Using Class 0 acoustic foam sheets inside a machinery or metal enclosure is not simply a matter of covering every available surface. Industrial acoustic treatment has to work around heat, airflow, access, vibration and the actual fire specification of the equipment or building. The AFPCLS0 grade sold by All Foam is an open-cell acoustic and thermal polyurethane foam with documented Class 0 fire information, but its suitability still depends on the complete installation. This guide explains the checks that matter before ordering foam for machinery enclosures, plant equipment, generator housings and similar applications.
Why machinery enclosures need a different approach
A recording room and a machinery housing can both have unwanted reflections, but the installation conditions are very different.
An enclosure may contain warm surfaces, fans, vents, moving parts, electrical equipment and service panels. It may also experience continuous vibration or high air movement. Acoustic material has to be positioned without interfering with those functions.
That is why the first step is to understand the enclosure rather than starting with a sheet thickness.
Record where the noise appears to come from, which surfaces are available for treatment, how air moves through the enclosure and which areas must remain accessible. Check the equipment manufacturer's guidance for clearances and operating temperatures before adding any lining.
If the project is part of a commercial or regulated installation, identify the required fire classification as well.
What AFPCLS0 brings to an enclosure project
The current All Foam technical data sheet describes AFPCLS0 as an open-cell acoustic and thermal polyurethane foam containing impregnated fire-retardant compounds. It identifies the material as UK Building Regulations Class 0, references BS 476 Parts 6 and 7, and records Class 1 surface spread of flame under Part 7.
The sheet also lists a density range of 75 to 100 kg/m³ and notes vibration dampening within metal enclosures as part of the product description. A working temperature range of minus 40°C to plus 110°C and erosion resistance of 6000 ft/min are also shown as typical technical values.
These figures are useful for product comparison, but they should not be treated as permission to install the foam anywhere within those limits. Surface temperature, local hot spots, contaminants, airflow design and the behaviour of the complete enclosure must still be considered.
For a broader explanation of the material and its fire information, read the Class 0 acoustic foam guide.
Acoustic absorption and vibration are related but not identical
Machinery can create noise in several ways.
Airborne sound can reflect around the enclosure before escaping through openings. Panels can also vibrate and radiate sound. Fans, motors, pumps and mechanical movement may create tonal noise, broadband noise or structure-borne vibration.
Open-cell acoustic foam is primarily used as an absorptive treatment. It can reduce reflections within a housing, helping to control sound energy that reaches the material.
The AFPCLS0 data sheet also notes vibration dampening in metal enclosures, but that does not mean a foam lining replaces every other vibration-control method. A rattling panel, loose fixing or rigid mechanical connection may need a separate engineering solution.
The useful question is therefore not, “Will foam soundproof this machine?” It is, “What part of the noise problem can absorptive lining realistically address?”
Class 0 acoustic foam is not a complete sound barrier
This distinction matters particularly in plant rooms and industrial settings.
Acoustic foam can improve the internal acoustic environment of an enclosure, but it does not by itself create a high-mass barrier that blocks all sound transmission. If noise is escaping through a thin panel, an open door, a ventilation opening or a rigid connection into the building, those paths may need separate treatment.
A well-designed enclosure can combine absorption with suitable panel construction, sealing, isolation and controlled airflow. The foam is one component rather than the entire noise-control strategy.
Competitor guides often use the word soundproofing broadly. For All Foam, it is more useful to be precise about the role of the product so customers can plan the full system properly.
Check the fire requirement before choosing the grade
A machinery enclosure may sit inside a workshop, plant room, public building or commercial premises where fire performance is part of the specification.
If the project specifically requires Class 0 material, retain the AFPCLS0 technical data sheet and compare its stated tests with the requirement.
Do not assume that every fire-retardant acoustic foam is Class 0. The standard charcoal acoustic products on the All Foam site have their own product information and should not be substituted where a project specifically names the Class 0 grade.
Likewise, do not treat the foam classification as proof that the entire machinery enclosure complies with a fire requirement. The finished system includes metals, coatings, cables, adhesives, filters, seals and other components.
Our fire retardant foam sheets guide explains why material and finished-assembly claims need to stay separate.
Flat or convoluted Class 0 foam for an enclosure?
All Foam offers flat and convoluted AFPCLS0 products.
The flat sheet comes in 100cm × 100cm and 200cm × 100cm sizes. Available thicknesses are 6mm, 12mm, 25mm and 50mm. This range can be useful where available clearance varies or where the lining needs to fit behind guards and access panels.
