavity being insulated (in cavity wall applications).

There are also specific instructions for various wall constructions. With acoustic insulation for stud walls, measure the wall size for an indication of how much you need. When insulating a cavity wall, measure the gap and wall size for the best indication of how much insulation you need.

The ROCKWOOL Acoustic Calculator will help you to find the ideal product for your application, and show you the level of sound reduction you can achieve with different insulation thicknesses. Simply visit the tool, select your application and follow the on-screen prompts to get started:

Acoustic Calculator
By introducing sound-absorbing material to fill the cavity, it is possible to mitigate the effect of cavity resonance that badly affects the acoustic performance of the wall.

Riccardo Gandolfi

ROCKWOOL Group, Acoustic Knowledge Manager

Good Growth, Quiet Buildings Report

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1.2 MB

Good growth, Quiet Buildings Report

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11.2 MB

ROCKWOOL Red Book

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19.0 MB

Renovation Case Study Booklet

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4.4 MB

Sound Insulation Slab Datasheet

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609.0 KB

Rainscreen Acoustic Reference Guide

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580.4 KB

Flat Roof Acoustic Reference Guide

Download our guides

Financial support

Check the Energy Savings Trust website to see whether there are any financial support schemes available for acoustic wall insulation.

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FAQs

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