Acoustic Louvers for Ventilation, Facades and Plant Rooms
An integrated acoustic test facility engineered for controlled free-field measurement, repeatable sound analysis, and precision validation.
What Is an Acoustic Louver?
An acoustic louver (or sound attenuating louver) is a ventilation component that lets air pass through an opening while blocking and absorbing noise. It works like a shallow, compact duct silencer, so it is used where a traditional duct silencer will not fit: building facades, wall openings, ventilation intakes and exhausts, plant rooms and data centers. It combines free airflow with sound attenuation in the depth of the wall opening itself.
How Acoustic Louvers Work
Acoustic louvers reduce noise while maintaining an open path for ventilation. As sound reaches the louver, the angled blades interrupt the direct line of sight between the source and receiver, forcing the sound field to follow a longer, indirect path through the blade channels.
Some of the sound is reflected by the blades, while the rest is absorbed by the porous acoustic core within the blades. The blade geometry is critical. It determines the acoustic path while maintaining sufficient airflow through the louver. Effective design balances noise reduction with airflow requirements, helping avoid excessive pressure drop.
Typical Acoustic Louver Structure
The diagram illustrates the basic operating principle of an acoustic louver. Incoming sound encounters a series of angled blades that block the direct acoustic path, while the open sections maintain airflow.
Our Acoustic Louvers
A comprehensive range of high-performance, non-combustible acoustic louver solutions designed for architectural, industrial, and environmental applications. Noishield™ and Slimshield™ acoustic louvers can be engineered with different acoustic ratings, louver depths, configurations, screening options, and finishes to meet project-specific requirements while maintaining effective airflow and ventilation.
Noishield™
Acoustic
Louvers
High-performance acoustic louvers with aerofoil-shaped blades, designed to reduce unwanted noise while maintaining airflow. Available in single- and double-banked configurations, with rugged construction, acoustic filling, and durable finishes for demanding applications.
Slimshield™
Acoustic
Louvers
Linear-blade acoustic louvers providing effective noise control with superior high-frequency performance. Available in multiple depths and modular sizes, they combine architectural consistency, airflow, acoustic filling, and durable construction where space or appearance is important.
Acoustic
Louvered
Doors
Noishield and Slimshield acoustic louvers can be supplied as doorsets where access is required. They provide controlled airflow and noise mitigation while integrating with louvered screens or functioning as standalone units.
Acoustic
Louver
Walls
Modular acoustic louvers can form rectilinear louver walls of almost any size, providing airflow while shielding unwanted noise. They can be installed as standalone screens around mechanical plant or integrated into walls and building façades.
Featured Product: IAC Acoustic Louvers
Noise-Lock is IAC's range of high-performance steel acoustic doors for situations where sound must be reliably contained, and where the door integrates into Moduline acoustic rooms, industrial noise enclosures, studios and existing walls.
Noishield™ and Slimshield™ Acoustic Louver Systems
- Rugged galvanized steel construction; stainless steel, aluminum and other materials are also available.
- Inert, vermin-proof, weather-rated, non-combustible acoustic fill.
- 3a — Noishield™: Aerofoil-shaped splitter blade for high noise reduction with low pressure drop; 3b — Slimshield™: Linear blade design optimized for compact applications and high-frequency acoustic performance.
- Perforated splitter underside maximizes sound absorption.
- Weather stop helps inhibit rain and snow entry.
- 6a — Noishield™: 305 mm (12 in.) single-banked or 610 mm (24 in.) double-banked configuration; 6b — Slimshield™: 101, 152 and 305 mm (4, 6 and 12 in.) single-banked configurations, with 610 mm (24 in.) double-banked configurations available.
- Available in a variety of durable finishes, including powder coat, mill-finish aluminum, anodized aluminum, galvanized steel and stainless steel.
- Modular sizing allows rectilinear acoustic louver screens to be assembled to almost any practical size.
- Louver blade orientation reduces horizontal sightlines while supporting acoustic attenuation and architectural integration.
- Bird screens are available in galvanized or stainless steel; insect screens can also be supplied.
Acoustic Attenuation with Efficient Airflow
IAC acoustic louvers are engineered to reduce airborne noise while maintaining the airflow required for ventilation, intake and exhaust applications. Aerodynamic blade profiles help balance acoustic attenuation with low pressure drop.
