a c o u s t i c a l p e r f o r m a n c e i s e a s y w i t h S o u n d D e s i g n™

• o f f i c e

• e d u c a t i o n

• h e a l t h c a r e

CEILING SYSTEMS

beautiful design + great acoustics = Sound Design™

6-7Sound Design In The Workplace

4-5Get ting To Know Sound

Meet Sound.

Sound

has a strong

personality.

It can impede

concentration, healing, and

learning, or add drama, vibrance,

and energy. Sound protects every

whisper and proclaims every

announcement.

When Sound is not considered

in design, it can result in

distracting and irritating noise.

Sound Design™ is pretty basic

once you get to know it.

So, read on!

beautiful design + great acoustics = Sound Design™

13Acoustics Key Terms

12Acoustics At-A-Glance

8-9Sound Design In Education

10-11Sound Design In Healthcare

Featured Products Formations™ Curves with Ceramaguard® Fine Fissured™ Lay-in panels with Classic Axiom® trim on Prelude® XL® 15/16" suspension system in White. Formations Squares with MetalWorks™ Vector® Microperforated panels with Classic Axiom trim in Gun Metal Grey on Prelude XL 15/16" suspension system in Gun Metal Grey. Formations Curves with 360º Grid and Classic Axiom trim in Custom RAL 1021 – Valley Center High School, Valley Center, KS

it has both positive and negative traits

Sound can be useful, inspiring, and helpful. Products with high NRC, or noise reduction coefficient, absorb and minimize unwanted sound.

Sound can also be annoying or distracting. Concentration and comprehension can be difficult. The ability to understand the spoken word is called intelligibility.

Sound can behave erratically. It can bounce around and echo so that it’s not easily understood. That’s called reverberation.

Sound can be made to stay put when you need it to. You can block sound by selecting a product with high CAC, or ceiling attenuation class, a measure of sound blocking.

Sound, and lots of it, is sometimes desired to enliven music venues and night clubs. Sound reflection is when reflective acoustical surfaces add controlled vibrancy to spaces.

But you don't need to become an acoustics expert – simply go to our recommended products chart on page 12 and find the right solutions for you!

Beautiful Design + Great Acoustics = Sound Design™ | armstrong.com/acoustics

getting to know sound

4

5

Featured Products

1 MetalWorks™ RH200 Custom Ceiling System with Rd 1522 perforation with Custom 4" trim in White – Foundation Campus, Seattle, WA

2 WoodWorks® Tegular Custom 1' x 8' panels in Bamboo Patina with W2 perforation on Prelude® XL® 15/16" suspension system with 4" Classic Axiom® in Silver Satin; WoodWorks Walls Custom 4' x 8' panels in Bamboo Patina – Chandler City Hall, Chandler, AZ

vanillaSelect modest, classic, simple designs for tried and true acoustical solutions.

va-va-voomEmbrace creative, stimulating, eye-catching design for excellent acoustical solutions that make an impact.

1

2

NRC + CAC = Sound Design™

Sound Design™ in today’s workplace addresses both quiet concentration and energetic collaboration. Studies have shown that excessive noise at the office reduces worker effectiveness, raises stress, and lowers employee satisfaction.

An effective choice for open plan environments would have high NRC to decrease reverberant sound and high CAC to block sound from adjoining work stations.

It’s easy to achieve speech privacy and low reverberation time with simple acoustical science.

Contributors of Noise

Open Plan Offices

• Conversations, benching workstations, speaker phones

Closed Plan Offices

• Sound transfer from room to room

Sound Design

Open Plan/Collaboration Areas

• Requires high NRC and CAC products

• Spot acoustic treatments for noise separation

Open Plan/Focus Spaces

• Requires products with high NRC and CAC

Closed Plan/Privacy Spaces

• Requires high CAC and NRC products in closed plan areas

workplace

Beautiful Design + Great Acoustics = Sound Design™ | armstrong.com/acoustics6

sound in the

pow-wow!Design that is vibrant, stimulating. Dynamic acoustics.

peacefulCalm, sleek, simple design can lead to quiet, clever acoustics.

NRC + CAC = Sound Design™ 7

1

2

Featured Products

1 TechZone™ Ceiling System Optima® Square Tegular 4' x 4' field panels and 4' x 6" technical panels on Interlude® 9/16" suspension system – Interventure Capital Group LLC, New York, NY

2 Optima® Plank Custom Ceiling-to-Wall Faceted Transitions on Suprafine® 9/16" suspension system with Axiom®-Vector® and custom trim – Bayer Interventional, Coon Rapids, MN

8

Acoustical considerations for schools vary by space:

• Classrooms • Library

• Cafeteria • Auditorium

• Gym

educationsound in

Beautiful Design + Great Acoustics = Sound Design™ | armstrong.com/acoustics

Independent Research Confirms

• Students typically hear only 3 out of every 4 words in poorly designed classrooms

