Thermal Blanket vs. Acoustic Blanket Solutions

HVAC, ancillary building system equipment and aircraft components all generate large amounts of both sound and heat. If they are not properly controlled, both of these conditions can greatly disturb the comfort, productivity and safety of building occupants. What is the solution? Acoustic blanket and thermal blanket systems.
In this article, we’ll dive deeper into both thermal and acoustic insulation, looking at the benefits, features and applications of each system.

Acoustic Blanket Systems

Acoustic blankets are designed to reduce the noise emitted by the operation or use of industrial equipment. Industrial insulation blankets are easy to install or uninstall, making them ideal for the occasional use of noisy equipment or for permanent installation.

Acoustic insulating materials in the workplace provide sound absorption and protect employees from the harmful effects of high noise levels. For the same reason, they are also effective for use on airplanes to keep passengers comfortable.

Occupational noise pollution can cause hearing loss, create stress and reduce productivity, according to OSHA.

Thermal Blanket Systems

Thermal insulation blankets significantly reduce the heat losses associated with normal use of appliances or machines. The savings in energy costs are so great that they typically pay for themselves in just a few months.

Properly installing thermal blankets can increase the life of your equipment by reducing condensation, which decreases the risk of corrosion. In addition, thermal blankets also provide much-needed protection on airplanes to keep passengers from experiencing extreme temperature shifts.

The Most Common Application for Thermal and Acoustic Insulation

One of the most common applications for both thermal blankets and acoustic blankets is in aircraft insulation. Controlling the environment inside an aircraft allows passengers to ride in comfort and the crew to safely guide the plane to its destination. The outside of an airplane can get as hot as 160 degrees when parked in direct sunlight and as cold as -60 degrees when in flight at high altitudes. Also, the aircraft’s engine generates an enormous amount of noise which would cause discomfort for both passengers and crew if the plane is not properly insulated.

Because of this, the government requires both thermal and acoustic insulation for nearly all commercial aircraft. These materials ensure that changes in external temperature won’t affect the passengers’ comfort level and that the excessive noise generated by the aircraft does not disrupt communication for passengers or crew.

All aircraft insulation is thermally insulating to some degree, and the flammability requirements may vary depending on where it is being installed in the aircraft. Duracote’s insulation materials meet either the vertical burn, FAR25.853(a), or radiant panel, FAR25.856(a), requirements.

Duracote Provides Thermal Blanket and Acoustic Blanket Solutions

Duracote offers both thermal and sound insulation products for your business and industrial needs.

Dura-Trim Thermal Insulation

Dura-Trim is the leader in aviation fire safety. Dura-Trim thermal insulation blankets and materials provide increased fire safety and lighter weight than most similar products. Dura-Trim is our complete line of proven fire-protective materials manufactured to Boeing, Lockheed and military specifications — meeting the flammability requirements of either FAR 25.853(a) or FAR 25.856(a). Materials engineered using our Dura-Trim technology typically combine flexible PVC covers with woven fiberglass reinforcements and a range of proprietary coatings for a high-temperature, flame-resistant, flexible polymer solution. This combination of materials provides fire barrier properties and offers exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and dimensional stability.

Dura-Sonic Acoustic Insulation

Dura-Sonic aviation noise reduction material and industrial sound attenuation material includes mass-loaded vinyls designed for use in insulation blankets. These thermal and acoustic insulation blankets optimize performance in noise reduction and advanced fire safety, meeting the vertical burn, FAR25.853(a), and/or radiant panel, FAR25.856(a) requirements. We manufacture these materials to the specifications of Boeing, Lockheed, Bombardier, Embraer and military aircraft, while also serving the MRO aftermarket.

Our sound control solutions are designed from a system of flexible polymer barriers — with and without sound absorbers, such as foams, non-wovens and fiberglass. They can be designed to function as:

Barrier curtains or partitions
Composite barrier/absorber
Vibration damping component

Provide Better Protection with Duracote Thermal and Acoustic Insulation

Duracote’s fire retardant materials were engineered to meet the growing demand for increased fire safety performance, lighter weight and regulatory compliance. Our product lines have passed either the FAR 25.853(a) and FAR 25.856(a) tests, which is just one of the reasons Duracote products are widely used for aircraft insulation, headliners, decorative trim, curtains and flooring.

Browse our full line of high-performing thermal blankets and acoustic blankets specially engineered for safe aircraft interiors and industrial applications. Have a question or need more information? Reach out to our customer service team today.