Acoustic Classroom Dividers: Reducing Noise Between Classes
When a teacher raises their voice in one room, students next door can hear it. This noise leakage makes it harder to listen and learn. Flexible and open-plan classrooms, which are becoming more common, make the problem larger.
Two different noise problems
Be clear which one you have.
- Noise passing between rooms. This needs sound insulation, a wall property measured as STC or Rw.
- Echo inside one room. This needs sound absorption, a surface property measured as NRC. Hard walls, floors and boards bounce sound around and make speech harder to follow.
What does BIOMEBOARD™ offer?
A tested 100 mm partition, with BIOMEBOARD™ on both sides of a 50 mm rockwool core, reached Rw 44 dB at CSIR National Physical Laboratory. That is about STC 44. This is the result for the wall as a whole, not for a single board. It also came from a small test sample, so a real wall will perform a little lower if gaps are left.
Is 44 enough for classrooms?
It is a decent starting level, but the right target depends on your school and the rules you follow. Some standards ask for similar or higher values between teaching rooms. Check with your acoustic consultant and the standard that applies to you.
What about echo?
A 30 mm board from the same material family scored an NRC of 0.22. That is low. So BIOMEBOARD™ does not fix echo. Use soft, absorbing finishes such as acoustic ceiling tiles and wall panels for that.
How to build a better divider
- Seal edges, joints and sockets.
- Run the wall up to the true ceiling.
- Avoid back-to-back openings.
- Add margin, because sound travels around walls.
Fire and finish
A 16 mm Type F BIOMEBOARD™ tested as fire class B-s1,d0. That applies to the board and not to the whole wall. The board's binder has no added formaldehyde, which suits classrooms.
Planning tips
- Decide which rooms need the quietest walls, such as music and exam rooms.
- Choose fixed walls where privacy matters most.
- Keep doors solid and sealed.
- Add soft finishes to cut echo.
Questions for your acoustic consultant
- What rating do the rules ask for between classrooms?
- Does the tested wall match our build?
- How will gaps and doors be handled?
FAQs
What blocks sound between classrooms?
A heavy, sealed wall with insulation inside.
What reduces echo in a classroom?
Absorbing surfaces, such as acoustic tiles and fabric panels.
Does BIOMEBOARD™ reduce echo?
Not much. Its absorption score was low.
Is Rw 44 good enough?
Check the target set by your consultant.
Can flexible partitions reach this?
Often not. Movable walls usually score lower than fixed ones.
Do flexible partitions block as much sound as fixed walls?
Usually less, because of the gaps and joints between panels.
Can carpets help?
They cut echo and footstep noise, but they do not stop sound passing through a wall.
Who sets the target rating?
Your acoustic consultant or the standard your school follows.
Need help planning dividers? Share your layout.