• Speech clarity is dependent on architecture

• Background noise interferes with speech intelligibility

• Noise increases vocal fatigue and absenteeism among teachers

• Noise and reverberation combine to reduce speech intelligibility

Contributors of noise

• Neighboring classrooms

• Adjacent corridors

• Multipurpose spaces

• HVAC equipment

• Outdoor noise

Sound Design

• High performing learning environments

• High speech intelligibility

9

edu cationsound in

Featured Products

1 School Zone™ Fine Fissured™ Lay-in, Items 1713 & 1714 – University High School, Morgantown, WV

2 SoundScapes® Shapes in Cranberry, Tangerine, Plum, and Pale Lemon – DJ Montague Elementary School, Williamsburg, VA

1

making the gradeEconomical, do-it-all design can enable crisp acoustics.

ace it Inspirational design can generate interactive, engaging acoustics.

NRC + CAC = Sound Design™

1

2

10

healthsound in

Sound in today’s healthcare facilities requires high levels of attention to design to ensure speech privacy (HIPAA) and optimum patient recuperation. When sound becomes excessive in corridors, busy nurses’ stations, and chaotic treatment rooms, it negatively affects patient stress and can create discomfort. It can also affect communication between doctors and nurses.

Studies indicate that on average, hospital noise levels exceed those set by the World Health Organization.

Worldwide, the sound levels inside hospitals average 72 decibels during the day and 60 decibels at night – far exceeding the standard of 40 decibels or less, set by the World Health Organization.*

Contributors of Noise

• Hard surfaces

• Walls not built to deck

• Alarms, generators, HVAC equipment

• 24/7 environment

Sound Design™

• Requires high CAC and NRC in closed plan areas

• Requires high NRC and CAC in open plan areas

*Source: Hospitals Drowning in Noise, Chicago Tribune

Design + Great Acoustics = Sound Design™ | armstrong.com/acoustics

2

NRC + CAC = Sound Design™

radRevitalizing, pick-me-up design can create rejuvenating acoustics.

11

Featured Products

1 Ultima® Create!™ custom image

2 Optima® Radial Custom Ceiling on Suprafine® XL® 9/16" suspension system – West Kendall Baptist Hospital, Miami, FL

restSubtle, soothing design can help patients heal.

1

care

healthrecommended products

at-a-glance

Beautiful Design + Great Acoustics = Sound Design™ | armstrong.com/acoustics

Setting Situation Acoustical Suggestion Recommended Ceiling SystemsWorkplace

Open office Employees have difficulty focusing on tasks due to noisy office space. Contributors of distractions include conversations of co-workers in collaboration areas, benching workstations, and use of speaker phones.

Worker effectiveness can be increased with balanced acoustical design using a combination of high NRC and high CAC products in open plan areas to absorb sound and block noise from adjacent spaces.

TechZone™ Ceiling Systems, Optima®, Lyra™, SoundScapes® products, Soundsoak® Walls

Ultima® High-NRC, Cirrus® High-NRC, Fine Fissured™ High-NRC, Capz™, Calla™

Ultima, Cirrus, Mesa™, Formations™ Clouds

Closed office and Conference room

Concentrating on technical work is difficult when sound can be heard through ceilings, doorways, windows, and HvAC ducts transferring sound from room to room. Employees ranked acoustics the lowest of key attributes in the workplace.

Balanced acoustical design requires high CAC products in closed plan areas to provide privacy from adjoining offices and corridors and NRC to decrease unwanted sound and control reverberation.

Ultima High-CAC, Cirrus High-CAC, WoodWorks®, Soundsoak® Walls

Ultima, Cirrus, Mesa High-CAC

Dune™, Calla

Education

Classroom Excessive reverberation inhibits student understanding and increases teacher vocal strain. Studies indicate that students typically hear only 3 out of every 4 words, missing 25% of what is said in the classroom.

Better sound absorbtion and shorter reverberation time promote higher speech intelligibility.

Ultima, Optima, Calla, Lyra, TechZone Ceiling Systems, Soundsoak® Walls

School Zone™ Fine Fissured, Cirrus High-NRC

Mesa, School Zone, Fine Fissured, Georgian™, Cirrus

Cafeterium Open multi-purpose spaces change from cafeterias to auditoriums to gymnasiums requiring different acoustical needs depending on use.

Sound absorption is key and can be accomplished with high NRC products in select areas.

Capz™, MetalWorks™, SoundScapes products

Calla, Ultima, Formations Clouds

School Zone Fine Fissured, Georgian, Mesa

Healthcare

Patient room and Treatment room

The need to share private medical information between patients, doctors, and other medical staff without worrying about being overheard by others is key in a healthcare environment.

A ceiling with the ability to block noise from intruding into other spaces can help provide a private, secure environment for sharing confidential information and holding discreet conferences.

Ultima High-CAC, Ultima High-NRC, Ultima Health Zone™

Mesa High-CAC, Fine Fissured High-NRC, Ultima, Ultima Create!™

Cirrus, Mesa

Lobby and nurses' station

Noise caused by hard surfaces, active corridors, busy nurses' stations, alarms, non-private treatment areas, and a 24/7 work environment all help to create sound levels that exceed those recommended by the World Health Organization.

