CEILING TILES

Acoustic Ceiling Tiles are intended to reduce echo within the room, and also to reduce sound transmission between rooms. They may form part of a suspended ceiling, or may be attached directly to the underside of the ceiling. A common material for acoustic ceiling tiles is open-cell melamine based foam, which may have a Hypalon coated surface. The leading acoustic ceiling tile manufacturers listed below the panel of sponsored links have comprehensive websites, with information on all aspects, including colors and materials.

Ceiling tiles are most usually fitted into a drop or dropped ceiling. This consists of a grid of metal channels, typically in the form an upside-down T, which is hung from the ceiling on wires. The most common sizes for the grid panels in the USA is either 2ft by 2ft or 2ft by 4ft. Light fittings and ventilation grilles are available in the same sizes, so that they can easily be fitted instead of solid panels. The space above the drop ceiling is called the plenum space. It is used for concealing ductwork, wiring, and piping. It may also be used as part of the air circulation system. Suspended ceiling tiles The panels for a drop ceiling can be made of metal, plastic, wood, or mineral fibres. They are available in a wide range of colours and surface textures. Mineral fibre is the best material for acoustic ceiling panels. For improved absorption of sound, additional insulation known as Sound Attenuation Batts (SABs) or 'sound batts' above the panels. This helps to deaden sound within the room, and reduce noise transmission between rooms. There are two commonly used ways of defining acoustic performance. The Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) is a single number between zero and one which measures the sound absorption performance of a material such as an acoustic ceiling panel. The higher the number, the better the acoustic performance. The Ceiling Attenuation Class (CAC) measure the ability of an acoustic celing panel to block airborne noise transmission between different areas. The higher the CAC number, the better the performance in suppressing sound transmission. Directly fixed ceiling tiles As an alternative to a drop ceiling, acoustic ceiling panels can be fixed directly to the ceiling. For example, where exceptional sound absorption is required specially profiled acoustical foam panels can be fixed to the ceiling. These have protruding ridges or pyramids, greatly increasing the surface area and providing very high sound absorption. This type of acoustic ceiling panel is used in recording studios, edit rooms, broadcast studios, and home studios. In extreme cases, such as testing and research laboratories requiring anechoic (no echo) rooms and chambers, wedge acoustical foam can be used. The deep wedge pattern, typically 6 or 8 inches deep, scatters and deflects sound waves, eliminating bounce-back sounds such as echo, feedback and resonance.

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Acoustical tile is common in large public areas, for a variety of different reasons. Theaters, concert halls, and churches use it to make the nuances of the auditory experience more pleasant. In addition, acoustical tile aims to completely eliminate exterior noise such as traffic, allowing those within the space to focus on what they've come to hear. This sound-filtering capability is very useful in schools and office buildings, where people trying to concentrate would be distracted by the sound of others in adjacent rooms.