Acoustic Considerations When Designing a Gym

Gyms generate a lot of noise. We’re talking weights, treadmills, cable machines, shouting, grunting, music and so much more.

Without adequate effort to reduce noise – and especially its ability to travel and bounce around – gyms are not such a pleasant place to spend time, that is unless you have your earphones in or your headphones on.

Thankfully, there are a few things we can do to reduce noise levels in the gym and reduce noise transfer between areas of a gym:

Flooring

Flooring plays the most important role in reducing sound from deadlifts, power racks and dropped weights and plates. The right flooring can absorb impact and shock and reduce risk of injury to people on the gym floor.

We recommend rubber floor tiles which are easy to install. They are 30mm or 40mm thick and can be installed directly over a concrete or board subfloor. We also recommend a high-performance underlay to maximise acoustic performance.

Acoustic panels

Acoustic wall panels are foam panels that absorb and muffle sound. They are installed on walls with either adhesive or screws. The foam panels muffle sound on impact which stops it from bouncing around and amplifying.

Wall panels are available in a wide range of colours and finishes, such as wood, brick and metal finishes. They can also be textured. Acoustic panels work best in large gyms and they work especially well in warehouse conversions.

Acoustic panels (roof)

Depending on the type of ceiling you have in your gym, it may be compatible with acoustic roof panels. These can be glued to the existing roof or they can hang from the rafters. They do a great job at absorbing low frequency noise.

As with wall panels, ceiling panels are best in large spaces. They are widely used in sports halls and sports centres because they transform large open spaces. You can also use them in your gym to make it a quieter and more relaxing place.

Noise pollution

If your gym is located in close proximity to houses and other businesses, you’ll want to invest in double glazing and thick doors to prevent noise pollution. This will help prevent noise complaints, so you don’t get into bother.

Other tricks you can use to reduce noise pollution include: keeping gym entrance doors closed, installing air conditioning so you can keep windows closed, and investing in cavity wall insulation if you have hollow internal walls.