Louvered absorptive panel
A perforated metal face over a sound-absorbing core. The most common choice for highways and railways — it cuts reflected noise and meets typical traffic attenuation targets.
Panel construction, acoustic ratings and post systems for metal noise barriers used along highways, railways and industrial boundaries. Compiled from our standard supply envelope, in-house quality controls and typical traffic-noise design practice.
A noise barrier reduces sound by blocking the direct line of sight between a source (traffic, rail, plant equipment) and a receiver (residences, schools, offices). The two physical levers are mass — a heavier panel transmits less sound (the mass law) — and absorption — a perforated, absorptive face stops sound reflecting back across the road and reduces reverberation at the barrier itself.
Most of our barriers are built from galvanized steel sheet or aluminium alloy, formed into louvered or micro-perforated panels with a sound-absorbing core (mineral wool or fibre composite). For corrosive, coastal or wash-down environments, stainless steel or an upgraded coating system is specified. Where sightlines and daylight matter — urban roads, bridge decks, residential frontages — transparent polycarbonate (PC) or PMMA modules share the same post system and stack into one continuous wall.
Once you have fixed the acoustic target and panel type, see the noise barrier product page for our standard supply envelope, MOQ and lead times.
Pick the face and core that match your site — absorptive panels for traffic, transparent for sightlines, reflective for budget industrial screening.
A perforated metal face over a sound-absorbing core. The most common choice for highways and railways — it cuts reflected noise and meets typical traffic attenuation targets.
Finer perforations deliver a higher NRC with a cleaner architectural look. Preferred for urban roads, bridges and prestige frontages where appearance matters.
Polycarbonate or acrylic modules preserve sightlines and daylight. Stacked with metal panels on the same post system for continuous walls along sensitive frontages.
No absorptive core — sound is reflected back to the source side. A cost-effective option for industrial plant boundaries where reflected noise is acceptable.
Parameter ranges for standard noise barrier configurations. Custom specifications available on request.
| Parameter | Standard range |
|---|---|
| Panel type | Louvered / Micro-perforated / Transparent / Full-metal reflective |
| Material | Galvanized steel sheet, Aluminium alloy (Stainless optional) |
| Sheet thickness | 0.8 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.5 mm (customizable) |
| Panel height | 1.0 m – 6.0 m (modular sections) |
| Panel length | 1.96 m, 2.46 m, 3.0 m (customizable) |
| Surface treatment | Hot-dip galvanized, Electrostatic powder coated |
| Color | RAL system (grey, green, blue, white, etc.), customizable |
| Acoustic performance | NRC 0.80 – 0.95; Sound Reduction Index STC 25 – 35 dB (by design & installation) |
| Absorptive core | Mineral wool / fibre composite (non-combustible grade) |
| Post system | H-section steel post, 2.0 – 4.0 m spacing |
| Wind load | Rated per project wind zone; foundation sized accordingly |
| Quality control | In-house per-order inspection; third-party on request |
Acoustic values are typical for the stated constructions; final attenuation depends on barrier height, position relative to source and receiver, and installation quality. A project acoustic report should confirm the required STC / insert-loss target.
Five steps from acoustic target to a quotable bill of materials.
Start from the project's required insert loss (dB). This sets the STC the panel must deliver and frames how much height and mass you need.
Highway / railway → louvered or micro-perforated absorptive. Urban sightline → transparent (PC/PMMA). Industrial boundary where reflection is acceptable → full-metal reflective.
Modular from 1.0 m to 6.0 m. Remember the line-of-sight principle: the barrier must break the direct source–receiver path. Standard module lengths are 1.96 / 2.46 / 3.0 m.
Galvanized steel for general service, aluminium for lighter weight / corrosion resistance, stainless for aggressive environments. Finish in any RAL colour via powder coating.
H-steel posts at 2.0 – 4.0 m spacing, set into concrete foundations sized from the local wind zone. We supply panels, posts and drawings; the contractor handles foundations and erection.
Zhaobang Metal manufactures and inspects to the following internationally recognized standards. Links open the issuing organization's official page.
Technical questions about specifying metal noise barriers.
STC (Sound Transmission Class) measures how much sound a panel blocks from passing through it — important when noise must not reach the receiver side. NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) measures how much sound a perforated, absorptive face soaks up on the source side, reducing reflection and reverberation. A good traffic barrier combines a high-NRC absorptive face with enough mass to deliver a useful STC. Our standard panels reach NRC 0.80–0.95 and STC 25–35 dB depending on construction.
Height drives attenuation through the line-of-sight principle: the barrier must break the direct path between the noise source and the receiver. Our panels are modular from 1.0 m up to 6.0 m. As a rule of thumb, each additional metre of height close to the source or receiver adds roughly 1.5 dB, but returns diminish above about 4–5 m, so extending height alone is rarely the most cost-effective fix — panel mass and absorptive treatment matter as much. Final height should follow the project's acoustic design report.
Yes. Transparent sections use polycarbonate (PC) or PMMA acrylic and are commonly combined with metal panels where sightlines, lighting or aesthetics matter — for example along urban roads, bridge decks and residential frontages. The transparent and metal modules share the same post system so they stack into one continuous wall. PC is impact-rated (shatter-resistant) and UV-stabilised for outdoor service.
Panels are fixed between H-section steel posts. Standard post spacing is 2.0 m to 4.0 m depending on panel length (1.96 m / 2.46 m / 3.0 m) and local wind-load requirements. Posts are set into cast-in-place concrete foundations sized from the site's wind load and soil conditions. We supply the panels and posts with detailing drawings; foundation and on-site construction are handled by the local contractor.
No. Zhaobang Metal is a direct manufacturer supplying barrier panels, posts and fixing accessories for global export. We provide material supply, export packaging, shop drawings and installation guidance documents, but we do not dispatch on-site construction teams. Installation is performed by the project's local contractor or EPC.