Acoustic Ceiling Tiles

Suspended Acoustic Ceiling Tiles

Acoustics are one of the key attributes to consider when selecting drop ceiling tiles. The correct acoustic drop ceiling tiles can help optimise workplaces across different sectors in a variety of ways:

• Boost productivity levels
• Reduce stress
• Encourage creativity
• Increase privacy
• Improve communication
• Promote staff wellbeing

Acoustic ceilings fall into two main categories: sound absorption and sound insulation. While most ceiling panels are designed to excel in one variable or the other, there are a few suspended ceiling products that offer both.

Please Note: It’s impossible to achieve a completed soundproof suspended ceiling. Whilst our acoustical ceiling tiles can help to curb the chaos, there are many external factors to consider – from your installation method to building usage.

Types of Ceiling Acoustics

The type of acoustic drop ceiling tile you’ll need will depend on the challenges experienced in your workplace. In general, sound absorbing products are best for reducing echoing, whereas sound insulating products are best for improving privacy.

Sound Absorption

Sound absorption refers to the reverberation of noise within a room. Sound will naturally dissipate as it travels, but reflects in a similar way to light. When someone’s voice, for example, reaches a hard surface like a wall, floor or ceiling, some of that sound is reflected back into the room – this is how echoes are created. It can be distracting and loud if not properly treated.

We offer a variety of sound absorbing ceiling panels to combat echoing in the workplace. These are made from softer materials that work by absorbing noise energy, removing echoes and improving speech intelligibility.

Each tile has a sound absorption rating. This is measured in alpha waves between 0.0 (no sound absorption) and 1.0 (complete sound absorption). To make this easier to understand, most suspended ceiling tile manufacturers categorise their products into classes ranging from A (the best sound absorbers) to E (the poorest sound absorbers).

Top Tip: To achieve a decent level of sound absorption, we recommend selecting a tile that’s rated Class C or above. This is also the minimum requirement for new suspended ceilings installed within schools.

Sound Insulation

Also referred to as sound attenuation, sound insulation refers to the transmission of sound from one room into another. A common example is the acoustic demands of a private meeting room adjacent to an open plan office. This office layout will likely require high sound attenuation from the suspended ceiling, as well as additional partitioning systems to prevent sound from travelling from room to room. With the correct noise protection, businesses can prevent confidential conversations from being overheard outside of the meeting room.

Sound insulation is measured in decibels (dB). These will be clearly stated in the Specification section on our product pages.

Top Tip: To provide a reasonable degree of privacy in your workplace, we recommend that the minimum sound insulation rating between adjoining rooms is at least 34 dB.

For more information on the difference between sound insulation and sound absorption, read our article.

Acoustic Ceiling Products

If you’re struggling with acoustics in your workplace, we offer a variety of products to suit any eventuality. From more traditional systems to design-led solutions, these include:

• Sound Absorbing Ceiling Tiles
• Sound Insulating Ceiling Tiles
• Ceiling Canopies, Rafts and Baffles
• Acoustic Insulation
• Suspended Ceiling Kits

Benefits of Acoustic Ceiling Tiles

Once installed, soundproof ceiling tiles offer a number of benefits, including:

• Privacy

  Private workspaces are pivotal to most business operations. Installing acoustic drop ceiling tiles with a good sound insulation rating can reduce room-to-room sound transfer, meaning conversations won’t be overheard. This in turn can have several benefits, such as boosting productivity levels in the office.

• Speech Intelligibility

  By replacing your ceiling with sound absorbing tiles, you can reduce echoing and minimise noise interruptions in your building. By default, this will improve speech clarity and intelligibility, as well as communication between your employees.

• Suspended Ceiling Design

  Acoustic solutions don’t need to be boring. Our wide stock of products means you can pick from a variety of design-led tiles, from our 3D acoustic panels to our floating ceiling canopies, baffles and rafts.

• Installation

  Installing your suspended acoustic ceiling panels couldn’t be easier. Once your ceiling grid is fitted, all you need to do is lift the tiles through the gaps and lower them into place. This means they’re also easy to remove again should you need to replace any in the future.

