Acoustic Insulation Market

Acoustic Insulation Market

The global acoustic insulation market is valued at USD 16.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 20.4 billion by 2029, growing at 4.8% cagr from 2024 to 2029.

Acoustic insulation is very crucial for dampening noise and enhancing acoustic comfort in residential, non-residential, and transportation sectors. This market is driven by several key factors such as rapid urbanization and the development of residential, commercial, and institutional buildings have increased the demand for effective sound insulation solutions. For instance, India’s building & construction industry is growing very rapidly to meet the demand the of growing population. It is estimated that the, India will reach a peak population of 1.64 billion people by 2048, with about more than 50% living in urban areas. This means that there will be an significant demand for sound insulation products. Between April 2000 and March 2024, the country had received USD 34 billion in foreign direct investment for construction purposes including 100% FDI through automatic route for urban infrastructure projects. Mean while, China is also investing heavily in infrastructure building, necessitating effective noise control solutions. Stringent regulatory standards worldwide mandate noise control measures in construction, , compelling builders to incorporate advanced sound insulation materials. Additionally, increasing awareness of the adverse effects of noise pollution on health and productivity has propelled the demand for quieter living and working environments.

Attractive Opportunities in the Acoustic Insulation Market

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Acoustic Insulation Market Dynamics

Driver: Rising health issues associated with noise pollution.

Noise pollution has interfered with the lives of persons right from the earliest stages of industrialization in the late 18th century. It is approved that prolonged exposure can cause various health effects, both physical and mental. The complications that stem from high noise levels include hypertension, heart attacks, and NIHL which originates from persistently high noise exposure. On its part, the World Health Organization states that noise levels above 55 decibels are hazardous to one’s cardiovascular health. The effect of noise pollution is on disruption of sleep hence resulting to more cases of insomnia, always feeling tired, and a suppressed immune system. Cognitively, the constant noise can elevate the stress and anxiety levels while the quality-of-life decreases. According to European Environment Agency (EEA) around 20% of Europe’s population is exposed to dangerous noise levels. Furthermore, according to recent EEA data, environmental noise causes 12,000 premature deaths and more than 48,000 new cases of ischemic heart disease annually. Furthermore, 6.5 million individuals experience severe sleep disturbances, and 22 million people experience chronic high discomfort.

In addition, it is anticipated that in 2020, airplane noise would cause 12,500 schoolchildren to experience reading impairments. Therefore, governments around the world are enforcing laws that restrict noise in order to address this issue. As a result, several industry participants are using more acoustic insulation materials, such as foamed plastics, glass wool, and stone wool, to lessen the negative consequences of noise pollution.

Restraint: Fluctuating raw materials cost.

The acoustic insulation industry heavily relies on various raw materials such as mineral wool, fiberglass, foam plastics (like polyurethane and polystyrene), synthetic fibers, and specialty chemicals. Most of these materials are either directly from crude oil or related products of crude oil. For instance, foam plastics applied in sound-absorbing materials and insulating boards are produced from petrochemicals, for example, polyols and diisocyanates which are obtained from crude oil. Hence, changes in the prices of crude oil affect the price of these raw materials directly. Crude oil prices affect the foam plastics and synthetic fiber manufacturing companies since the cost of production goes up. It also results in decisions to either incur higher costs, which could reduce profit margins, or to raise the prices to the end-users; which could slow down demand. Also, the fluctuating nature of crude oil prices has an impact on the supply chain of these materials, making them readily available yet expensive. Such disruptions may affect the flow of products which may in turn affect the project time-line and the satisfaction of the customers. Hence, the effects of crude oil prices volatility have to be controlled with adequate measures if sound acoustic insulation industry is to sustain its growth and competitiveness .

Opportunity: Aerogel, potential high-performance substitute for glass wool.

Glass wool is used across many industries, including home building and pipelines. However, there are concerns about health problems related to glass wool insulation, as these materials contain carcinogens. Aerogel can replace conventional insulation material, such as glass wool in the building and construction segment. It is one-third the size and weight of glass wool, but 37 times more efficient in terms of insulation. The insulating value of aerogel per inch is two to four times greater than that of glass wool or foam plastic. In terms of thickness, half an inch of aerogel provides the same amount of insulation as a 3-inch layer of glass wool, enabling space saving. These are also fire resistant. Since, aerogel is a better insulator than glass wool, it is an ideal substitute.

Aerogel has high performance, durability, and is easy to install and reinstall compared to other acoustic insulation materials. The only concerning factor of aerogel is its high cost. However, its cost is expected to decrease in the near future with various R&D activities being undertaken. Currently, aerogel is highly used in high-end applications, such as aerospace for insulation or collecting space particles and in critical chemical processes as a catalyst or adsorption agent. It is a new material in the insulation market, which is already flooded with well-established materials, such as rock wool, glass wool, or Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam and Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) foam. These materials have significant market share, good customer base, and are very cost effective. The manufacturing process of these materials is simpler than that of aerogel, which results in cost-effective mass production. With continued R&D activities, market players may be able to undertake cost-effective production of aerogel. This will provide opportunities for the market players in the acoustic insulation market.

