Of all the markets for perforated metals, acoustical applications have seen the most dramatic growth in the last few decades. There is every reason to expect a further surge of growth in this area in the near future, to match that of the general economy. Much of the new growth in the acoustical market will come from original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and from architectural firms. OEM's will find that they must reduce the noise of their products to meet consumer demands, and the architects (including highway, airport, and rapid transit designers) are already designing noise control into their projects; these applications will proliferate as commercial building and government construction pick up.
In order to take full advantage of this potential market development, it is important to ensure that the designers of noise control applications give full consideration to the use of perforated materials, and to present a convincing argument that perforated materials are often the best alternative in noise control programs.
The best way of doing this is to present up-to-date, factual information on the acoustical applications of perforated materials and to illustrate these uses with enough practical examples to help specifiers gain a sense of confidence in recommending the right material for the right application, without feeling intimidated by the technical aspects of the design.
It is the purpose of this booklet to provide the necessary technical information in an easy-to-use style, and to provide helpful hints in the choice of perforated metals, so that professionals can recommend these materials to their clients with pride and confidence.
