Silence is Golden: Why Acoustic Laminated Glass is Growing in Popularity

The 21st century is a louder place than ever. From more cars on the roads to building sites inside and outside towns and cities up and down the country, peace and quiet has become a bit of a commodity both in the office and at home. It’s perhaps no surprise then that acoustic laminated glass has seen an increase in popularity in recent years.

What is Acoustic Laminated Glass?

Also called noise reducing or noise control glass, acoustic laminated glass is a form of double glazed glass with a bonded internal layer between the panes. The layer absorbs sounds and vibrations, reducing the amount of noise passing through the window.

Ordinarily, the two (or three in the case of triple glazing) panes would be filled with argon, crypton, or in some cases xenon gas. While this is still effective, the molecular structure of the gases still allows sound to pass through. Acoustic glass instead features an acoustic PVB (Polyvinyl Butyral) membrane which bonds the panes together.

How Does Acoustic Laminated Glass Work

The sound or noise pollution is either reflected off the glass, or the PVB membrane absorbs the soundwaves. As a side note, all acoustic glass is laminated, but not all laminated glass is acoustic.

How effective a window is at absorbing sound is reliant on the thickness of the membrane. The thicker the membrane, the more effective the window would be. Thicker panes are especially effective in properties and businesses situated near airports or flight paths, train lines and motorways, but recently there has been an increase in acoustic glass being used in office partitions.

All glass has at least some kind of sound insulation properties, with even single pane glass reducing sound by around 25db compared with no glass at all. Standard gas filled double glazing improves this to 35db. The American Centre for Disease Control (CDC) lists city traffic at 85db. Acoustic glass has been shown to reduce noise by between 52-54db depending on if the glass is double or triple glazed. In effect, acoustic laminated glass can reduce traffic noise to what the CDC lists as a ticking watch at 20db.

What are the Benefits of Acoustic Glass?

As well as reducing noise pollution, acoustic glass by its design and construction is stronger and more durable than standard toughened glass. This thickness of acoustic glass and PVB interlayer allow the glass to withstand impact and penetration, making it an ideal choice for busy workplace and commercial spaces.

As with all laminated glass, acoustic glass is a type of safety glass. Again, the thicker the glass, the more durable it will be. The PVB membrane in Acoustic glass can also be an effective heat insulator, keeping noise out and heat in. We supply acoustic laminated glass in 10.8mm and 12.8mm thickness and can deliver to site, with dedicated service from purchase to delivery.