LUXHIVE KL-BD7E-FS6R User guide

Brand: LUXHIVE

Model: KL-BD7E-FS6R

Type: User guide


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
LUXHIVE™ 12 Pack Soundproofing Acoustic Foam Panels
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QUESTION 1: What problem is this LUXHIVE™ product solving? What’s the NRC? 2
QUESTION 2: Do I have polyurethane foam releasing volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) into my air that I need to replace with LUXHIVE™ tiles engineered without
polyurethane foam (PU foam)? 3
QUESTION 3: Are sound absorption, sound diffusion, and soundproofing all the
same? 3
QUESTION 4: What is LUXHIVE™ soundproof foam made of? 3
QUESTION 5: How do I remove the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in my air
caused by polyurethane foam, primarily used for building construction and package
cushioning but sold as a soundproofing material, I haven’t thrown away yet? 4
QUESTION 6: How do I get the best use of my LUXHIVE™ soundproof foam? 4
QUESTION 7: What are the instructions for mounting my LUXHIVE™ soundproofing
acoustic foam panels without ruining my wall? 6
QUESTION 8: Articles from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
regarding Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)? 7
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Page 1

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QUESTION 1: What problem is this LUXHIVE™ product solving? What’s the NRC?



After trying several brands of typically black polyurethane (PU) foam, we noticed the soundproofing             

results were minor at best and placebo effect at worst. So we dug into the material: Polyurethanes                

(PUs) are a product of the addition polymerization reaction between diisocyanates and diols. The             

main environmental issue of PU materials concerns the use of isocyanate raw materials as these              

compounds are harmful to people and the environment. MDI and TDI, the most widely used              

isocyanates in the PU industry, are classified as CMR (Carcinogen, Mutagen and Reprotoxic). Source:             

Merenyi S. REACH: Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006: consolidated version (June 2012) with an            

introduction and future prospects regarding the area of Chemicals legislation. GRIN Verlag; 2012.



Polyurethane foam is made from petroleum-byproducts (highly flammable), undergoes volatile         

organic compounds off-gassing (persistent indoor environmental hazard), and is an inappropriate          

acoustic material (though commonly sold as acoustic panels). Absorption and diffusion are called            

room treatments and are used for better sound whereas soundproofing is used for less noise. PU               

foam is commonly sold as performing both sound absorption as well as soundproofing which isn't              

possible by the definitions of sound absorption and soundproofing respectively. The chemistry           

behind PU foam only permits minor effectiveness at best and placebo effect at worst with regards to                

soundproofing, sound absorption, and sound diffusion.



We decided to solve this problem through the creation of LUXHIVE soundproofing panels because             

we desired non-toxic industrial noise reduction and unwanted sound control. Our proprietary           

LUXHIVE formula is actively soundproofing with a 0.85 Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC),           

heat-resistant with a 0.0032 W/m.K Thermal Conductivity & B1 Flame Retardant Grade, odorless, and             

without volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions as our proprietary formula is similar to Magic             

Eraser without the persistent indoor environmental hazards of polyurethane (PU) foam. According           

to the US Environmental Protection Agency, VOCs can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, frequent              

headaches, nausea, and can also damage the liver, kidney, and central nervous system. LUXHIVE             

soundproofing acoustic foam panels have been engineered specifically to be a superior deadening            

material for noise reduction and unwanted sound control.

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Page 2

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QUESTION 2: Do I have polyurethane foam releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into            

my air that I need to replace with LUXHIVE™ tiles engineered without polyurethane foam (PU              

foam)?



While polyurethane foam can arrive compressed or uncompressed, can have a noticeable           

unpleasant odor or release volatile organic compounds without a noticeably unpleasant odor, and if             

compressed can require soaking in water or waiting sometimes days to regain shape only to end up                

deformed and distorted, feel with your hands the difference between your uncompressed LUXHIVE            

soundproofing panels and your typical polyurethane foam. Also, compare the soundproofing quality           

of your odorless, heat-resistant, non-toxic LUXHIVE soundproofing panels to your typical          

polyurethane foam.

QUESTION 3: Are sound absorption, sound diffusion, and soundproofing all the same?



Sound absorption and sound diffusion are not the same as the methods used to reduce sound               

leakage into and out of a space. The methods used to reduce sound leakage into and out of a space                   

are called soundproofing which results in less noise, noise defined as any unwanted sound.             

Absorption and diffusion are called room treatments and are used for better sound whereas             

soundproofing is used for less noise.

QUESTION 4: What is LUXHIVE™ soundproof foam made of?



Our LUXHIVE acoustic panels have been meticulously designed for indoor odorless, heat-resistant,           

non-toxic industrial noise reduction and unwanted sound control. Sound absorption and sound           

diffusion are not the same as the methods used to reduce sound leakage into and out of a space,                  

called soundproofing which results in less noise (noise defined as any unwanted sound). Absorption             

and diffusion are called room treatments and are used for better sound whereas soundproofing is              

used for less noise. Our proprietary formula is similar to Magic Eraser without the persistent indoor               

environmental hazards of polyurethane (PU) foam. Test for yourself the flammability as well as the              

soundproofing ability of polyurethane foam compared to LUXHIVE panels as LUXHIVE has a 0.0032             

W/m.K Thermal Conductivity as well as a B1 Flame Retardant Grade.

