Absorbers
Absorbers come in a several forms to meet a variety of project types. Regardless of the absorber required for the project, all components should meet Class A fire ratings per ASTM E84, Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials.
Baffles present the most economical option for addressing reverberation issues, as they are available in a multiple thicknesses and standard sizes. These absorbers can also be easily customized to meet design requirements through custom-specified fabrics or colors.
Ceiling clouds are another absorber type ideal for reducing noise intrusion in ceiling areas. They can be suspended horizontally with eyehooks or in a T-grid attachment that may be secured in the field or at the factory before shipment. Like baffles, ceiling clouds can be customized with various fabric, color, and edging choices.
Catenary banners are a popular absorber solution for areas that have a large, open space such as gymnasiums and multi-purpose rooms. These products can be easily installed on ceilings with grommets, and are available in various thicknesses and lengths to meet the requirements of different project types.
Real-world results
A prime example of advanced planning delivering superior acoustical and aesthetic results is a wood ceiling panel installation at the Austin Chinese Church in Austin, Texas. When church leaders decided to renovate the 318-m2 (3420-sf) worship facility, there were several goals, including an improved acoustical experience.
As is often the case in worship facilities, the extreme height and angles of the ceiling created a less than desirable sound quality for congregants. The ceiling panel solution for this project had to address these acoustical problems, as well as reflect the design team’s goals of creating a welcoming environment and account for the extreme variations in temperature and humidity that is typical for the region.
The project utilized linear ceiling panels that combined an aesthetically pleasing birch veneer finish with excellent acoustical values. The wood panels finish ensured longevity, providing the church with a solution engineered to their specifications and designed to withstand multiple years of use.
The schedule for the project was tight. As is typical with religious facility projects, scheduling was contingent on the delivery and installation of the church pews. All ceiling installation needed to be completed by a hard date to accommodate this phase of the project, requiring the teams to build around the specifications of the ceiling panels instead of adding them in later. By adopting a coordinated approach between the design, installation, and acoustical teams, the ceiling installation was completed on time and within the owner’s projected budget.
Manufacturing
The manufacturing process for the wood ceiling panels combined both solid wood and veneered MDF to make panels incorporating different blade sizes and spacing. Due to the size of the project, multiple logs were sourced and sorted by the master veneer-maker to ensure optimized log-to-
log consistency.
There were many panel groupings at different heights in the Austin Chinese Church, which made perfecting the layout of the ceiling critical. The acoustical team specified a 17-mm (11/16-in.) wide by 38-mm (11/4-in.) high blade with six blades per panel. After slicing, the veneer was laid up by hand with particular attention to color, grain structure, and overall size. While pre-manufactured veneer or laminate would have shortened the lead-time for the products, the made-to-order manufacturing of the veneer kept the cost down and maximized quality control.
To provide the owner with a ceiling that performed as well as it looked, the backside of the panels were covered with an acoustic textile combined with a generous percentage of open area provided by the blade spacing.
