Noise is one of the biggest complaints in Irish homes and commercial buildings. If you have tried standard insulation and still hear everything through the walls, you need something heavier. Mass loaded vinyl Ireland suppliers like Acoustic Materials offer a professional-grade solution that actually works.
This guide covers what MLV is, where it works best, how to install it, and where to buy it in Ireland.
What Is Mass Loaded Vinyl?
Mass loaded vinyl (MLV) is a dense, flexible soundproofing barrier. It is thin but very heavy. That weight is what blocks sound.
Sound travels as a vibration. To stop it, you need a material with enough mass to absorb the energy before it passes through your wall, floor, or ceiling. MLV does this without adding bulk.
Unlike rigid materials like plywood or extra plasterboard, MLV is what engineers call “limp mass.” It does not vibrate or resonate. It just kills the sound wave on contact.
It comes in rolls and sheets. You can use it on walls, floors, ceilings, and around pipes or ductwork.
Why Mass Loaded Vinyl Outperforms Standard Insulation
Standard insulation like mineral wool is great at absorbing sound inside a cavity. But it does not block sound from passing through a structure. That is a different problem.
MLV adds blocking power. It is the difference between a door that muffles sound and a door that stops it.
Here is what makes it stand out:
Mass and flexibility together. A high Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating needs both. MLV gives you both in one thin layer.
Eco-friendly. AM’s EcoVinyl is made from 100% recycled and recyclable polymers, using byproducts from automotive manufacturing. No landfill waste.
LEED and BREEAM credits. If your project needs green building certification, EcoVinyl qualifies. The Irish Green Building Council lists LEED as one of the key certification routes for Irish commercial developments.
Safe indoors. EcoVinyl is VOC-compliant. No lead. Safe for use in homes, schools, and hospitals.
Best Uses for Mass Loaded Vinyl in Ireland
MLV works anywhere you need serious noise control. The most common applications in Ireland are:
Apartment walls and floors. Concrete frame apartments carry impact noise and airborne noise easily. MLV installed between layers of plasterboard stops both.
Home offices. If you are working from home and need call privacy, a single layer of MLV on a partition wall makes a real difference.
Home cinemas and recording studios. Bass frequencies are hard to block. MLV is one of the few materials that can handle low-frequency sound at a practical thickness.
Commercial offices. Speech privacy between meeting rooms and open-plan areas is a growing compliance requirement. MLV solves it without major structural work.
Retrofitting older buildings. You can install MLV over existing structures and cover it with fresh plasterboard. No need to strip walls back to the studs.
Pipes and ductwork. Wrap MLV around noisy pipes to reduce the sound of water or mechanical systems travelling through a building.
How to Install Mass Loaded Vinyl
Installation is straightforward but the details matter. Get them wrong and you leave gaps for sound to travel through.
Step 1: Fix it properly. On timber or metal studs, use wide-head screws or acoustic washers. MLV is heavy. Standard fixings will let it sag over time.
Step 2: Seal the joints. Overlap sheets by at least 50mm or butt them tight and seal with acoustic tape. Even a small gap will let sound through.
Step 3: Seal the perimeter. Run a bead of non-hardening acoustic sealant where the MLV meets the floor, ceiling, and side walls. This is the step most people skip. Do not skip it.
For best results, use MLV as part of a sandwich system. Install it between layers of plasterboard rather than leaving it exposed. This decouples the layers and maximises performance.
Which Size Should You Choose?
Acoustic Materials supply EcoVinyl in five formats:
| Option | Size | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Roll | 1000mm x 5000mm x 1.8mm | 3.5kg |
| Sheet | 1000mm x 1200mm x 1.8mm | 3.5kg |
| Sheet | 1000mm x 1200mm x 5mm | 10kg |
| Self-adhesive sheet | 1000mm x 1200mm x 1.8mm | 3.5kg |
| Self-adhesive sheet | 1000mm x 1200mm x 5mm | 10kg |
The 3.5kg options (5kg/m²) suit most residential and light commercial jobs. The 10kg sheets (10kg/m²) are for environments with heavy noise loads like plant rooms, music studios, or high-traffic commercial spaces.
The self-adhesive options are faster to install and worth the extra cost if you are fitting around complex shapes or awkward areas.
Shop Mass Loaded Vinyl at Acoustic Materials Ireland
Acoustic Materials are one of Ireland’s leading suppliers of professional soundproofing products. EcoVinyl is their own brand MLV, manufactured to a standard that qualifies for LEED and BREEAM green building credits.
Prices start from €27.06 inc. VAT. Free delivery on orders over €750. Click and collect also available.
View the full EcoVinyl range here.
If you are unsure which product is right for your project, contact the team directly on sales@acousticmaterials.ie or call +353 1 201 5746.
Related reading: Room Soundproofing 101: Techniques and Must-Have Products
