Whether it is a crowded auditorium, a conference hall or a classroom, the sound created inside can create reverberations that interfere with the actual audio. This in turn can become a distraction and spoil the auditory experience of the people occupying the space. Sound-engineered ceiling panels and acoustical wall panels can be installed to reduce the unwanted sound reflections.
Before designing any space two most important things that need to be considered are Rt60 (Reverberation Time) and STI Index (Speech Clarity). Rt60 is the time taken for sound to die down by 60 decibels and STI stands for clarity of sound inside a hall.
Every space needs to be treated differently since Rt60 needs to be achieved depending upon the requirements e.g. requirement for studios will totally be different from an auditorium where live plays are to be performed.Moreover it is important to note that getting only the average Rt right will not get a good STI. It is important to get the correct Rt at broadband frequencies or at the frequencies required depending upon the requirements of the space. To achieve the best results it is important to absorb the broadband frequencies proportionately.
“To absorb the broadband frequencies proportionately, we should use average NRC1 panels. There are very few companies in the market having absorption as high as Average NRC1 for their products. Himalyan Acoustics offer a wide range of products with Average NRC 1,” says a spokesperson from Himalayan Acoustics.
The products offered by Himalyan Acoustics are made in India and are also exported. It uses best quality raw materials and are not only interior but also be used for exterior applications. Manufacturing is done with state-of-art technology, claims Himalyan Acoutics’s spokesperson.
In India, it has been around two decades that the concept of purposeful false ceiling and wall panelling i.e. for acoustics and thermal has been popular among the masses besides only for decoration purpose. The reason being India is a developing country and has a lot of potential. Over the last many years there has been great infrastructural development all over India.
Every building requires false ceiling and wall panelling in some area or the other like in schools for auditoriums, music rooms, class rooms, cinema theatres, studios, home theatres, offices, conference rooms, seminar halls, audio video rooms, banquet halls, cultural auditoriums, hospitals, hotels etc.
“There are two major purpose for doing false ceiling and wall panelling in a room that is sound absorption (stop echo) and sound isolation (stop the unwanted noise to transfer from one room to another or from outside),” says Binod K Bhuwalka, Director, Fibretex India Pvt Ltd.
As a result with proper false ceiling and wall panelling, one can make the area effective, by stopping echoing, distracted or unwanted noise thus, amplifying the sound quality and getting a pleasing experience.
False ceiling is important for thermal insulation as it reduces the transfer of outside heat into the room, makes the air conditioning more effective, thus getting an effective and fruitful results beneath it.
Following are some of the choices for ceilings and acoustical walls:
1 FibrecreteFibrecrete is a brand for multipurpose woodwool insulation boards manufactured by Fibretex India Pvt. Ltd. has been in the market since 1969.
Fibrecrete, the light weight multipurpose thermal, acoustic and structural woodwool insulation boards are manufactured in a safe and non-toxic process using one of the most common natural resource available to the mankind since evolution i.e. wood. Long pine wood fibres i.e. Woodwool is mineralised with magnesite and an inorganic salt, laid into dyes and hydraulically compressed into panels. Application areas include roof insulation, underdeck insulation, permanent shuttering, false ceiling, wall panelling and partitions for thermal as well as acoustic insulation.
It is a versatile product with many options. Fibrecrete can be spray painted in desired colour, plastered, can be pasted with fabrics for better aesthetics, can be easily cut, screw, nailed at site.
“Fibrecrete are breathable panels, highly fire resistant and durable, doesn’t get affected by fungus, termites. Contains no toxic binders, resins, no asbestos or formaldehyde and thus is eco-friendly and are naturally degradable in a landfill,” says Bhuwalka.
