Do-it-yourself advice: Making a machine or appliance quieter.

Step 1: A good housing

Place the noise source in a closed enclosure. This can be a carpentered enclosure made of a good, solid board (e.g. plywood), but it can also be an existing enclosure such as a kitchen cabinet or the cabinet around the sound source, such as a computer case. If an existing enclosure is made of a lighter material, you can add extra weight to it by using EASYmass. It is important that the source is shielded as much as possible and that seams and openings are sealed if possible. Keep in mind that the housing remains accessible and keep enough space around the sound source for steps 2 and 3.

Tip: is an existing housing made of steel or aluminium? Then use EASYdemp anti-drumming sheets to reinforce and reduce vibrations in the plate.

Step 2: Avoid a sound box

Sound waves produced by the source reflect off hard surfaces. The shorter the distance to these surfaces, e.g. in the enclosure mentioned in step 1, the greater the resonance box effect: sound waves reflecting inside the enclosure and therefore being amplified. Choose an absorption material on the inside of your enclosure to reduce the sound box effect. For these applications we recommend using EASYfoam FireSeal.

Tip: For a sound source with lower, humming tones, choose an absorption material with a thickness of 40 mm. When designing the enclosure, make sure there is enough room for such a thick absorption material.

Tip: In rooms where moisture or oil can escape, choose an absorption material with a top layer to protect the material.

Tip: every hollow space (e.g. also a cavity) is a potential sound absorber. Fill hollow spaces with EASYpol polyester wool.

Step 3: Cooling and ventilation

Always provide sufficient space around the noise source for cooling. A ventilation opening at the top of the enclosure is also recommended to remove warm rising air. Always use sufficient absorption material around the ventilation opening as mentioned in step 2.

Sample box

Order our sample box with 8 of our best-selling acoustic materials for making a sound source quieter.

Contents:

EASYpol polyester wool White - density 20 kg/m3, thickness 25 mm
EASYpol polyester wool Black - density 40 kg/m3, thickness 20 mm
EASYfoam Fireseal - fireproof and acoustic, self-adhesive backing
EASYfoam Fireseal HR - fireproof, acoustic and provided with a white protective top layer. CE Certificate for yacht building. Self-adhesive reverse side
EASYfoam PU - acoustic foam with protective, smooth black top layer and self-adhesive backing
EASYfoam AC2 - acoustic foam with extra resistant top layer, tested best by various industrial customers. Self-adhesive backing
EASYmass - very high specific weight, suitable for reinforcing existing constructions
EASYdemp - bituminous material with self-adhesive backing, reduces vibrations in metal plate parts