Sounds barriers are often used for outdoor noise pollution control to provide a higher density layer to prevent noise from entering certain areas.
Sound barriers can be used inside buildings however, it is more common to see them used for bulkheads, firewall treatments, cab floors, and pipe wraps in large buildings or manufacturing facilities. For aesthetic purposes, sound barriers can be customized. Color options, cutouts, and paneling is common for customers to change based on its application. Most manufacturers will produce barriers to be at least as high as the line of sight between the source of the excessive noise and the receiver. Those thin walls cannot be built too high due to stability and strength.
A common place to see sound barriers are on the road or highway. These tall set of wooden, plastic, or concrete walls are placed strategically to muffle the sound of traffic. Depending on the material, they will absorb, reflect, or transmit the sound waves that are coming to them. They then reduce the noise for the commercial or residential areas around them making it more pleasant and improving sound quality. Durable and dense materials such as wood, metal, and concreate are often used as sound barriers. They do not completely block out or absorb the sound, but they greatly reduce noise levels which can be important around residential areas. It is feasible to install sound barriers for these areas although it is not required by law. It is important for experience engineers to determine the ideal barrier solution per application.