Today, creating a quality acoustic environment is no longer limited to concert halls and theaters. The emergence of shopping and entertainment centers, an open space office structure, and qualitatively new medical, educational and cinema-concert complexes have expanded the scope of sound-absorbing materials. To create a comfortable environment in interior decoration, acoustic panels for walls and ceilings are increasingly used. Their use allows you to reduce the level of reflection, increase speech intelligibility, and normalize sound pressure.
Acoustic Materials
The effect of using acoustic panels is achieved by using sound-absorbing materials in them. They can be both natural and artificial origin. Traditionally, in the decoration of halls, materials based on wood, textiles or gypsum were used. Currently, acoustic wall panels are made from gypsum, wood, mineral wool, fiberglass, polyurethane foam and melamine.
Types of wall acoustic panels
Depending on the material used, sound-absorbing wall panels can be divided into the following types:
- Wood fiber, cellulose. On a cement or gypsum binder, slabs of standard sizes, multiples of 600 mm, and up to 25 mm thick, are molded. Such panels can be painted in any desired color.
- Bas alt wool. Bas alt wool slabs have high sound absorption and fire safety. They can have a micro-relief, structural or smooth surface.
- Drywall. Sheet perforated material is characterized by low reflectivity. May have a different perforation pattern. The material is easy to dye.
- Gypsum. Embossed plates made of this material, the so-called 3D panels, are environmentally friendly and non-combustible. Available in various sizes, thicknesses and patterns. The panels are installed using "wet" technology, without the use of frame systems and guides. Can be dyed any color.
- Fiberglass. In the production of acoustic panels, high-density material is used, coated with fiberglass or painted. Piece parts are mounted on walls using special profiles. The size of the plates is determined by the manufacturer, for example, Ecophon acoustic wall panels have a size of 2700 x 1200 mm, 40 mm thick.
- Polyurethane foam. Boards made of this foam material are easily mounted with glue directly on the surface of the walls. The thickness of the material used is from 20 to 100 mm with dimensions of 1000 x 1000 mm. Available as standard in graphite color with differentembossed pattern.
- Melamine. Sound-absorbing wall panels made of this synthetic material are produced in multiples of 600 mm in thicknesses from 20 to 100 mm. The base color of the material is light gray, dyeing in any color is allowed.
Key Features
- Sound absorption coefficient. Characterizes the ability of the panel to absorb sound waves. The value can have a value from 0 to 1. Zero corresponds to the total reflection of the sound, 1 to the total absorption. An open window with an area of 1 sq. m.
- Light reflectance. Specified as a percentage, 0% corresponds to total absorption of light, 100% - total reflection. On average, acoustic panels have a light reflectance value of 60-80%. It is most important to consider this characteristic for ceiling tiles.
- Moisture resistance. This value indicates the resistance of the material to water. Given that acoustic materials are porous, they are highly susceptible to moisture. This parameter is especially important for ceiling tiles.
- Thermal conductivity. It characterizes the ability of a material to conduct heat. Due to their porous structure, according to this indicator, acoustic wall panels are a good heat insulator.
Ceiling Acoustic Panels
In modern interiors, ceiling decoration with sound-absorbing materials is increasingly common. Acoustic ceilings are usually mounted in a frame pattern (for example, slabs"Armstrong"), which allows you to hide the laid communications behind them. Frame systems in this case can be of an open or hidden type. Ceiling panels are additionally subject to weight requirements in order to reduce the load on the elements of the supporting structure. Therefore, for the manufacture of acoustic ceiling tiles, either natural fiber materials or artificial fiberglass are used. The geometric dimensions of such elements, as a rule, are made in multiples of 600 mm, for example, as the popular Armstrong plates, but can reach a length of up to 2400 mm. The thickness of the panels is from 12 to 40 mm. The surface of acoustic ceiling tiles can be both structural and rough. Panels are paintable but usually supplied in white.
Most often used in interior decoration acoustic plates "Armstrong", type "Baikal". Specifications are as below:
- Sound absorption - 0.45.
- Moisture resistance - 90%.
- Reflectiveness - 85%.
- Thermal conductivity - 0.052 W/(m x deg).
- Geometric dimensions - 600 x 600 x 12 mm.
- Fire performance characteristics - G1, V1, D1, T1.
Selection of acoustic materials
The determining parameter of choice is sound absorption. Its value is determined by acoustic calculation, and if it is difficult to perform, then choose a material with a maximum valuesound absorption. When choosing acoustic panels for walls, especially external ones, it is advisable to use products with the lowest possible thermal conductivity. This will reduce heating costs.
For ceiling panels, it is important to pay attention to light reflection: the higher it is, the brighter it will be in the room and the lower the cost of electric lighting. Moisture resistance is also essential for ceiling tiles, its low value can lead to sagging.
Fire properties
Since soundproofing products are used in residential or public premises, including in areas with a massive stay of people, it is important to take into account the fire performance of materials. The main ones are:
- Flammability.
- Flammability.
- Smoke generating capacity.
- Toxicity.
