CHAPTER 5: ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES OF BUILDING MATERIALS

ABSORPTION

THE RATE WHICH SOUND IS ABSORBED IN A ROOM IS A PRIME FACTOR IN REDUCING NOISE AND
CONTROLLING REVERBERATION. ALL MATERIALS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS ABSORBED SOUNDS,
BUT PROPER ACOUSTICAL CONTROL OFTEN REQUIRES THE USE OF MATERIALS THAT HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY
DESIGNED TO FUNCTION PRIMARILY AS SOUND ABSORBS, SUCH MATERIALS ARE POPULARLY KNOWN AS
"ACOUSTICAL" MATERIALS.

MANY PEOPLE TOLERATE NOISE, THIS PROBABLY IS THE REASON WHY MANY BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS
HAVE FOUND THAT THE COST OF ACOUSTICAL TREATMENT USUALLY IS MORE THAN OFFSET BY THE PROFIT
RESULTING FROM THE INCREASE IN PATRONAGE AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE ABSORPTIVE MATERIAL.

IT IS ALWAYS NECESSARY TO CHOOSE MATERIALS WITH PROPER ACOUSTICAL CHARACTERISTICS, BUT THIS
IS NOT ENOUGH. ALL OTHER PHYSICAL AND DECORATIVE PROPERTIES OF THE MATERIALS MUST BE GIVEN PROPER
ATTENTION.

HOW SOUND IS ABSORBED? SOUND IS ABSORBED BY A MECHANISM WHICH CONVERTS THE SOUND INTO
THE OTHER FORMS OF ENERGY AND ULTIMATELY INTO HEAT. MOST MANUFACTURED MATERIALS DEPENDS
LARGELY ON THEIR POROSITY FOR THEIR ABSORPTIVITY, SUCH AS MINERAL WOOLS PADS AND BLANKETS, HAVE A
MULTITUDE OF SMALL DEEPLY PENETRATING INTERCOMMUNICATING PORES.

WHEN SOUND WAVES STRIKE A PANEL, THE ALTERNATING PRESSURE OF THESE WAVES AGAINST THE
PANEL MAY FORCE IT INTO VIBRATION. THE RESULTING FLEXURAL VIBRATIONS USE UP A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THE
INCIDENT SOUND ENERGY BY CONVERTING IT INTO HEAT.

IN FIGURE (A) SHOWS THAT FIBERBOARDS SUCH AS ACOUSTI-CELOTIX ARE MUCH MORE ABSORPTIVE AT
FREQUENCIES OF 128 AND 266 CYCLES WHEN THEY ARE NAILED TO WOOD STRIPS.

IN FIGURE (B) ABSORPTION BY POROUS MATERIALS NORMALLY IS LARGE AT HIGH FREQUENCIES AND
SMALL AT LOW FREQUENCIES.

MECHANICS OF ABSORPTION

RE-EXAMINING ABSORPTION AS AN ACOUSTIC PHENOMENOM, THE FIGURE BELOW SHOW THE

APPLICATION OF ABSORPTION MATERIAL.

IN FIGURE (A) ACTION OF AN INCOMING SOUND WAVE STRIKING A HEAVY BARRIER. MUCH OF THE ENERGY
IS REFLECTED, SOME IS ABSORBED AND LITTLE IS TRANSMITTED.

IN FIGURE (B) ACTION OF ACOUSTIC ABSORBENT MATERIAL ALONE. VERY LITTLE ENERGY IS REFLECTED.
SOME IS ABSORBED, AND MOST IS TRANSMITTED.

IN FIGURE (C) WHEN ABSORBENT IS APPFIED TO THE HEAVY WALL, IT TRAPS SOUND PREVENTING
REFLECTION, WHILE WALL MASS ACTS TO REDUCE TRANSMISSION.

CHAPTER 5: ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES OF BUILDING MATERIALS

 IN AN UNTREATED ROOM OF NORMAL CONSTRUCTION, WHEN THE SOUND WAVES STRIKE THE WALLS OR
CEILING, A SMALL PORTION IS ABSORBED AND MOST OF THE SOUND IS REFLECTED. THE EXACT PROPORTIONS
ABVIOUSLY DEPENDS ON THE NATURE OF CONSTRUCTION.

IN THE UNTREATED SPACE, FIGURE (A) REVERBERANT (REFLECTED) SOUND CONSTITUTES THE GREATER
PORTION OF RECEIVED SOUND IN MUCH OF THE ROOM. THESE REFLECTIONS ARE LARGELY ELIMINATED IN FIGURE
(B) BY WALL AND CEILING ABSORPTION.

THE RESULT OF ADDING ABSORPTIVE MATERIAL TO A ROOM

ABSORPTIVE MATERIALS

THERE ARE THREE FAMILIES OF DEVICES FOR SOUND ABSORPTION:

A. FIBROUS MATERIALS
B. PANEL RESONATORS
C. AND VOLUME RESONATORS

ABSORPTIVE MATERIALS ABSORB SOUND BY CHANGING SOUND ENERGY INTO HEAT ENERGY. ONLY
FIBROUS MATERIALS AND PANEL RESONATORS ARE COMMONLY USED IN BUILDINGS. VOLUME RESONATORS ARE
USED PRINCIPALLY AS ENCLOSURES FOR ABSORBING A NARROW BAND OF FREQUENCIES.

