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