The convoluted Class 0 sheet is available in the same footprints at a fixed 35mm thickness. Its egg-crate surface may suit an enclosure where a profiled acoustic lining is acceptable.
Neither profile should be selected from appearance alone. Check the usable internal space, required clearance and the areas that can actually be covered.
For a detailed format comparison, see our flat versus convoluted acoustic foam guide.
Do not reduce essential airflow
Ventilation is often one of the biggest constraints in machinery acoustic treatment.
Fans and vents may be essential for keeping equipment within its operating temperature. Lining an enclosure without understanding the airflow can raise temperatures or make maintenance more difficult.
Do not place foam across ventilation openings simply because those openings are a noise path. If acoustic treatment around an air path is needed, it should be designed without preventing the required flow.
The AFPCLS0 data sheet includes erosion resistance information, which is useful where air movement is relevant, but this should be read as product data rather than a complete ventilation design rule.
If airflow speed, temperature or required free area is critical, obtain the engineering requirement first.
Temperature needs more than one number
The technical sheet lists a working temperature range of minus 40°C to plus 110°C. That provides a useful material reference, but machinery can create local conditions that are much hotter than the general air temperature inside the enclosure.
A hot exhaust, motor casing, pipe, heater or other component may have its own clearance requirement. Keep the foam away from surfaces or components where the equipment manufacturer specifies a separation distance or where the product has not been approved for direct contact.
Also consider whether the temperature changes during start-up, shutdown or abnormal operation.
If the project is close to the material limits or the equipment has significant heat output, contact All Foam and the relevant equipment specialist before installation.
Plan for access and maintenance
Industrial acoustic lining should not make the machine difficult to inspect.
Identify removable panels, service doors, filters, electrical cabinets and routine inspection points before deciding where the foam will go.
Where panels need frequent removal, unbacked Class 0 foam or a separate approved fixing method may be preferable to permanently bonding the foam to the wrong surface.
Where the lining can remain permanently attached, self-adhesive backing can simplify positioning on a suitable clean substrate.
The self-adhesive Class 0 foam installation guide covers surface preparation, dry fitting and situations where unbacked material is more practical.
Consider contamination and environment
A plant enclosure may be exposed to more than sound and heat.
Oil mist, fuels, cleaning chemicals, dust, moisture and process contamination can affect whether a foam is suitable. The AFPCLS0 data sheet does not provide a universal chemical-resistance guarantee for every industrial substance.
If contamination is expected, identify it before ordering and ask for compatibility guidance. Do not assume that because a foam is used in industrial environments it is automatically resistant to every oil, solvent or chemical.
The same caution applies outdoors or in persistently wet areas. The Class 0 product is an open-cell polyurethane acoustic material, not a general waterproof closed-cell lining.
Measure usable surfaces rather than enclosure dimensions
A cabinet may be one metre wide, but that does not mean there is one square metre of usable acoustic lining area.
Measure each panel after accounting for:
- vents and fans
- access doors
- handles and hinges
- cable routes
- filters
- equipment clearances
- internal frames or stiffeners
- moving components
Plan each sheet around these restrictions. This gives a more accurate quantity and reduces unnecessary cutting.
Where the enclosure has several removable panels, label the measurements so each piece can be matched to its intended position during installation.
When should you ask for technical advice?
Contact All Foam before ordering when:
- the fire requirement is not clear
- the enclosure operates close to the listed material temperature range
- high airflow is present
- oils, fuels or chemicals may contact the foam
- the installation is safety critical
- the equipment manufacturer has specified a particular lining or fixing method
- you are relying on the foam to solve a transmission or vibration problem that may need additional measures
This is not unnecessary caution. Industrial enclosures combine several design requirements, and acoustic foam should be selected as part of that wider system.
A practical way to choose the product
For machinery and metal enclosures, begin with the acoustic goal, then check fire requirement, temperature, airflow, contamination, available depth and access.
If AFPCLS0 remains suitable after those checks, choose between the flat thickness range and the fixed 35mm convoluted profile. Decide whether self-adhesive backing fits the maintenance plan and substrate.
The Class 0 Acoustic Foam Sheets page shows the current options, live prices and technical data sheet. For non-standard or specification-led industrial applications, contact All Foam with the equipment type, available dimensions and any stated technical requirements before ordering.