Noishield™ and Slimshield™ Louver Options
The Noishield™ and Slimshield™ ranges provide different blade profiles and depths for demanding acoustic and space requirements. Configurations can be selected for high noise reduction, compact installations and applications where high-frequency attenuation is important.
Acoustic Performance Across the IAC Louver Range
IAC acoustic louvers are laboratory tested for sound transmission loss and aerodynamic performance. The published octave-band data allows the louver configuration to be evaluated against the frequency spectrum of the noise source, while pressure-drop data supports ventilation and mechanical system design.
| Louver Model | Depth | Sound Transmission Loss, dB | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63 Hz | 125 Hz | 250 Hz | 500 Hz | 1 kHz | 2 kHz | 4 kHz | 8 kHz | ||
| Noishield™ Model R | 305 mm | 5 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 9 |
| Noishield™ Model 2R | 610 mm | 6 | 12 | 15 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 20 |
| Noishield™ Model LP | 305 mm | 4 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 6 |
| Noishield™ Model 2LP | 610 mm | 5 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 22 | 18 | 15 | 14 |
| Slimshield™ SL-100 | 100 mm | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
| Slimshield™ SL-150 | 152 mm | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 15 |
| Slimshield™ SL-300 | 300 mm | 6 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 13 |
| Slimshield™ SL-600 | 600 mm | 7 | 9 | 12 | 24 | 31 | 33 | 29 | 30 |
| Slimshield™ SL-V300L | 300 mm | — | 5 | 10 | 12 | 17 | 22 | 21 | 21 |
| Slimshield™ SL-V300S | 300 mm | — | 7 | 13 | 13 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 21 |
Sound transmission loss values are published octave-band laboratory data. Actual system performance depends on the complete installation, including opening geometry, source spectrum, airflow conditions, surrounding construction and installation details. Acoustic performance should therefore be evaluated as part of the complete noise-control system.
Weather Protection, Materials and Finishes
Acoustic louvers are designed for demanding indoor and outdoor environments, with rugged galvanized steel construction and options including stainless steel and aluminum. Weather stops help inhibit rain and snow entry, while durable finish options support long-term architectural and industrial use.
Modular Architectural Integration
Modular louver construction allows rectilinear acoustic screens to be assembled to almost any practical size. Blade orientation helps reduce horizontal sightlines while integrating acoustic treatment with building facades, mechanical systems and ventilation openings. Bird and insect screens are also available.
Engineering, Design and Installation of Acoustic Louvers
Typical details are shown below and certified dimension drawings are provided with each acoustic louvers. IAC Acoustics will supply all supporting steelwork if necessary. For large louver banks, IAC Acoustics will provide installation drawings and a full installation service if required.
Supported Installation Options of Acoustic Louvers
Explore the aerodynamic performance of each louver model, technical specifications, installation details, and available configurations in our brochure.
Related Case Studies
Explore how acoustic louvers are applied in real-world projects where noise control and airflow requirements must be addressed together.
- 2025
- Hamburg, Germany
- DACMA
- Marine & Offshore
Acoustic Louvers for Marine Direct Air Capture
Industrial Acoustic Enclosure Applications
Common applications for precise hemi free-field acoustic testing in controlled environments.
Ventilation & Fresh Air
Fresh Air Intakes
Acoustic louvers for fresh air intakes that maintain required airflow while shielding surrounding areas from unwanted noise.
Ventilation System Openings
Acoustic louver systems for ventilation openings where airflow must be maintained while reducing environmental noise transmission.
Building Façade Integration
Noishield™ and Slimshield™ louvers can be integrated into building façades while matching the overall scale and architectural appearance.
Architectural Louver Screens
Acoustic louver screens provide a high-performance noise control solution without requiring additional architectural cladding.
Mechanical Equipment
Mechanical Equipment Screens
Standalone acoustic louver screens for mechanical plant, allowing air to flow while shielding the surrounding environment from unwanted noise.
Equipment Penthouses
Acoustic louvers for equipment penthouses where ventilation and acoustic control are required within integrated mechanical plant areas.
Standalone Plant Screens
Modular acoustic louvers can be assembled into large standalone screens around mechanical plant and other noise-generating equipment.
Acoustic Louver Doors
Noishield™ and Slimshield™ louvers can be supplied as doorsets for access within louvered screens or as standalone units.
