Acoustics

Acoustic performance matters for all kind of interior environments. Since poor acoustic comfort can have an impact on learning, productivity, safety, communication, and health, acoustic comfort in office spaces, public buildings or schools contributes to our overall well-being. Offices, hallways, classrooms, and auditoriums can be transformed into comfortable environments for understandable communication with acoustically enhanced suspended ceilings, increasing focus, productivity, and well-being.

Ceiling systems can be composed for optimum acoustical performance. Our suspended acoustic ceiling systems use innovative materials and approved technology to achieve the highest values of sound absorption. By varying the individual components of a system, such as the size, distance and perforation patterns of the panels, a ceiling system can fulfil different acoustic requirements. The acoustical performance can furthermore in many cases be improved by using an acoustical pad on top of the ceiling system or by using an infill (for instance in the case of baffle elements). Whether you’re creating public spaces, open plan offices or recreational areas, we help you to find the ideal combination of sound absorption and ceiling design.
Check our product selector when searching for products with specific acoustic requirements.

Reverberation Time

One of the most frequently used variables to describe the acoustics of a space is its reverberation time: the time it takes for a sound of 60dB to die away after the sound source ceases. It tells us something about how ‘lively’ or ‘lifeless’ a room’s acoustics will be and how loud or quiet noise levels will sound. The reverberation time is determined by the volume of the space and the amount of sound-absorbing material in that space. The optimal reverberation time depends largely on what the space is used for.

Speech requires a relatively short reverberation time of between 0.5 and 1.0 second. Classical music, on the other hand, requires much more reverberation: a concert hall may require a time of 2.0 seconds. Optimal reverberation time depends on the use and volume of the space.

Why High Speech Intelligibility?

Depending on the use of a space, it may be important that it has high speech intelligibility. A concert hall needs high reverberation qualities for the music that is performed there to be heard as it is meant to be heard. The inescapable consequence, however, is limited speech intelligibility, which is just what is required in an auditorium, classroom or meeting room. Recent research has shown a direct correlation between the ability of students to learn and speech intelligibility. Too much reverberation and interfering noises lead to loss of concentration and tiredness, decreasing a person’s ability to learn.