2 Aphony FibretteProviding and fixing Aphony Fibrette tiles made of wood fibre 1mm width cement composites 15mm thick with an option of colours as per the choice of the architect or person in charge of size 595×595 mm. Has noise absorption of 1 NRC as per ISO: 354-1985 and ASTM 423-90 a, density 400 Kg/ m3, meets stringent fire ratings ASTMD-876 and fire class -1 as per BS 476 part 5 and 6, class P-not easily ignitable as per BS-476-Part 5 (ignitability for material).This is applicable for core and class 1 as per BS 476-Part 7 (Method for classification of surface spread of flame), weather resistance as per IS 3308, thermal insulation as per IS: 3346-1980 with relative humidity of 90 per cent RH at 60 C (140 F) for 15 days is equal to no deterioration. Conforms to En 131682001 and is RoHS complaint. It can be installed on T24 grid system of 0.6mm thick main ‘T’ length minimum 3000mm, web minimum 35mm to be placed at 600mm centre to centre and secondary cross ‘T’ of length 600mm web minimum 27mm inter locked, wire support for main T to be taken at every 1200mm length wise and 600mm width wise, specially designed for acoustic vibration management and long life with a backing of Himalyan Acoustics 50mm 1000 GSM thick absorbwool tested as per fire retardant ASTMD 635-1991 and IS 15061-2002 for excellent results.
3 Aphony GlossProviding and Fixing Aphony Gloss 15mm tiles made of wood fibre 1mm width cement composites covered with acoustically transparent absorptive microfibres on the front side with an option of colours as per the choice of the architect or person in charge of size 595 X 595mm highly recommend for ceilings, has noise absorption of 0.85 NRC as per ISO 354/ASTM 423C, meets stringent fire ratings ASTM D- 876, and BS: 476 weather resistance as per IS 3308, thermal insulation as per IS: 3346-1980 with relative humidity of 90 per cent RH at 60 C (140 F) for 15 days is equal to no deterioration. It can be installed on T24 grid system of 0.6mm thick, main ‘T’ length minimum 3000mm, web minimum 35mm to be placed at 600mm centre to centre and secondary cross ‘T’ of length 600mm, web minimum 27 mm, inter locked, wire support for main T to be taken at every 1200mm length wise and 600mm width wise, specially designed for acoustic vibration management and long life with a backing of Himalyan Acoustics 50mm 1000 GSM thick absorbwool tested as per fire retardant ASTMD 635-1991 and IS 15061-2002 for excellent results.
4 Aphony Cortex SplenderProviding and Fixing Aphony Cortex Splendor tiles made of wood fibre 1mm width cement composites 25mm thick and covered with acoustically transparent woven fabric on the front side, with an option of colours as per the choice of the architect or person in charge of size 1200X600/ 600X600mm. Providing sound absorption of 1 NRC as per ISO: 354-1985 and ASTM 423-90 a, STC of 49 as per ASTM E90/413 meets the stringent fire ratings ASTMD- 876 and BS: 476, weather resistant as per IS 3308 ,thermal insulation as per IS:3346-1980. Conforms to EN 131682001 to be installed on G.I studs 600x600mm centre to centre 2400mm X 50mm web thickness 0.5mm, flanges 15 and 50mm fully knurled giving it high strength, hot dipped galvanised steel with 120GSM zinc coating specially designed for acoustic vibration management and long life with a backing of Himalyan Acoustics. 50mm thick, 1000 GSM absorb wool tested as per fire retardant ASTMD 635-1991 insulation and IS 15061-2002 for excellent results.
5 Stretch CrepeProviding and fixing Himalyan Acoustics stretch fabric system on G.I studs 2400mm X 50mm web flanges 15 and 50mm fully knurled giving it high strength, hot dipped galvanised steel with 120GSM zinc coating specially designed for acoustic vibration management and long life with a backing 50mm thick insulation. Aphony Fibrette 600x1200x20mm tile with NRC 1.00 to be mechanically fastened on the G.I studs. Acoustical infill of absorbwool 10mm which is adhered to the acoustical panel on the front side, then 12mm/20mm vinyl tracks are screw fixed on to the 6mm Ply and acoustics panels. Then the fabric is stretched over the vinyl tracks. The installed system should provide NRC OF 1.00 to be installed on G.I studs 600x600mm centre to centre 2400mm X 50mm web thickness 0.5mm, flanges 15 and 50mm fully knurled giving it high strength, hot dipped galvanised steel with 120GSM zinc coating specially designed for acoustic vibration management and long life with a backing of Himalyan Acoustics. 50mm thick, 1000 GSM absorb wool tested as per fire retardant ASTMD 635-1991 insulation and IS 15061-2002 for excellent results.