International School Kuala Lumpur

Project Overview

Project Overview

The International School Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) required a comprehensive acoustic isolation solution for their high school bandroom. Located within a busy campus environment, the bandroom sits adjacent to classrooms and administrative spaces where simultaneous activities take place throughout the school day. Brass, percussion, and amplified instruments generate sound pressure levels that can exceed 100 dB during ensemble rehearsals, making effective containment a priority to avoid disrupting lessons in neighbouring rooms.

Acoustic Challenges

The primary challenge centred on preventing airborne sound transmission through walls and the ceiling, both of which shared structural connections with adjacent occupied spaces. Standard plasterboard partitions offer limited isolation at low and mid frequencies — precisely the range where brass and percussion instruments produce the most energy. Structure-borne vibration presented an additional concern, as impact energy from drum kits and bass instruments can travel through rigid connections in metal stud framing, bypassing the mass of wall panels entirely.

Materials and Installation Approach

The wall and ceiling assemblies were treated with SG-DM102 Vibration Damping Mat applied directly to the existing structural surfaces. This 2 mm mat, formulated from fine iron powder, modified mineral powder, calcium carbonate, and PVC, adds critical mass loading and breaks the rigid coupling between the original structure and the new acoustic layer. SG-E17 Composite Sound Insulation Boards were then fixed over the damping mat layer. Each SG-E17 board uses an 8 + 2 + 8 mm configuration — two high-density Calcium Silicate layers sandwiching a 2 mm EPDM damping core — achieving a Weighted Sound Reduction Index of 33 dB (Rw). The boards were secured to metal stud framing using self-tapping screws, and all joints were sealed to eliminate flanking paths.

Pro370 Safe ‘n’ Silent was incorporated as an additional resilient layer within the wall assembly, further decoupling the insulation boards from the structural framework. Once the insulation system was complete, AcousPanel PET Fibre Acoustic Panels were installed on the interior surfaces to manage reverberation and echo within the room itself. These panels, made from high-density polyester fibre, target mid-to-high-frequency absorption and helped bring the room’s reverberation time into a range suitable for music rehearsal.

Results

Following installation, the bandroom achieved the target level of acoustic isolation from adjacent classrooms. Ensemble rehearsals, including full brass and percussion sections, could proceed at performance volume without generating complaints from neighbouring spaces. The interior acoustic treatment also improved clarity for both students and instructors, supporting more productive rehearsal sessions. The success of this project led directly to ISKL commissioning a second phase of work for the middle school bandroom.