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Page 3

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Polyurethane foam is made from petroleum-byproducts (highly flammable), undergoes volatile         

organic compounds off-gassing (persistent indoor environmental hazard), and is an inappropriate          

acoustic material (though commonly sold as acoustic panels). Absorption and diffusion are called            

room treatments and are used for better sound whereas soundproofing is used for less noise. PU               

foam is commonly sold as performing both sound absorption as well as soundproofing which isn't              

possible by the definitions of sound absorption and soundproofing respectively. The chemistry           

behind PU foam only permits minor effectiveness at best and placebo effect at worst with regards to                

soundproofing, sound absorption, and sound diffusion.



We decided to solve this problem through the creation of LUXHIVE soundproofing panels because             

we desired non-toxic industrial noise reduction and unwanted sound control. Our proprietary           

LUXHIVE formula is actively soundproofing, heat-resistant, odorless, and without volatile organic          

compounds (VOCs) emissions. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, VOCs can           

cause eye, nose and throat irritation, frequent headaches, nausea, and can also damage the liver,              

kidney, and central nervous system. LUXHIVE soundproofing acoustic foam panels have been           

engineered specifically to be a superior deadening material for noise reduction and unwanted            

sound control.

QUESTION 5: How do I remove the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in my air caused by               

polyurethane foam, primarily used for building construction and package cushioning but sold           

as a soundproofing material, I haven’t thrown away yet?



Consistent use of air purifiers with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) style filters with an added              

layer of activated carbon, also known as activated charcoal, can solve the problem of ambient VOCs               

released from PU foam panels. Activated carbon is full of microscopic cracks and holes which trap               

and remove airborne odors, gases, and chemicals from building materials, cleaning products,           

personal care items, smoke, cooking odors, spoiled food and more.

QUESTION 6: How do I get the best use of my LUXHIVE™ soundproof foam?



We'd like to offer you two different yet similar perspectives as our follow up to your initial inquiry.



Perspective #1 of 2 = Another customer reached out asking if our soundproofing will help lessen               

the sound of his roommates walking down the hallway outside his room if he stuck LUXHIVE on his                 

room door. Here was our response which we think you may find useful as well:



Page 4

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If you want to use LUXHIVE tiles to solve this problem, you'd want to place your tiles on the wall                   

opposite the door as well as the wall including the door. Assuming you are in an academic shared                 

space environment where your rooming situation may change year to year, consider trying "Mack's             

Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs" and/or "Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Putty Earplugs", which are available on              

Amazon.com as well as many other local retailers if you Google for "Mack's Ultra Soft Foam               

Earplugs" and/or "Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Putty Earplugs". We like "Mack's Ultra Soft Foam             

Earplugs" for blocking sound while sleeping as well. Everyone is unique and therefore consider             

trying "Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs" as well as "Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Putty Earplugs" as you                

may prefer one over the other.



For focusing while in an academic shared space environment or just in everyday life, if you prefer                

complete silence consider utilizing "Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs" or "Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone             

Putty Earplugs". If you need a little noise to cancel wondering thoughts while increasing focus,              

consider listening to music without lyrics of the genre lo-fi, classical, soft rock, etc. using YouTube               

channels featuring such music (right-click the YT video and select loop if you find YT stations you                

particularly enjoy), Pandora.com, Spotify.com, etc.



Perspective #2 of 2 = Another customer reached out to us asking about office use and if our                 

soundproofing is the solution. Here was our response which we think you may find useful as well:



Best Solution = Starts at the construction level before an office existed. For a soundproof space that                

was originally built to be soundproof, the walls would be composed of large and dense layers of                

thick material such as concrete or a dense specie of wood. If we are talking about a structure that                  

has been already built of the residential and/or commercial type that was built without             

soundproofing spaces in mind, then it is highly likely that the material used between the walls is thin                 

to sparse which is causing most sound to pass in and/or out. Sound, starting at the source, projects                 

outward in all directions. A small portion of it (known as direct sound) travels in a straight line to let’s                   

say a microphone. The remainder (known as reflected sound) bounces randomly between the            

surfaces of the room.



Second Best Solution = Starts with working with what has been constructed. The methods used to               

reduce sound leakage into and out of a space are called soundproofing which results in less noise,                

noise defined as any unwanted sound. Soundproofing works to deadening noise entering as well as              

leaving as the sound waves are disrupted or rather broken down. This is where LUXHIVE could be of                 

benefit. Ideal wall coverage of all four walls is 20-80% coverage. If building a new office isn’t an                 

option, LUXHIVE soundproofing utilized on all the walls of the space would be step 1. The need for                 

bass traps for the corners of the room can be replaced with bean bag chair like objects if you have                   

those available. Then, as you test what coverage is yielding the best results for the dimensions and                

purposes of your space, you add or remove soundproofing focused panels as you get closer and               

then finally achieve the desired final results for your space.

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QUESTION 7: What are the instructions for mounting my LUXHIVE™ soundproofing acoustic           

foam panels without ruining my wall?

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Another customer reached out to us asking about office use and if our soundproofing is the               

solution. Here was our response which we think you may find useful as well: