Suspended ceiling / sound proofing

[sillerha]

Hello all,
This is my first post on here so I hope it is in the correct section.

My wife rents premises for a health clinic. We are having a problem with sound transmission between the rooms. Timber partitions are built up to a suspended ceiling and the ceiling tiles are metal. The partitions are full of acoustic wool. There was 100mm of wool above the ceiling and I have added another 100mm of acoustic wool and each tile has a 25mm wool pad. The wool I added did help but there is still too much noise between the rooms.
I have been getting prices today for the poly wrapped individual insulation pads and one store told me they wouldn't really help if there is already 200mm of wool. I have been considering hanging acoustic blankets/curtains above each partition to act as a barrier, there is enough height and plenty of steelwork to fix things to. The doors are cheap moulded ones and I am going to replace them too which will help.
Could anyone advise from experience if the pads or blankets would be most effective? Whatever we do is going to cost a bit so we want to get it right the first time.

Many thanks in advance.

[ahfix]

Can you identify where the bulk of the sound transmission is coming from, are you sure it is just the ceiling void?

What type of floor construction is it? Are there any ducts in the walls, ceilings, floors e.g. aircon/heating?

ah

[sillerha]

Hi ahfix, thanks for posting.

It is a vinyl floor in all rooms. Since my post yesterday I've ordered acoustic boxes for sockets and switches, I was experimenting last night and I can't believe how loud the click of a switch is through a partition! I am also waiting to order heavier doors from Howdens, I think it is next week when their huge sale starts. I will also add the acoustic door seal packs that they supply. I think I will wait and see what difference the boxes and doors make before putting up more insulation or curtains in the ceiling.
I can't think that there are ducts up there.

Cheers

[big-all]

heeelllooo and welcome sillerha
i dont have a clue about the answer but general comments
sounds like the actual partition may be the problem what insulation is in the wall
placing cupboards along the offending walls will help
metal tiles will tend to amplify sound within the room rather than absorb it

[sillerha]

Hi big-all.

There is 70mm of acoustic wool in the walls

[big-all]

is there studs connecting the wall face each side or a physical break to stop structural sound transfer

[sillerha]

3x2 studwork and 1 layer of regular plasterboard on either side