Boiler Room Sound Problem solved by soundproofing products and materials

Boiler Room Sound Problem
Boiler rooms create a lot of noise. They are not only the source of multiple noises but the rooms consist of walls and ceilings with hard surfaces. The noise generated by the boilers has no escape route and hence the sound waves will be just reflecting from one surface to another. As a result of these multiple reflections, the actual sound pressure built up in the room will exceed the sum total of the sound produced by the boiler and its parts. Therefore, what is needed for resolving the sound problem is a product that will effectively assist the present walls in preventing the sound from leaking out of the room and also will absorb the reverberation within the room.
How Sound is Blocked/Absorbed
The foremost among the very effective products for boiler room acoustic solution is the Melamine composite acoustical panel. This is manufactured from the very familiar acoustical foam that has Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) as the core. This is a technology developed as an alternative to lead. When sound waves encounter vinyl, which is a dense material, the vinyl is made to vibrate slightly. Sound energy is converted into heat energy. The sound thus gets blocked.
MLV panels possess an STC (sound transmission coefficient) rating of 27. This means that sound at 27 dB cannot pass through them. This is an average of low, middle, and high frequencies. But it must be remembered that at lower frequencies, sound can pass through almost any material. The foam on the surface of melamine composite panels is soft and helps to reduce the reverberation and echo in the room. The NRC (noise reduction coefficient) of MLV panels is .85 meaning that eighty-five percent of the sound will be absorbed. Melamine composite panels are available in thickness of 1.375 inches with an STC value of 27 and NRC 0.85 costing around $ 11.00 per square foot.
Other Products
Another panel that is worth considering for boiler room noise control is known as the sound silencer panel. This is made of polypropylene bead board. They are cheaper than the melamine composite panels but are not so effective. These panels are available in thickness of one inch and has STC rating of 9 and NRC 0.45 costing $4.50 per square foot. A 2 inch panel with STC of 13 and NRC 0.70 costs $6.50 per square foot.
Yet another choice for eliminating echo is a composite panel made of cotton as the base and aluminized mylar as a facing. It comes in thickness of 1 inch having NRC 0.90 and the STC 17. It costs $7.00 per square foot.
You may choose the best panel for your acoustic requirement. Of course, the budget for your project is the other deciding factor.