| Many cities and municipalities are looking for state of | | | | but we have found that in most instances the |
| the art soundproofing products and procedures for | | | | ½" America mat does the job. This foam mat |
| soundproofing a public, private, or and even home | | | | would be adhered directly to the walls and ceiling of |
| shooting ranges. The soundproofing materials used | | | | the range tunnel and in some cases it would even be |
| must be impervious to smoke and gunpowder | | | | adhered to the floor. This will provide complete |
| residue and must be resilient (able to take a round | | | | coverage thus forcing the sound to be absorbed into |
| without disintegrating) and easy to clean. Some folks | | | | the mat and with no way out it dissipates rapidly. |
| feel that convoluted foam mat (bedding or egg crate | | | | Major shooting ranges have used this foam mat even |
| foam) will work in such applications. This is a | | | | on outdoor ranges where the material is exposed to |
| completely wrong assumption because convoluted | | | | the elements. Now we really don't recommend direct |
| foam is an open celled foam and has no | | | | exposure of this material to the elements (especially |
| soundproofing qualities whatsoever. So how do you | | | | in the snow), but the feedback we have received in |
| get both absorption and sound blocking from one | | | | such applications has been favorable indeed. This |
| product, that is impervious to moisture and will stand | | | | material has been used in the cities of Boston, New |
| up the rigors of a live firing range? Many large cities | | | | York, Oceanside California, and Kansas City and all |
| have contacted me desperately looking for just such | | | | the feedback was positive. The thicker the foam, |
| a material and believe it or not we have exactly | | | | the better the results, but for a basic handgun range, |
| what they are looking for. It's the closed cell vinyl | | | | the ½" America mat should be sufficient. There |
| nitrile America mat and it has been used in many | | | | are many other applications for America mat, but one |
| different ranges throughout the country. It is | | | | of the most popular is for shooting ranges. It is a |
| extremely flame retardant and only absorbs water | | | | phenomenal product. There is now a new product |
| into the first 6% to 8% of the mat. We have found | | | | that is also used extensively in firing ranges and police |
| through real life experience that this absorbed | | | | training facilities. This new product is called Silent |
| moisture dissipates rapidly and never causes mold, | | | | panel. I will talk more about Silent panels in my next |
| mildew, or deterioration. America mat is both a | | | | article. Thanks for reading and learning about |
| blocker and absorber that is extremely resilient and | | | | soundproofing a firing range. For more information |
| versatile in the shooting environment. The mat comes | | | | about this and other soundproofing project go to my |
| in thick nesses of ¼" all the way up to 2" thick, | | | | blog at: This is Dr.Bob....Out!! |