An acoustic barrier that achieves excellent noise insulating properties,
and is relatively thin and relatively light in weight includes a flexible
thermoplastic barrier layer having a plurality of apertures defining a
latticed structure which includes apertures for pass-through components
and non-pass-through apertures. The non-pass-through apertures are
located where noise levels are expected or known to be relatively low.
Effective acoustic performance can be maintained by completely
eliminating material from the relatively thick and dense barrier layer at
the low noise levels areas, and providing only absorptive decoupler
material and/or lightweight sheet material such as plastic films in those
areas.