What usually goes wrong
- Music sounds harsh.
- Sales conversations are hard.
- The store feels empty and echoey.
The main noise sources are music, customers and staff. Sound bounces off hard walls, floors and ceilings, so it lingers and builds up. Absorbing panels soak up those reflections.
Where the panels go
- A branded print feature wall.
- Clouds over the checkout.
- Panels in the fitting room corridor.
Mistakes to avoid
- Treating acoustics only after fit-out.
- Panels that block merchandising walls.
Fire rating and codes
Mercantile occupancy: Class A finishes in exits; check local rules for suspended products.
Blocking sound between rooms
Panels make a room sound better, but they don’t stop sound passing through a wall. For that you need a wall assembly rated around STC 45, for fitting rooms and offices. Read about STC ratings and soundproofing.
Recommended
Panels that suit stores
Learning center
14 guides for stores
Acoustic panels for stores: the complete guideWhat makes stores noisy, which panels fix it, and how to plan treatment from start to finish.How many acoustic panels does a retail store and showroom need?A worked Sabine calculation for a typical store, with panel counts for small, typical and large rooms.Where to put acoustic panels in a retail store and showroomWhere panels do the most good in stores, in priority order.Wall acoustics for storesHow walls behave acoustically in stores and how to treat them with panels.Ceiling acoustics for storesClouds, baffles and ceiling tiles for stores, and how much of the ceiling to cover.Choosing panel thickness for a retail store and showroom1, 2 or 4 inches: which thickness suits stores and why.Reverberation time targets for storesThe reverberation time to aim for in stores, and why it matters.What acoustic treatment costs for a retail store and showroomBudget estimates for treating a typical store, and where the money goes.Fabrics, colors and shapes for storesFabric types, colors and shapes that work in stores.Fire ratings and code requirements for panels in storesFire ratings, occupancy rules and mounting requirements for panels in stores.Installing acoustic panels in a retail store and showroomTools, hardware and step-by-step installation for panels in stores.Common acoustic mistakes in storesThe errors we see most often in stores, and how to avoid them.Soundproofing and STC ratings for storesWhen stores need soundproofing, which STC rating to aim for, and how to get there.Retail store and showroom acoustics checklist and FAQA one-page checklist and answers to common questions about store acoustics.