Spot absorption in larger open spaces, and cleanable, scrubbable ceilings that offer noise reduction in spaces with wall to wall ceilings address excessive noise and reverberation.

MetalWorks, TechZone™ Ceiling Systems, Optima Health Zone

Optima, Woodworks, Optima Create!, Lyra, Calla

Ultima, Ultima Health Zone

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acoustics key terms

Ceiling Attenuation Class (CAC)A measure for rating the performance of a ceiling system as a barrier to airborne sound transmission through a common plenum between adjacent closed spaces, such as offices. A ceiling system with a CAC < 25 is considered low performance, whereas one with CAC > 35 or higher is high performance.CAC is important between closed spaces and from closed rooms to adjacent spaces such as corridors:• Closed offices, conference rooms• Classrooms/core learning areas• Healthcare exam rooms,

doctors’ officesCAC is measured according to ASTM E1414

Sound ReflectionIntentional use of non-absorptive surfaces that enhance a lively acoustical sound quality, typically for nightclubs or music venues.

Sound Transmission Class (STC)A measure for rating the performance of a wall system as a barrier to airborne sound transmission between adjacent closed spaces, such as offices. A wall system with an STC < 35 is considered low performance, whereas one with an STC > 55 is high performance. STC is the wall equivalent of CAC.STC is important between closed spaces and in many open plan spaces:• Closed offices, corridors• Open offices with dividers STC is measured according to ASTM E90

ReverberationThe persistance of sound in an enclosed space after the source of the sound has stopped. The level of the reverberant sound within a room is dependent on both the volume of the room and the amount of sound absorption installed within the room, such that small hard surfaced rooms are“louder” than large well- treated rooms.

Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC)A measure for rating the overall sound absorption of a material when used in an enclosed architectural space where sound is reflected at many angles of incidence.A ceiling system with an NRC < 0.50 is low performance, an NRC > 0.70 is high performance.NRC is important in any space where reverberation time and noise levels are an issue.• NRC is measured according

to ASTM C423• NRC is a key metric used in the

Americas. Europe and other geographics use the weighted sound absorption coefficient αw.

Articulation Class (AC)A measure for rating the attenuation of reflected speech passing over the top of wall partitions or furniture into the adjoining work stations. A ceiling system with AC < 150 is low performance, whereas one with AC ≥ 180 is high performance.AC is important between adjacent cubicles in open plan spaces:• Open plan office• Mixed plan office• Open plan healthcare/partial

height cubicle areas AC is measured according to ASTM E1110 and E1111

SabinA measure of sound absorption provided by a material when installed within an architectural space. The number of sabin per unit is approximately equal to the total surface area of the unit (in square feet) that is exposed to sound, multiplied by the absorption coefficient of the material.Sabin per unit is preferred to characterize the absorption provided by an individual “space absorber,” such as a baffle, blade, cloud, or canopy in:• Open offices or retail spaces• Open plenum areas• Corridors/lobbies Absorption of sabin is measured according to ASTM C423

This label appears on cartons of Armstrong UL Classified acoustical ceilings. Armstrong certifies that the material in the carton meets published values, not merely that a similar batch of material met these values at some point in the past.

SURFACE BURNING CHARACTERISTICS

ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIESNRC 0.95 in accordance with ASTM C423

AC min 190 in accordance with ASTM E1111

Made in United States of America by: Fabricado in Estados Unidos por: Fabriqué aux Etats-Unis par:Armstrong World Ind., Inc. Lancaster, PA 17604

ACOUSTICAL MATERIALContents Not Over 96 Sq. Ft.(Form A) Issue No. AG – 5377

FLAME SPREAD ...................... 25SMOKE DEVELOPED ................. 50

R3407-TYPE GB

LA856211 REV.0207

H3251A

Optima® Open Plan, Square TegularHumiguard® Plus

WHITE 24 in x 24 in x 1 in (nominal) 610 mm x 610 mm x 25 mm (nominal)BLANCO 96 sq ft (8.92 m2)BLANC 24 pieces 24 piezas 24 pièces

BP

9/16¨15 mm

C

This Icon identifies Armstrong UL Classified Acoustical ceilings – the assurance of reliable performance in every ceiling tile. Be sure any panel you choose has certified performance, or you may not get what you pay for.

13

take the next step toward Sound Design™

1 877 ARMSTRONG (276-7876)

Name of your Armstrong Representative

TechLine – Technical information, detail drawings,

CAD design assistance, installation information,

other technical services – 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST,

Monday through Friday. FAX 1-800-572-8324

or email: techline@armstrong.com

armstrong.com/acoustics

Standard and custom product information

Online catalog

Google SketchUp™, CAD, Revit® files

Product literature and samples – express service

or regular delivery

Contacts - reps, where to buy, who will install

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