Class 0 Acoustic Foam for Shop Fitting & Construction Projects
If you’re fitting out a shop, bar, office or commercial space, the foam you use often needs to do two jobs at once: control acoustics and meet fire safety standards. Our Fireseal Class 0 acoustic foam is built for exactly that, and this guide covers the fire test standards it meets, how its acoustic performance changes with thickness, and where it’s typically used.
- Fireseal has a Class 0 fire rating, the highest level of fire resistance available for a flexible acoustic foam, tested to BS 476 Part 6 & 7, EN 13501-1 and UL94.
- Acoustic performance scales with thickness: a 12mm sheet absorbs around 27% of sound wave energy (NRC 0.27), a 50mm sheet around 67% (NRC 0.67).
- Available as flat sheets (10mm to 50mm) or as self-adhesive Class 0 tiles (300mm x 300mm, 50mm thick) for faster wall and ceiling application.
- Commonly specified for retail shops, bars and restaurants, offices, hotels, gyms, generator rooms and ductwork.
- For general fire retardant foam and CMHR foam covering the UK Furniture & Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations, see our fire retardant foam guide.
Why Acoustic Foam Matters in Shop Fitting & Construction
Retail, hospitality and office spaces are usually hard-surfaced by design, tiled floors, glass frontages, plasterboard, which means sound reflects rather than absorbs. That makes background noise, echo and poor speech clarity a common problem in a new fit-out. On top of that, any material fixed to a wall, ceiling or ductwork in a commercial building needs to meet fire safety standards before it can be specified. Fireseal is designed to handle both requirements in one product, so it doesn’t need to be treated as a separate acoustic layer and a separate fire safety layer.
Fireseal Class 0 Acoustic Foam: Fire Performance
Fireseal is a Class 0 foam, the highest level of fire resistance given to any flexible acoustic foam product. It’s tested and certified against the following standards.
| Standard | Result |
|---|---|
| BS 476 Part 6 (Fire Propagation Index) | <12 (over 6mm thickness) |
| BS 476 Part 7 (Surface Spread of Flame) | Class 1 |
| Building Regulations Paragraph A13(b) | Class 0 |
| EN 13501-1 (Euro Class) | B-s1, d0 |
| UL94 | 94-V-0 |
| ASTM E84-09 (Surface Burning Characteristics) | Flame Spread Index 10, Smoke Developed Index 20 |
| ASTM C1071-05 (Air Erosion Resistance) | Pass, does not shred or dust in high-velocity airflow |
| ASTM D-2020-92 & ASTM G21-96 (Mildew & Fungus Resistance) | Does not support growth |
Fireseal is dark grey, impregnated PU foam with a density above 90kg/m³, rated for an operating temperature of -30°C to 100°C. It’s sold as flat sheets measuring 200 x 100cm, in thicknesses of 10mm, 12mm, 25mm or 50mm, with self-adhesive backing available in 25mm and 50mm. Prices start from £33.99. See the full range on the Class 0 foam page.
Acoustic Performance by Thickness
As with most acoustic foam, sound absorption improves with thickness. Here’s Fireseal’s NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) at two common thicknesses:
| Thickness | NRC |
|---|---|
| 12mm | 0.27 (absorbs around 27% of sound wave energy) |
| 50mm | 0.67 (absorbs around 67% of sound wave energy) |
NRC is measured on a scale from 0.0 to 1.0. The higher the number, the more sound wave energy the foam absorbs rather than reflects.
Fireseal’s sound absorption coefficient (αw) is also tested at three thicknesses:
| Thickness | Sound absorption coefficient (αw) |
|---|---|
| 12mm | 0.30 |
| 25mm | 0.45 |
| 75mm | 0.75 |
Class 0 Acoustic Foam Tiles
If you need a faster install than cutting sheet foam to size, we also stock self-adhesive Class 0 acoustic tiles. Unlike Fireseal’s dark grey sheets, these tiles are black and wedge-profiled, with a self-adhesive backing for quick application to walls and ceilings.
- Each tile measures 300mm x 300mm and is 50mm thick
- Sold in packs of 24, 48 or 72 tiles, from £99.00
- Same Class 0 fire rating: BS 476 Part 6 & 7, EN ISO 13501-1+A1 and NF P 92-501 (M1)
- Precision CNC cut for a consistent finish
- Peel-and-stick application, no separate adhesive needed
See full details and pack sizes on the Class 0 acoustic tiles page.
Where Fireseal & Class 0 Foam Are Used
Fireseal and our Class 0 tiles are specified across a wide range of commercial, retail and industrial settings, including:
- Retail shops, showrooms and shop fit-outs
- Bars, restaurants, pubs, clubs and cafes
- Office buildings and hotels
- Gyms, recording studios and home offices
- Generator rooms, ductwork, compressors and air handlers
- Factories and workshops
Because it’s Class 0 rated, Fireseal is also used in higher-hazard settings such as oil rigs and generator rooms, where fire safety requirements are stricter still.
Foam for Shop & Window Displays
Beyond acoustic and fire-rated foam, we also cut foam to shape for shop and window displays. If you need pieces cut to a specific size or shape for a retail display, whether that’s in a shop window or elsewhere in-store, our foam cutters and CNC machinery can produce practically any shape you need. Get in touch with your requirements and we’ll advise on the right material.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Class 0 foam?
Class 0 is the highest level of fire resistance given to any flexible acoustic foam product, certified against standards including BS 476 Parts 6 and 7, EN 13501-1 and UL94. Our Fireseal foam and Class 0 acoustic tiles are both rated Class 0.
What thicknesses does Fireseal come in?
Fireseal sheets come in 10mm, 12mm, 25mm and 50mm thicknesses, each measuring 200 x 100cm. Self-adhesive backing is available on the 25mm and 50mm options.
Does thicker acoustic foam absorb more sound?
Yes. A 12mm sheet of Fireseal has an NRC of around 0.27, absorbing roughly 27% of sound wave energy, while a 50mm sheet has an NRC of around 0.67, absorbing roughly 67%.
What’s the difference between Fireseal sheets and the Class 0 acoustic tiles?
Fireseal sheets are dark grey and cut to size for a project. The Class 0 tiles are black, wedge-profiled, sold in fixed 300mm x 300mm sizes with a self-adhesive backing, and are designed for a faster wall or ceiling install without cutting.
Where is Class 0 acoustic foam typically used?
It’s commonly specified for retail shops, bars and restaurants, offices, hotels, gyms, generator rooms and ductwork, anywhere that needs both acoustic control and a high level of fire resistance.
Speak to Our Team
If you’re planning a shop fit-out or construction project and need advice on which Class 0 foam product or thickness suits your application, get in touch. One of our foam experts will be happy to help.
Cameron has emerged as a key marketing expert since joining GB Foam Ltd in 2017. A graduate of the University of Winchester, with a professional background in Public Relations; he has combined his content writing and brand awareness expertise with an in-depth knowledge of foam products and foam conversion technology to enhance the company’s marketing strategies and industry presence. Cameron has led numerous marketing campaigns, in both B2B and B2C segments, to further brand recognition and open up new business avenues worldwide.