Soundproofing a shooting or firing range with Dr. Bob

Many cities and municipalities are looking for stateinstances the ½" America mat does the job.
of the art soundproofing products and proceduresThis foam mat would be adhered directly to the
for soundproofing a public, private, or and evenwalls and ceiling of the range tunnel and in some
home shooting ranges. The soundproofingcases it would even be adhered to the floor. This
materials used must be impervious to smoke andwill provide complete coverage thus forcing the
gunpowder residue and must be resilient (able tosound to be absorbed into the mat and with no
take a round without disintegrating) and easy toway out it dissipates rapidly. Major shooting
clean. Some folks feel that convoluted foam matranges have used this foam mat even on outdoor
(bedding or egg crate foam) will work in suchranges where the material is exposed to the
applications. This is a completely wrongelements. Now we really don't recommend direct
assumption because convoluted foam is an openexposure of this material to the elements
celled foam and has no soundproofing qualities(especially in the snow), but the feedback we
whatsoever.have received in such applications has been
So how do you get both absorption and soundfavorable indeed. This material has been used in
blocking from one product, that is impervious tothe cities of Boston, New York, Oceanside
moisture and will stand up the rigors of a live firingCalifornia, and Kansas City and all the feedback
range? Many large cities have contacted mewas positive. The thicker the foam, the better
desperately looking for just such a material andthe results, but for a basic handgun range, the
believe it or not we have exactly what they are½" America mat should be sufficient. There
looking for. It's the closed cell vinyl nitrile Americaare many other applications for America mat, but
mat and it has been used in many differentone of the most popular is for shooting ranges. It
ranges throughout the country. It is extremelyis a phenomenal product.
flame retardant and only absorbs water into theThere is now a new product that is also used
first 6% to 8% of the mat. We have foundextensively in firing ranges and police training
through real life experience that this absorbedfacilities. This new product is called Silent panel. I
moisture dissipates rapidly and never causes mold,will talk more about Silent panels in my next
mildew, or deterioration. America mat is both aarticle. Thanks for reading and learning about
blocker and absorber that is extremely resilientsoundproofing a firing range. For more information
and versatile in the shooting environment. Theabout this and other soundproofing project go to
mat comes in thick nesses of ¼" all the waymy blog at: This is Dr.Bob....Out!!
up to 2" thick, but we have found that in most