Acoustical Materials and Its Application

As a Facing for Something Else

ALUMINUM, perforated

LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE

ADVANTAGES
Permanent, rigid, durable;
Acoustic properties can be controlled by quantity
and quality of holes and sound
Absorption value of pads used behind it;
Wide range of colours.
DISADVANTAGES
Requires special supporting and attaching
systems for ceilings, requires acoustic pads.
MAJOR USES
Ceilings of buildings where acoustic control is
important.

ADVANTAGES
Permanent, durable; roof or floor decking gives
ceiling with acoustical value; fire resistant.
DISADVANTAGES
Limited acoustic value, cannot be painted and
repainted; no colour selection.
MAJOR USES
Ceilings of buildings where some acoustic
treatment is important.

Tuned Resonant Absorber

CONCRETE BLOCK
CLAY TILE, structural, perforated
ADVANTAGES
Permanent, durable; withstand rough usage;
Fire resistant; load bearing
DISADVANTAGES
Limited acoustical value; can used only for walls;
acoustic pad within structural tile becomes permanent
part of the building.
MAJOR USES
Walls of buildings where acoustic treatment is
important. Generally Corridors

ADVANTAGES
Permanent, durable; withstand rough usage; Fire
resistant; load bearing
DISADVANTAGES
Can be used only for walls; acoustic pads, when
used; become permanent part of the building.
MAJOR USES
Walls and partition of building where acoustical
treatment is important; corridors, sidewalls,
auditoriums, theatres, etc.

Acoustical Materials and Its Application

interference.

CORK
ADVANTAGES
Limited Acoustic Value; easily installed,
Flame resistant.
DISADVANTAGES
As acoustic value increases it becomes softer;
for ceiling tile the cork is granular in form with
binders and other materials; limited colour
selection.
MAJOR USES
Flooring; bulletin, tack and similar boards;
ceilings when in tile form.
Insulate against outside noise and to absorb
sound formed within, and to prevent echoes

FIBERGLASS, plastic fabric

ADVANTAGES
Good acoustic value, easily
flame resistant, withstands
rough usage
DISADVANTAGES
Requires special application,
and support
MAJOR USES
Acoustical treatment of office
partitions; Also theatres and
auditoriums

MINERAL WOOL
ADVANTAGES
Limited acoustic value; easily installed,
Flame resistant.
DISADVANTAGES
Soft, will not withstand rough usage; cannot
be painted or repainted, no colour selection
MAJOR USES
Ceilings of buildings where some acoustic
treatment is important.
The tightly interwoven fibers and high density
of mineral wool work to reduce the flow of air, and
thereby resist the sound waves it carries. The
denser the insulating material, the more effective
it is at dampening sound.

covered
installed,
relatively

hangers

walls

and

Fiberglass are sound enhancing

or
absorbing materials. Meaning,
they alter
the sound waves so that resulting sound is clear and devoid of any noise or

PERFORATED HARDBOARD
ADVANTAGES
Permanent, rigid, durable;
Acoustic properties can be controlled by
quantity and quality of holes and sound
Absorption value of pads used behind it;
DISADVANTAGES
Requires special supporting and attaching
systems for ceilings, fire resistant depending
on pads and supporting system
MAJOR USES
Walls requiring acoustical treatment.

Acoustical Materials and Its Application

It has acoustic dampening properties, so coated with plastic, it can be used as a
soundproofing treatment to any room

PLASTIC FOAM
ADVANTAGES
Good Acoustic Value; easily installed,
Flame resistant.
DISADVANTAGES
Soft, will not withstand rough usage;
cannot be painted or repainted, no colour
selection
MAJOR USES
Walls, ceilings, doors, and other features of
a room to control noise levels, vibration,
and echoes.
The objective of acoustic foam is to improve
the sound quality by removing residual sound
in any space.

PERFORATED STEEL
ADVANTAGES
Permanent, rigid, durable; Acoustic properties can be
controlled by quantity and quality of holes and
sound absorption value of pads used behind it; easily
painted; wide selection of colours in porcelain
enamel type

DISADVANTAGES
Requires special supporting and attaching
systems for ceilings, fire resistant depending on
pads and supporting system
MAJOR USES
Ceilings of buildings where acoustic control is
important.

The perforated panels, some of which are stand-alone units, serve as supports for the acoustic
mineral wool inside. Sound waves penetrate the medium through the holes and are converted into
heat.

TEXTILES, CARPET
ADVANTAGES
Good Acoustic Value when draped; Good
Acoustical Property. Available perforated to be
applied over padding; Easily installed; Can be
used on floors, walls or ceilings, wide variety
of colours, textures, designs, and thickness
DISADVANTAGES
Require periodic cleaning; relatively easily
damaged; have limited life
MAJOR USES

Floors, not only for acoustic treatment but

also for comfort and decorative purposes;
on walls and ceilings for special types of
acoustic treatment.
Are typically used to either absorb sound or as a
cover for acoustical panels. Some fabrics can also
be used as a speaker grill cloth or as a finish on
other types of materials.