Challenge: Proper disposable and recycling techniques required.

Proper disposal and recycling of glass wool is a major challenge for the glass wool manufacturers. Along with proper disposal techniques, protective clothing and masks are also required during the disposal of glass wool. Incentives, infrastructure, and market commitment are some of the factors, which need to be considered for developing advanced recycling and disposal technology and infrastructure for glass wool. Thus, the end-of-life of glass wool represents a major challenge to the building and construction industry as European regulations require solutions to correctly recycle and dispose these materials. Additionally, natural fiber materials, especially rock wool product waste, are non-biodegradable and are used as landfill. In order to utilize materials efficiently, the European Commission is taking necessary steps in the manufacturing process to minimize wastage and enable reuse for different purposes.

Acoustic Insulation Market: Ecosystem

Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, and MarketsandMarkets Analysis

"Transportation end-use industry type was the second largest segment for acoustic insulation market in 2023, in terms of value."

The transportation industry serves as a one of the major end-use sector for acoustic insulation, encompasssing various modes of transports such as automobiles, aircraft, trains, ships, and even off-road vehicles. Acoustic insulation plays a crucial role in this industry by mitigating noise and vibration, thereby enhancing passenger comfort, improving safety, and meeting regulatory standards. For instance, in automobiles, the sound insulating material is part of the interior of a car to help minimize the booming sound of the engine, the rumbling of the roads, and even the whistling of the wind to the comfort of the user. Likewise, noise control is quite vital in aircraft cabins to reduce the level of engine and airframe noise, creating a quiet and peaceful atmosphere for travelers and employees during their flight. In the railway area, sound absorption stops the noise that is produced by the trains and structures pertaining to railway, which minimize the level of disturbances that those using the rail and the neighbors who live close to the railway experience. Besides, in marine industry, the insulation products is applied in eliminating or minimizing of noise and vibrations from ship’s engines and equipment thus improving comfort to the crews and reducing noise levels in port regions and marine surroundings. Off-road vehicles also include sound insulation products to reduce noise from the engines, transmission as well as when travelling on rough terrains; this enhances the comfort of the operator and reduces noise pollution in open environments. There is a significant demand for acoustic insulation in transportation industry since there are strict regulations that have been developed to curb noise pollution as well as enhance the comfort of the passengers .

"Asia Pacific was the fastest growing market for acoustic insulation, in terms of value."

This market for acoustic insulation in the Asia-Pacific region is growing very fast because of several propelling factors. Globalization and development in the form of urbanization and industrialization in different areas like China, India, Japan, and Southeast Asian countries has increased making city density and noise levels from traffic and industries more. This growth has led to the need to enhance noise control in people’s living and working environment. Also, well-developed regulations, and building codes in terms of noise control are also driving the demand for acoustic insulation in the region. Authorities of these countries are paying more attention to environmental conservation and the wellbeing of people; they are implementing provisions on noise control measures whenever construction and rehabilitation are taking place. These regulatory measures provides favorable market position to the manufacturers and suppliers of acoustic insulation materials

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Acoustic Insulation Market Players

The key players in this market Saint Gobain (France), Knauf Insulation (US), Armacell International (Germany), Soprema (France), Rockwool (Denmark), Huntsman (US), Owens Corning (US), Kingspan Group (Ireland), BASF SE (Germany), and Johns Manville (US).

Acoustic Insulation Market Scope

This report categorizes the global Acoustic insulation market based on Material, End-use Industry and Region.

Based on the Material:

• Glass Wool
• Rock Wool
• Foamed Plastic
• Elastomeric Foam
• Others

Based on the end-use industry:

• Building & Construction
• Transportation
• Oil & Gas and Petrochemical
• Energy & Utilities
• Industrial & OEM

Based on the region:

• Asia Pacific
• Europe
• North America
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Recent Developments

• In January 2021, Armacell and smartMELAMINE, a joint venture of the German TITK Group and the Slovenian listed company Melamine d.d., announced their cooperation agreement. Armacell will specify and commercialize smartMELAMINE's non-wovens made from melamine resins. This material is an excellent thermal and acoustic insulator for the transportation industry, thus increasing the company’s presence in the automotive industry.
• In January 2020, Saint-Gobain acquired Sonex in Brazil, a company specialized in the manufacture and supply of acoustic ceiling systems, marketed in particular under the Sonex, Nexacustic, and Fiberwood brands. This acquisition strengthened the group’s position in Brazil.
• In August 2020, Armacell launched ArmaGel DT. ArmaGel product delivers good thermal and acoustic solutions to customers around the globe with an excellent quality/cost ratio.
• In March  2020, Rockwool International launched a dual-density insulation board designed to mask the insulation layer with a bonded fleece facing to create a crisp, dark aesthetic in open-joint facades.

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