Secure a Recording Studio With Made To Measure Fire Doors

There are many environments in which soundproof doors are necessary or desirable – office environments where certain meetings and conversations need to be privately conducted, workshops where industrial work can generate excessive noise inhibiting other areas of the workplace, some educational establishments such as lecture theatres and classrooms where sound projected to an ‘audience’ needs to be contained within that room, and spaces where loud music can be contained, such as nightclubs, theatres, cinemas – and most obviously, recording studios! Here are some considerations when choosing soundproof doors for a recording studio environment:

Effective Soundproofing with made to measure doors

Generally, your acoustic doors will have a dual purpose – firstly, to keep the actual recording sound inside the studio without disturbing any neighbouring rooms and spaces and, secondly, to prevent any interference with the recording from noise outside of the studio. Studio recording time is often limited and expensive – you don’t want to discover background noise from outside when playing your session back!

What makes soundproof doors soundproof?

For a recording studio you need a door that is not just soundproofed, but also ensures the maximum sound performance that optimises the acoustics to the most effective levels – typically it is the low frequency sounds that need considering and reducing. Most acoustic door ratings are between 31 and 54 decibels.

Are Fire Doors the same as soundproof doors?

Can made-to-measure fire doors provide the soundproofing required? The short answer is, on their own, ‘No’ – sound reduction and control is a complicated issue – unlike other specialist doors, like fire doors, the highest rated door is not necessarily the best choice for you in a recording studio environment. Whilst fire doors have many of the attributes needed for noise reduction – typically made of thicker, more solid materials with sealed edges – acoustic door ratings are based on average noise reduction across an average range of frequencies, so it is important that the specific, relevant frequencies are established to make the most appropriate choice of soundproof door. There are also much less obvious factors to be considered, such as the room furniture and equipment, and how the diffusion and absorption of these features will affect the sound, along with the room dimensions and layout – all these factors will dictate exactly what is required from your bespoke acoustic studio doors.

Bespoke Design Acoustic Studio Doors

An acoustic studio doorset takes the soundproofing quality of a made-to-measure fire doorset but elevates it to a different, more effective level – they are specifically engineered for use in a recording environment – but the cost can be prohibitive! There are ‘additions’ you can make to a quality made-to-measure fire door set to enhance their acoustic performance – ensure that the fire doors are fitted with smoke seals, add some padding to the fire door’s interior and exterior (this will help absorb more sound), affix a door sweep and extra weatherstripping if there are any gaps, and place soundproof rugs on either side of the door.

Acoustic Fire-Rated Doors

In order to obtain the best solution for soundproof doors, that will also guarantee meeting any required safety aspects for your studio, is to install specifically manufactured acoustic fire-rated doorsets. Source an established and reputable fire door manufacturer that can supply and install soundproof doors with the appropriate dual certification for both noise control and fire safety – ideally providing acoustic studio doors that have been recognized with the industry symbol of excellence and quality by being Quiet Mark approved.