Acoustic Suspended Ceiling Tiles Buying Advice

It can be difficult to know the best acoustic solution to install. Before you part with any money, get a FREE acoustic survey from our in-house team. After you’ve filled out the form, our acousticians will provide a desk-based acoustic survey, with product recommendations to meet the needs of your space.

For more information, we also recommend reading our Advanced Guide to Acoustic Suspended Ceilings.

Acoustic Ceiling Panel Installation Advice

Installing suspended acoustic ceiling panels is quick, simple and easy. To make your acoustic ceiling installation even easier, we recommend following our installation guide. This includes a detailed, step-by-step process, video guide and downloadable PDF for you to print and take with you on site.

As an overview, however, you will need to follow these basic steps:

• It’s easier to build your suspended ceiling system with a pre-calculated drawing. Our team can provide you with a detailed layout of your system that indicates the position of your ceiling components.

• The first step in your construction is to put together your ceiling grid. This consists of several metal grid components that interlock together, forming the skeleton of your systems with gaps ready for installation.

• Most acoustic ceiling panels use a lay-in fitting method. This means that, once your grid is secure, they are gently lifted through the gaps at an angle, and gently lowered into place. Once you’ve covered the entire ceiling, your project is complete.

   

Suspended Acoustic Ceiling Aftercare and Service

If correctly specified, your suspended acoustic ceiling should last a long time. To keep it performing effectively, we recommend regular maintenance such as light dusting and cleaning. Please Note: This will vary depending on your product.

Should you notice any damage to your ceiling, replacements will be needed as soon as possible. Breaks, cracks and gaps in your suspended ceiling system can impact its overall acoustic performance and you may notice your workplace becoming louder and more stressful. Fortunately, it’s possible to just replace the impacted tiles without paying to replace the entire system.

To find an exact match to your existing tiles, try our Replacement Ceiling Tile Finder or contact our team for more advice.

Our Customers Also Ask

• What are acoustic ceilings made of?
  The material that your acoustic ceiling tiles are made from will determine the properties it has. Sound insulating ceiling products are generally made from harder materials such as:

  • Mineral fibre
  • Stone wool
  • Fibreglass
  • Plasterboard

  Sound absorbing ceiling products are generally made from softer materials such as:

  • Mineral fibre
  • PET felt
• What is the best ceiling for noise?
  False ceilings are one of the best ways to treat noise in commercial environments. They offer the flexibility to install a wide variety of acoustic ceiling tiles, depending on your noise requirements.
• What is the best way to soundproof an existing ceiling?
  The best way to soundproof your existing ceiling is by replacing your tiles with acoustic ceiling tiles. At Ceiling Tiles UK, we offer a variety of products and replacing your tiles is quick, easy and painless.
• Can you paint acoustic ceiling tiles?
  No. We never recommend that you paint your ceiling tiles as it can impact performance and leave your workplace facing even more acoustic challenges.
• Are acoustic ceiling tiles good for soundproofing?
  Whilst it’s impossible to completely soundproof a room, acoustic ceiling tiles can provide a high degree of protection to optimise your work environment. With the help of our specialists, you can find the perfect product to provide targeted solutions in your space.
• How long do acoustic ceiling tiles last?
  If correctly specified for your environment, your acoustic ceiling tiles should last a long time without the need for replacements. If you notice your suspended ceiling needs replacing, we recommend actioning this as quickly as possible, as damaged tiles can significantly impact the overall acoustic performance in your workplace.
• Do suspended ceilings reduce noise?
  Yes, if built with acoustic ceiling panels, suspended ceilings can significantly reduce noise. Sound insulating ceiling tiles will reduce sound travelling from room-to-room whereas sound absorbing ceiling tiles will reduce the volume of sound reflected off hard surfaces back into a room.
• What material is used for an acoustic ceiling?
  Acoustic ceiling tiles can be made from a variety of materials, with the most common being fibreglass, mineral wool or acoustic felt (PET). These materials are designed to create an effective barrier that blocks sound energy from passing through the soundproofing tiles and disturbing neighbouring rooms.
• What are acoustic ceiling tiles?
  Acoustic ceiling tiles, also known as sound proof panels, are designed to mitigate noise pollution within a room. Due to the materials they’re made from, they can absorb sound to reduce sound transference and echoing.