Several acoustical units like acousti-celotex, fibetetone, cushiontone, and sanacoustic tile, have the advantage that they can be decorated with oll-base paint without having ‘their high absorptivity impaired. This property is due to the mechanically made holes which permit the sound waves to reach the interior of the tile and be absorbed as a result of viscous forces in the tiny pores of the material. The principal disadvantages of an acoustical tile its limitations for architectural treatment and its cost compared with thet of other acoustical materials. It is impossible to conceal entirely the points between adjacent tiles, and for this reason such treatments should be limited to rooms or surfaces where a tile or ashlar effect is not objectionable. With types to tile is possible to secure the appeatance of a continuous or monolithic surface by Using tight unbeveled joints and by decorating an entire surface. But in rooms with low ceilings, ‘of in other rooms with tile of the walls, the ashlar effect is noticeable with any type of decoration. For this reason, the edge is frequently beveled around the tile to emphasize, rather than attempt to conceal, its masonry effect. The bevels also serve to “‘concea!”” slight irregularities in the fitting of the ties. Most types of acoustical tile on the market are relatively costly. In comparing the cost of acoustical tile with that of other types of acoustical treatment it should be borne in mind that the cost per square foct should not be considered alone. Acoustical tiles often are ‘two of three times more absorptive than acoustical plasters, and for this reason as much absorption may be attained with one square foot of tile as with two or three square feet of plaster. The U.S, Federal specifications SS-A-118 — a classifies prefabricated units into four types. These types and their subclassifications are listed below, together with name of one or more representative commercial products. The figure shows the surface ap- pearance of the different types of materials, “Type |. Cast Units having a pitted or granular — appearing surtace’” “Class A. All — mineral units composed of small granular of finely divided particles with portland cement bider.”” ‘The masonry like surface appearance of the units makes them particular- ly suited for installation in buildings of the monumental types and in some. churches. These tiles are tated as incombustible, Paints normally reduces: their sound absorptive properties, but decoration is seldom required. The surfaces of materials in this class are reesonably smooth. Tv LA tkoudtolith Tile. R Guastaving Co)“Class 8. All — maveral units composed of small granules or finely divided parties with fime or gypsum binder.’ Type HB (hufletone, Standard. Celotex Corp.) Class C. Units composed of small granules or finely divided particles of mineral or vegetable origin with incombustible mineral binder. Type HC Goftone, American Acoustic, Inc.) “Type Il. Units having parforated surface; the perforations to be arranged in a regular pattern."” “Class A. Units having a perforated surface which acts as a covering and sup- Port for the sound absorbent material to be strong and durable and substantially rigid.” in this type of unit an absorptive pad, blanket, of rigid element (frequently consisting of compressed mineral wool) is covered dy perforated sheet metal or board. The perforated covering does not reduce the absorption to the area covered. For example, the absorption coefficient of a blanket covered with perforated sheet steel which exposes only 15 percent of the absorptive material may have a coefficient, up to 4000 cycles,eeeeeean eee eaee eee eee eereaereere ere ea eoew ae een e ae e ee Type IFB (AcousttCelotex Cone Tile, Celotox Corp.) Other brands: ACOUSTH-CELOTEX MINERAL TILE Celatex Corp. ACOUSTIFIBRE National Gypsum Co. “CUSHIONTONE Armstrong Cork Co. FIBERTONE Johns — Manville PAXTILES Newails — Insulation Co., Ltd. (England) STENITPLATTA A.B, Arki (Sweden! “Class C. Units having slets or grooves extending into the sound absorbent material.” ‘The action of the slots or grooves is similar to that of the holes in the tiles of the preceding classification. i Type HC Cauditone, UL §. Gypsum Co.) Other brand: TREETEX (Type C) _—_Treetex, Ltd. (Sweden & England) “TYPE Ill Units having a fissured surface." This type, includes tiles differing widely in composition, Some consist largely of tilaments or mineral woo! granules; in others, vermiculite or cork is the principal ingredient. The action of the fissures in causing ab- sorption of sound by the units is very simitar to that of the perforations in type i! — B. These tiles have surfaces that ore sanded or planed avnsinth SPAS eto ecatsbaaliType ill (Cockouwae, Armsirang Cork Co) ‘Other brands: ACOUSTONE — United States Gypsum Co. FISSURETONE —_Celotex Corp. TRAVERTONE Armstrong Cork Co. “TYPE IV Units having a felted fiber surface.” “Class A. Units composed of long wood fibers.”” Units of this class are made of wood shavings of excelsicr, generally pressed together with @ mineral binder. The wood fibers may be fine, medium or coarse. Type WA (Absorb-ANoise, Luw-Stevenson Co) Other brands: ABSORB-A-TONE —Luse — stevanson Co. LW. INSULATION BOARD —-Brown and Tawse, Ltd. POREX Porete Manufacturing Co. ‘SONO-FHERM ‘Sono. — Therm Co. “Class B. Units composed of fine felted vegetable fiber or wood pulp."* gland) included in thie clase are small tiles and also acoustical fiberboards. in general, these materials are not fireproof. The fiberboards provide a means of obtaining absorption at relatively low cost. They are commen- ly manufactured in large panels, K feet wide, and 8, 10, or 12 feet long. The use of fiberboards presents a difficulty in the matter of decoration and redecoration. Oil, lead, and other non-porous paints will close theOn the other hand, thin dyes and stains, stencil designs with heavier paint dusted on with a pounce-bag can be used without impeiring the acoustical valve of the material. In spite of these limitations, certain acoustical fiberboards are useful for the control af noise and reverbera- tion in buildings. There ara many schoo! and industrial jobs, where cost is an important consideration, in which fiberboards may be used to ad- vantage. Type WB {Econacovstic, Nationa! Gypsum Co.) ‘Other brands: ACOUSTILITE Insulite Co. FIBRACOUSTIC Johns ~ Manville LLOYD BOARD Loyd boards, Ltd, (England) NUWOOD BEVEL LAP TILE Wood Conversion Co, “Class C. Units composed of mineral fibers.” TypelV-C {0-T Ductliner, Cetotex Corp) Type 1V — C4 G-T Dustliner, Celotex, Corp.) Other brands: AIRACOUSTIC SHEETS: Johns — Manville FIBERGLASS ACOUSTICAL TILE Owens — Corning fiberglass BAYEEIT — Rlewalle Ineniatinn Ca (td [Pnaland