Process & Environmental Noise
Process Air Intakes
Acoustic louvers for process air intake applications where ventilation requirements must be combined with effective environmental noise control.
Environmental Noise Control
Acoustic louver solutions for reducing unwanted environmental noise in commercial, residential, and mixed-use areas.
Noise Barriers & Screens
Acoustic louver screens provide airflow while creating an effective barrier against unwanted noise from mechanical and process equipment.
Large Louvered Screens
Standard modular sizes allow acoustic louvers to be assembled into rectilinear screens and walls to suit a wide range of project sizes.
Cooling Towers & Large Systems
Cooling Tower Inlets
Acoustic louvers for cooling tower air inlets, providing acoustic shielding while maintaining the airflow required for operation.
Cooling Tower Exhausts
Acoustic louver solutions for cooling tower exhaust applications where unwanted environmental noise must be controlled.
Cooling Tower Screens
Acoustic louver screens can be used around cooling tower installations to provide noise control while preserving ventilation requirements.
Modular Louver Walls
Modular acoustic louvers can form rectilinear louver walls of almost any size for large-scale mechanical and ventilation applications.
Why Choose IAC for Acoustic Louvers?
IAC combines long-standing acoustic engineering experience, proprietary acoustic louvers technologies, standards-led design, and turnkey delivery for turn-key projects worldwide.
High-Performance Acoustic Control
Acoustic louvers block noise from fans, chillers, and other mechanical equipment without choking off airflow. Noishield™ and Slimshield™ cover a range of attenuation requirements, so you can match the louver to the job.
Engineered Louver Designs
Noishield™ uses an aerofoil-shaped splitter blade that cuts noise while keeping pressure drop low. Slimshield™ uses a linear blade that performs better at high frequencies.
Modular & Flexible Configuration
Standard modular sizes assemble into rectilinear louver walls of nearly any dimension. Single- and double-banked configurations let you scale performance to the application.
Standalone or Integrated
Install louvers as freestanding screens around mechanical plant, or build them into walls and façades. Either way, they provide acoustic shielding without separate architectural cladding.
Durable, Weather-Resistant Construction
Each louver is built with weather-rated, non-combustible acoustic fill. Choose galvanized steel, aluminum, or stainless steel, with a range of finishes for demanding environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you do not find the answer to your specific technical question here, please contact our engineering team directly.
Which types of acoustic louvers are available?
IAC Acoustics offers two principal acoustic louver designs: Noishield™, with an aerofoil-shaped blade, and Slimshield™, with a linear blade design. Both are available in multiple depths and single- or double-banked configurations
What is the difference between an acoustic louver and a standard louver?
An acoustic louver is designed to allow air to flow while shielding the surrounding environment from unwanted noise. IAC acoustic louvers combine airflow with acoustic absorption, sound transmission loss, and blade orientation that helps block the horizontal line of sight
What free area and pressure drop can be achieved?
Free area and pressure drop vary by louver model and face velocity. The brochure provides aerodynamic performance data for individual models, with nominal free area values shown up to 52% and Noishield™ aerofoil blades designed to provide maximum noise reduction with minimum pressure drop.
Which materials and finishes are available?
Acoustic louvers are available in galvanized mild steel, aluminum, and stainless steel, with finishes including polyester powder coating, vinyl-coated steel, Syntha Pulvin, and other options. Non-standard finishes can also be provided upon request.
Can acoustic louvers be supplied as doorsets?
Yes. Both Noishield™ and Slimshield™ acoustic louvers can be supplied as doorsets, either for incorporation into louvered screens or as standalone units where access is required.
Can acoustic louvers be customized for large installations?
Yes. Standard modular sizes allow IAC acoustic louvers to meet a wide range of performance requirements and be assembled into rectilinear louver walls of almost any size. Louvers can also be installed as standalone screens or integrated into walls and building façades.
Are acoustic louvers suitable for outdoor applications?
Yes. The systems use weather-rated, non-combustible acoustic filling, and a weather stop helps inhibit rain and snow entry. Bird guards and insect screens can also be supplied where required.
Does IAC provide installation and supporting steelwork?
Certified dimension drawings are provided with each acoustic louver, and IAC Acoustics can supply supporting steelwork when required. The brochure does not specifically state that a full installation service is included
Not sure which solution fits your requirements?
Our engineers will help you define the right acoustic solution based on your application, standards, and constraints.
CONTACT OUR EXPERTS