If a project calls for Class 0 acoustic foam sheets, the important point is to match the material to the actual specification rather than treating Class 0 as a general quality label. The All Foam range combines acoustic treatment with documented fire performance, but the finished installation still has to suit the room, enclosure or commercial project where the foam will be used. This guide explains what Class 0 acoustic foam is, why customers also search for Class O foam, how BS 476 information fits into the decision and when flat or convoluted sheets make more sense.
What is Class 0 acoustic foam?
Class 0 acoustic foam is an open-cell polyurethane foam designed to absorb reflected sound while carrying stated fire performance for specification-led applications. The current All Foam AFPCLS0 technical data sheet describes an acoustic and thermal polyurethane foam manufactured with impregnated fire-retardant compounds.
The same document identifies the material as UK Building Regulations Class 0 and references BS 476 Parts 6 and 7. It also records Class 1 surface spread of flame under BS 476 Part 7, plus UL94 V-0 and 94-5V fire performance.
Those details matter because the words fire retardant and Class 0 are not interchangeable. Standard acoustic foam can be fire retardant without carrying the same Class 0 test information. When a drawing, contractor, venue or project document calls for a particular fire classification, the correct approach is to compare that requirement with the technical data for the exact foam being ordered.
Customers sometimes search for Class O acoustic foam with the letter O. The technical classification used by All Foam is Class 0, using the number zero. Search wording can vary, but specification documents should always be checked exactly.
What does BS 476 Class 0 mean for a buyer?
A buyer does not need to become a fire-testing specialist, but it helps to understand why the test references are shown.
BS 476 Part 6 relates to fire propagation, while BS 476 Part 7 deals with surface spread of flame. The All Foam Class 0 data sheet should be retained with the project information where the material has been selected because of its stated fire performance.
The key point is not to extend a material result into a claim about an entire room, machine, wall or finished assembly. A foam data sheet describes the foam product. Other materials, fixings, facings, gaps and construction details may also affect the finished project.
For that reason, All Foam recommends checking the exact requirement where the installation is regulated, public facing, contract specified or otherwise safety critical. If the requirement is unclear, contact the project designer, responsible contractor or All Foam before ordering.
Our wider fire retardant foam sheet guide explains why application and supporting documentation should be checked together.
Class 0 foam and acoustic treatment
Class 0 foam is still acoustic foam. Its open-cell structure is used to absorb sound energy that reaches the material, helping to control reflections and reverberation within a suitable room or enclosure.
That can be useful in spaces where hard surfaces allow sound to bounce around, making speech, recordings or equipment noise feel less controlled. Typical projects can include studios, media spaces, commercial interiors and equipment enclosures, provided the selected product and fire specification suit the application.
It is important to separate acoustic treatment from soundproofing. Acoustic foam can help improve the acoustic behaviour inside a space, but it is not a complete structural barrier for stopping noise passing through walls, floors, ceilings, doors or openings.
If the main problem is sound transmission from one room to another, the project may need mass, isolation, sealing and other construction measures as well as absorptive treatment. Buying a fire-rated acoustic foam does not change that basic distinction.
Flat Class 0 acoustic foam sheets
The flat All Foam Class 0 product is the most flexible option when the project needs a smooth treatment surface and a choice of depths.
It is available in:
- 100cm × 100cm sheets
- 200cm × 100cm sheets
- 6mm thickness
- 12mm thickness
- 25mm thickness
- 50mm thickness
- with or without self-adhesive backing
The flat surface gives a neat, even finish and the four thicknesses make it easier to work around a known installation depth. For example, a shallow enclosure may have limited space available, while a wall treatment may allow a deeper sheet.
The right thickness should be selected from the actual project requirements rather than assuming the thickest product is automatically best. Coverage, placement, available space and the acoustic problem all matter.
Convoluted Class 0 acoustic foam
The convoluted product uses an egg-crate profile rather than a flat face. The current All Foam range supplies it at a fixed 35mm thickness in the same two sheet sizes:
- 100cm × 100cm
- 200cm × 100cm
It can also be ordered with or without self-adhesive backing.
A convoluted surface can be useful where the profiled appearance suits the installation, particularly in equipment housings or acoustic treatment areas where a textured surface is acceptable. The profile should not be treated as proof that the product will always outperform a flat sheet in every room or enclosure.
There is no need to make that decision from appearance alone. Check the available depth, the surface you are covering and whether the project calls for a particular construction. Our flat versus convoluted acoustic foam guide compares the formats in more detail.
Where is Class 0 acoustic foam used?
The AFPCLS0 technical sheet lists commercial and public-building acoustic treatment as typical application areas. Examples include cinemas and theatres, hotel spaces, restaurants and cafés, schools, lecture spaces and places of worship where the stated material specification is appropriate.
Class 0 acoustic foam can also be relevant to machinery housings and metal enclosures where acoustic absorption and fire performance need to be considered together. The data sheet notes the material's high density and vibration-dampening role within metal enclosures.
That does not mean one foam sheet is suitable for every plant room, generator enclosure or industrial installation. Temperature, airflow, contamination, access, fixing method and the wider fire specification can all change the requirement. Our Class 0 foam for machinery enclosures guide covers these checks separately.
Self-adhesive or unbacked Class 0 foam?
All Foam offers both flat and convoluted Class 0 sheets with or without self-adhesive backing.
Self-adhesive backing can make installation more convenient where the substrate is suitable and the foam is intended to stay fixed. It can be useful on clean, stable surfaces where a permanent treatment is planned.
Unbacked foam can be the better choice where the installer already has a specified fixing method, where the panel needs to remain removable, or where the surface is unsuitable for a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
The correct preparation matters whichever route is chosen. Dust, loose paint, moisture and uneven surfaces can all affect the finished installation. If you are considering adhesive-backed material, read our self-adhesive Class 0 foam installation guide before ordering.
What should you check before ordering?
A useful buying process is simple.
First, establish whether the project genuinely requires Class 0 material. If the specification only asks for acoustic treatment, compare the standard and Class 0 ranges instead of assuming the more specialised product is required.
Second, confirm the surface profile. Choose flat where an even face and several thickness options are useful. Choose convoluted where the fixed 35mm egg-crate profile suits the project.
Third, measure the available area and installation depth. The two Class 0 products share the same sheet footprints but not the same thickness choices.
Fourth, decide whether self-adhesive backing is appropriate for the substrate and maintenance plan.
Finally, keep the current technical data sheet with the project paperwork when fire classification is part of the purchase decision.
Class 0 foam is not a substitute for project design
A useful product guide should also explain when not to rely on a simple online recommendation.
If the foam is going into a regulated building, vehicle, healthcare setting, high-temperature environment or specialist industrial system, the material should be checked against the relevant specification before installation. The same applies where a consultant or contractor has named a particular standard.
The All Foam data sheet provides product information, not approval for every possible finished assembly. This distinction protects the customer from choosing a technically impressive product for the wrong job.
Choosing Class 0 acoustic foam with confidence
Class 0 acoustic foam makes sense when a project needs acoustic absorption and the stated fire performance of the AFPCLS0 grade. The buying decision then comes down to practical details: flat or convoluted profile, available thickness, sheet size, backing and installation method.
For a straightforward purchase, start with the Class 0 Acoustic Foam Sheets page and compare the live options. Open the technical data sheet when the fire classification matters, and contact All Foam if the application is unusual or the project specification is not clear.
That approach is more reliable than choosing from a search phrase alone, whether the search says Class 0 foam, Class O acoustic foam, fire-rated acoustic foam or BS 476 acoustic foam sheets.