THE "FIBROUS" MATERIAL OR POROUS ABSORB THE FRICTIONAL DRAG PRODUCED BY MOVING THE AIR IN
SMALL SPACES WITHIN THE MATERIAL. THE ABSORPTION PROVIDED BY A SPECIFIC MATERIAL DEPENDS ON ITS
THICKNESS, DENSITY, AND POROSITY AND RESISTANCE TO AIR FLOW.

A FIBROUS MATERIAL WITH SEALED PORES IS USELESS AS AN ACOUSTIC ABSORBENT. A SIMPLE TEST IS TO
BLOW SMOKE THROUGH THE MATERIAL. IF THE SMOKE PASSES THROUGH FREELY AND THE MATERIAL IS POROUS,
FIBROUS, AND THICK IT SHOULD BE A GOOD SOUND ABSORBENT.

A. FOR ABSORBENT MATERIALS, ABSORPTION IS NORMALLY IN HIGHER AT HIGH FREQUENCIES THAN AT LOW.

B. ABSORPTION IS NOT ALWAYS PROPORTIONAL TO THICKNESS, BUT DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF MATERIAL
BEING USED AND THE METHOD OF INSTALLATION.

CHAPTER 5: ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES OF BUILDING MATERIALS

 IT IS CLEAR FROM THIS FIGURE THAT BEYOND A NOMINAL THICKNESS EXCEPT AT VERY LOW FREQUENCY,
OR WHEN INSTALLED DISCONTINUOUSY.

C. IT IS POSSIBLE TO OBTAIN AN A GREATER THAN 1.0 BY USING VERY THICK BLOCKS. THESE ARE INSTALLED
AT A DISTANCE FROM EACH OTHER AND THE EDGE ABSORPTION IS VERY LARGE, PARTICULARLY AT HIGH
FREQUECIES.

D. INSTALLATION METHODS HAVE A PRONOUNCED EFFECT.

TYPES OF ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS

MOST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS ARE INCLUDED IN ONE OF THE THREE
FOLLOWING CATERGORIES:

1. PRE-FABRICATED UNITS
THESE INCLUDE ACOUSTICAL TILE, WHICH IS THE PRINCIPAL TYPE OF MATERIAL AVAILABLE FOR
ACOUSTICAL TREATMENT, MECHANICALLY PERFORATED UNITS BACKED WITH ABSORBENT MATERIAL, AND
CERTAIN WALL BOARDS, TILE BOARDS AND ABSORBENT SHEETS.

2. ACOUSTICAL PLASTER AND SPRAYED - ON MATERIALS

THESE MATERIALS COMPRISE PLASTIC AND POROUS MATERIALS APPLIED WITH A TROWEL, AND
FIBROUS MATERIALS, COMBINED WITH BINDER AGENTS, WHICH ARE APPLIED WITH (SPRAYED ON) AN AIR
GUN OF BLOWER.

3. ACOUSTICAL BLANKETS
BLANKETS ARE MADE UP CHIEFLY OF MINERAL OR WOOD WOOL, GLASS FIBERS, KAPOK BATTS,
AND HAIR FELT.

PREFABRICATED ACOUSTICAL UNITS

PREFABRICATED ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS HAVE BEEN SUBCLASSIFIED IN ORDER THAT SIMILAR PRODUCTS
MAY BE GROUPED TOGETHER. PREFABRICATED UNITS ARE SEPARATED INTO THREE, THESE GROUPS INCLUDE TILE,
ABSORBENT MATERIAL COVERED BY MECHANICALLY PERFORATED UNITS, AND CERTAIN BUILDING BOARDS AND
SHEETS.

THE MOST OUTSTANDING FEATURE OF AN ACOUSTICAL TILE IS ITS "BUILT-IN" ABSORPTIVE VALUE. THE TILE
IS A FACTORY-MADE PRODUCT, THE ABSORPTIVITY OF ACOUSTICAL TILE IS RELATIVELY HIGH. IN A FACTORY MADE
PRODUCT, IT IS POSSIBLE TO CONTROL SUCH FACTORS AS POROSITY, FLEXIBILITY, DENSITY, AND THE PUNCHING OF
DRILLING OF HOLES. ACOUSTICAL TILE CAN BE GIVEN STRUCTURAL AND DECORATIVE PROPERTIES WHICH USUALLY
ARE WELL ADAPTED TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ARTISTIC INTERIORS, BECAUSE OF ITS HIGH ABSORPTIVITY,
ACOUSTICAL TILE IS WELL ADAPTED TO ROOMS IN WHICH A RELATIVELY SMALL SURFACE IS AVAILABLE FOR
ACOUSTICAL TREATMENT.

