Are Acoustic Panels Waterproof?
Updated
No, acoustic panels aren't waterproof: their cores are porous so sound can get in, and water gets in the same way. Mineral cores do handle damp air pretty well, though. Rockwool stone wool board takes up 0.2% water vapor by volume (Comfortboard 80 data sheet (opens in a new tab)), and Owens Corning 703 fiberglass takes up under 5% by weight at 120°F and 95% humidity (703 data sheet (opens in a new tab)).
Here's the catch. Those numbers measure moisture pulled from humid air, not a splash or a soak, so no acoustic wall panel belongs in a shower. You can use acoustic panels in a bathroom as long as they stay out of the splash zone and the room dries out after every shower:
- Pick a mineral core: go with stone wool or fiberglass, not foam. Fiberglass and mineral wool soundproof panels compares the boards.
- Keep out of spray: don't put panels on tub surrounds, shower walls or behind the sink.
- Run the fan: EPA says to run it while you shower and keep humidity below 60%, ideally 30 to 50% (opens in a new tab).
Watch out: If a panel gets wet, pull it down and dry it within 24 to 48 hours. EPA says that keeps mold from growing. If mold shows up anyway, replace the panel. EPA notes porous materials such as ceiling tiles "may have to be thrown away if they become moldy."
Panel cores also get sold as thermal insulation, and do acoustic panels help with insulation covers that. The soundproof panels guide shows where panels work best, and you'll find more answers in the soundproof panels FAQ.