IAC AcousticsThailand · since 2009

Acoustic sealant, adhesive and putty pads: what each does and how much you need

Updated 2026-09-19

The short answer

Mass loaded vinyl needs three accessories to work as a wall. BA990 adhesive bonds the sheet to the substrate and stays flexible; BA890 acoustic sealant closes every edge, joint and penetration without hardening; BA650 putty pads back socket and switch boxes. Allow about one cartridge of each per 3 m² and one pad per box. Of the three, the sealant is the cheapest and the one that decides the result. Supplied by IAC Acoustics (Thailand).

Why the sheet on its own is not a wall

An open area of roughly 1% of a wall caps its transmission loss at around 20 dB, whatever the build-up. Mass loaded vinyl supplies mass; what turns the mass into a barrier is a bond that does not bridge the layer rigidly and a seal that leaves no opening. The three accessories together cost less than a fifth of the sheet they go with, and they decide whether the sheet was worth buying.

The three accessories. THB including 7% VAT, excluding VAT in brackets.
SKUNameJobWherePrice
BA990BlastAdhesiveBonds the sheet to the substrate while staying permanently flexibleZig-zag beads on the back of the sheet; concrete, block, steel, timber, plasterboard546 (510) per cartridge
BA890BlastSealantCloses the gaps sound would use, without hardening or crackingEvery sheet edge, overlap, pipe penetration, door and window frame, board perimeter447 (418) per cartridge
BA650BlastPutty padCloses the sound path behind socket and switch boxesWrapped over the back and sides of each box in the wall; 18 × 18 × 0.3 cm, one per box450 (421) per pad

BA990 adhesive: why it has to stay flexible

Ordinary construction adhesives cure hard, and every hard point is a bridge that carries vibration straight across the layer you are trying to isolate. BA990 is formulated to remain flexible according to the manufacturer, and is non-flammable according to the manufacturer. It bonds to concrete, block, steel, timber and plasterboard.

  • Apply in zig-zag or parallel beads at about 300 mm centres onto a clean, dry substrate.
  • Always pair it with mechanical fixings along the top edge and studs. A 5 m² roll weighs about 25 kg; adhesive alone will not hold that on a wall or a ceiling over time.
  • About one cartridge per 3 m², or roughly two per roll.

BA890 sealant: the item that decides the result

Bathroom silicone and general acrylic sealants cure to a firm bead that pulls away from the substrate as the building moves with temperature, and the resulting hairline is an open joint two years after the job was finished. BA890 is formulated to stay permanently flexible and is non-flammable according to the manufacturer, so the seal it makes on day one is still a seal in year ten.

Where sealant goes, in order of how often it is missed
LocationWhy
Base of the sheet at the floorThe most commonly skipped joint, because people assume the skirting will close it. Skirting is not an acoustic seal
Head at the ceiling and both side edgesAn unsealed edge is a slot the full length of the wall
Every overlap between sheetsA bead in the overlap before it is pressed down, then tape
Around every pipe and cable penetrationNever rigid mortar here: it bridges the layer and cracks
Door and window frame perimetersSeal, then cover with a bead or architrave
The plasterboard perimeter, before skimmingThe second line of defence when the first has a gap

About one cartridge per 3 m², plus one extra where the wall has many penetrations or joints. A spare cartridge is always useful; a missing one halfway through the job leaves a gap that never gets sealed.

BA650 putty pads: the hole everyone forgets

A socket box is a hole through the wall, and in condominiums it is often installed back to back with the neighbour’s box in the same stud bay. The pad is a soft 18 × 18 cm sheet, 3 mm thick, moulded over the back and sides of the box to restore the mass of the wall where it was cut.

  1. Isolate the circuit, then remove the socket or switch faceplate.
  2. Pull the mounting plate, press the pad over the back and sides of the box, and mould it round the cable entry.
  3. One pad per standard box. Count the boxes on the wall being treated and order that number.

How many to order

Accessories by job, THB including VAT
JobBA990BA890BA650Accessories total
Lagging 6 m of drain pipe (1 roll)2894
Pump enclosure (1 roll)211,539
One bedroom wall, 12 m² (3 rolls)4445,772
Two bedroom walls, 24 m² (6 rolls)88811,544

Accessories can be ordered from one unit, but a basket containing accessories only — no MLV — must reach THB 1,500 including VAT before checkout opens. If you find yourself one cartridge short mid-job, that minimum is why ordering a spare with the rolls costs less than a second delivery.

What not to substitute

  • Bathroom silicone for BA890. It works for a season; many formulations then harden and lift from the edge, and the acetic odour in a closed room is a separate problem.
  • Construction adhesive for BA990. Most cure rigid, and every rigid point transmits.
  • Expanding foam around pipes. It is light, porous and not an acoustic seal.
  • Mortar around pipes. A rigid bridge into the structure, and worse than leaving the gap in some cases.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between acoustic sealant and ordinary silicone?
Acoustic sealant stays permanently flexible so it moves with the building without cracking or pulling away from the edge. Ordinary silicone and acrylic sealants firm up over time and the hairline that opens is a sound path. The gap is the whole difference.
Do I need both adhesive and sealant, or can one do both jobs?
Both. Adhesive bonds the sheet; sealant closes the openings. If forced to choose, the sealant matters more: a sheet held by screws but sealed everywhere still works, and a sheet bonded beautifully but unsealed leaks.
Can I order one cartridge of sealant?
Yes, from one unit — but an accessories-only basket must total THB 1,500 including VAT, which is roughly two cartridges of sealant and one of adhesive.
Is the BA650 putty pad fire rated?
No. It is an acoustic pad and no fire rating is claimed for it. A socket box in a fire-rated wall needs a listed firestop system for that wall type, not this pad.
How long does the sealant take to cure?
Roughly 24 hours per 2 to 3 mm of bead thickness in normal conditions. Ventilate while it cures and do not skim over the board perimeter until the bead has set.

Related

Want this checked against your own project?

Send the construction build-up and a description of the noise, and we will tell you where the material helps and where it does not. Stock is held in Bangkok. If you collect, it is ready within 1 working day of cleared payment. If we deliver, you will typically have it in 3–5 working days. Delivery is within Thailand only.

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