International School Kuala Lumpur

Project Overview

Project Overview

Following the successful acoustic treatment of the high school bandroom, the International School Kuala Lumpur engaged Sounds Good to deliver a matching solution for the middle school bandroom. The middle school music programme includes wind, string, and percussion sections, and the room needed to support rehearsal volumes without sound leakage affecting nearby classrooms and corridors. Because the school had already experienced the performance of the first installation, the specification process was straightforward, and the same proven material combination was selected for this phase.

Acoustic Challenges

The middle school bandroom shared many of the same structural conditions as its high school counterpart — lightweight partition walls and a ceiling slab with direct connections to occupied spaces above and alongside. Airborne sound from instruments, particularly snare drums, cymbals, and brass, needed to be contained within the room. Structure-borne vibration from percussion instruments on stands and from amplified bass frequencies also required attention, as these low-frequency signals pass through rigid wall and ceiling connections with minimal attenuation from conventional building materials.

Materials and Installation Approach

SG-DM102 Vibration Damping Mat was applied to the existing wall and ceiling substrates as the first treatment layer. At 2 mm thick and weighing 35 kg per 10 m roll, SG-DM102 provides significant mass loading that reduces resonance in the underlying structure. The mat was bonded directly to the concrete and plaster surfaces, creating a damping barrier before any framing was attached.

SG-E17 Composite Sound Insulation Boards were installed over the damping mat layer, mounted to metal stud framing with self-tapping screws. The SG-E17’s three-layer construction — 8 mm Calcium Silicate, 2 mm EPDM damping core, and 8 mm Calcium Silicate — delivers an STC 33 rating. The EPDM core converts vibrational energy into heat, disrupting sound transmission across a broad frequency range. Pro370 Safe ‘n’ Silent was integrated within the assembly to add resilient decoupling between the stud framework and the insulation layer.

AcousPanel polyester fibre panels were fitted to the interior wall surfaces after the insulation system was sealed. These formaldehyde-free, eco-friendly panels absorb mid-to-high-frequency reflections, reducing reverberation time within the room. The colour options available with AcousPanel allowed the school to select finishes that aligned with the interior design of the music department.

Results

The completed middle school bandroom met the same performance benchmarks established by the high school project. Teachers reported that rehearsals with full percussion and brass ensembles no longer produced audible disturbance in adjacent spaces. Internal acoustics were balanced for both instructional clarity and musical performance, giving the school a dedicated music facility that supports its curriculum without compromising the learning environment elsewhere on campus.