Wood Wool Boards

The material — what makes wood wool different

Wood wool boards are made by shredding softwood into long fibres, coating each fibre with mineral cement, pressing the whole mass into panels, and curing. The result is a rigid board with the acoustic performance of a fibrous absorber and the physical durability of a concrete panel.

Because the fibres are cement-bonded, they don't shed, aren't friable, don't attract moisture, and don't burn. In fact, they're rated non-combustible in most jurisdictions — a critical property for schools, cafeterias, corridors, and industrial spaces where fire code demands non-combustible finish materials.

Where wood wool earns its place

Schools and universities: classrooms, corridors, cafeterias, gymnasiums. The impact-tolerance is the killer feature — a stray football or a slammed door leaves no mark. Multiple Indian universities have wood wool from Acoustimart in their auditoriums and cafeteria ceilings.

Industrial spaces: warehouses, workshops, machinery halls. Wood wool absorbs the mid-range machinery noise that concrete walls reflect endlessly. The non-combustible rating is often the reason it wins over PET or foam alternatives.

Design-forward interiors: restaurants, retail, offices with exposed-brick or industrial aesthetic. The raw texture pairs beautifully with concrete, timber, and metal. Coloured wood wool boards are available for feature-wall installations.

Choosing thickness — 15 / 20 / 25 MM

15 MM is the default for standard classrooms and low-height corridors. Adequate mid-frequency absorption at reasonable weight.

20 MM steps up for cafeterias, medium-height gymnasiums, and hospitality ceilings. Better low-mid absorption; still manageable weight for overhead installation.

25 MM is the pick for high-ceiling auditoriums, industrial halls, and exposed-slab feature walls. Best broadband absorption across the range, at a weight that needs proper structural fixings for overhead work.

Installation — screws, spacers, and grip

Wood wool boards install with counter-sunk screws through the board face into the substrate. Use spacers to create a 25–50 mm air gap behind the board — this dramatically improves low-frequency absorption and matches the manufacturer-published NRC values (which are measured with the air gap).

Butt joints work fine without exposed trim. Mitered edges are possible for feature-wall applications where clean corners matter. For overhead installation, screws through into a batten-fixed to the joists is safest — direct-fix to gypsum boards is not recommended for the 20 mm and 25 mm variants.

Painting, colouring, and long-term maintenance

Standard wood wool ships in the natural cement-grey colour. It can be site-painted with breathable water-based paint — solvent-based paints will seal the pores and destroy the acoustic performance.

Coloured factory-finished boards are available on project-scale orders (4–6 week lead time). Colour matching to brand palettes is possible.

Maintenance is essentially zero — vacuum with a soft brush attachment every 3 months, and inspect fixings annually. Boards don't sag, warp, or discolour over their 25-year rated service life.

Wood wool vs PET — the quick decision guide

Choose wood wool when durability and fire rating matter most: schools, warehouses, industrial spaces, brutalist interiors, corridors.

Choose PET when colour flexibility and lightweight overhead installation matter most: offices, restaurants, hospitals, retail.

Many premium fit-outs use both — wood wool as a textural feature on primary walls, PET as ceiling clouds and secondary treatment. Send us the design brief; we'll flag the mix.