SEVERAL ACOUSTICAL UNITS LIKE ACOUSTI-CELOTEX, FRBETETONE, CUSHIONTONE, AND SANACOUSTIC

TILE, HAVE THE ADVANTAGE THAT THEY CAN BE DECORATED WITH OIL-BASE PAINT WITHOUT HAVING THEIR HIGH
ABSORPTIVITY IMPAIRED.

THE PRINCIPAL DISADVANTAGES OF AN ACOUSTICAL TILE ARE ITS LIMITATIONS FOR ARCHITECTURAL
TREATMENT AND ITS COST COMPARED WITH THAT OF OTHER ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS.

THE U.S. FEDERAL SPECIFICATIONS SS-A-118, CLASSIFIES PREFABRICATED UNITS INTO FOUR TYPES. THESE
TYPES AND THEIR SUBCLASSIFICATIONS ARE LISTED TOGETHER WITH NAME OF ONE OR MORE REPRESENTATIVE
COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS.

TYPE I CAST UNITS HAVING A PINED OR GRANULAR APPEARING SURFACE

"CLASS A ALL MINERAL UNITS COMPOSED OF SMALL GRANULAR OF FINELY DIVIDED PARTICLES WITH
PORTLAND CEMENT BIDER.

THE MASONRY LIKE SURFACE APPEARANCE OF THE UNITS MAKES THEM PARTICULARLY SUITED
FOR INSTALLATION IN BUILDINGS OF THE MONUMENTAL TYPES AND IN SOME CHURCHES. THESE TILES ARE
RATED AS INCOMBUSTIBLE. PAINTS NORMALLY REDUCES THEIR SOUND ABSORPTIVE PROPERTIES, BUT
DECORATION IS SELDOM REQUIRED. THE SURFACES OF MATERIALS IN THIS CLASS ARE REASONABLY
SMOOTH.

CHAPTER 5: ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES OF BUILDING MATERIALS

 "CLASS B ALL MINERAL UNITS COMPOSED OF SMALL GRANULES OR FINELY DIVIDED PARTICLES WITH
LIME OR GYPSUM BINDER.

"CLASS C UNITS COMPOSED OF SMALL GRANULES OR FINELY DIVIDED PARTICLES OF MINERAL OR

VEGETABLE ORIGIN WITH INCOMBUSTIBLE MINERAL BINDER.

TYPE II UNITS HAVING PERFORATED SURFACE THE PERFORATIONS TO BE ARRANGED IN A REGULAR PATTERN"

"CLASS A UNITS HAVING A PERFORATED SURFACE WHICH ACTS AS A COVERING AND SUPPORT FOR THE
SOUND ABSORBENT MATERIAL TO BE STRONG AND DURABLE AND SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID.

IN THIS TYPE OF UNIT AN ABSORPTIVE PAD, BLANKET, OR RIGID ELEMENT IS COVERED BY

PERFORATED SHEET METAL OR BOARD. THE PERFORATED COVERING DOES NOT REDUCE THE ABSORPTION
TO THE AREA COVERED.

A FABRICATED UNITS CAN BE PAINTED REPEATEDLY WITHOUT IMPAIRING THEIR ABSORPTION, IF

REASONABLE CARE IS TAKEN NOT TO FILL OR BRIDGE THE HOLES WITH PAINT. IF THE HOLES ARE 1/8 INCH
DIAMETER OR LONGER, IT IS HIGHLY IMPROBABLE THAT THEY WILL EVER BECOME BRIDGED BY PAINTING.
SINCE THE PERFORATED COVERINGS OFFER GOOD MECHANICAL PROTECTION FOR THE ABSORPTIVE
MATERIAL, THE UNITS CAN BE INSTALLED IN LOCATIONS WHERE THEY WILL BE SUBJECT TO CONSIDERABLE
WEAR AND TEAR, MOST UNITS OF THIS CLASS ARE INCOMBUSTIBLE.

"CLASS B UNITS HAVING CIRCULAR PERFORATIONS EXTENDING INTO THE SOUND ABSORBENT
MATERIAL.

PREFABRICATED UNITS OF THIS CLASS USUALLY HAVE LARGE PERFORATIONS AND ESPECIALLY
SERVICEABLE IN INSTALLATIONS THAT REQUIRE FREQUENT REDECORATION. LABORATORY AND FIELD
TESTS SHOW THAT THESE TILES MAY BE PAINTED REPEATEDLY WITHOUT NOTICEABLE REDUCTION OF
THEIR SOUNDABSORPTIVE PROPERTIES.

THE PRESENCE OF HOLES IN POROUS MATERIALS HAS THE EFFECT OF GREATLY INCREASINGLY THE
ABSORPTIVITY OF THE MATERIAL. THE HOLES INCREASE BOTH THE SUPERFICIAL AREA AND THE EFFECTIVE
POROSITY OF THE MATERIAL. THE PERFORATIONS CAN BE USED TO CONCEAL THE HEADS OF NAILS OR
SCREWS WHEN USED FOR ATTACHING THE UNITS TO WOOD FURRING STRIPS OR WOOD DECKING.

CHAPTER 5: ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES OF BUILDING MATERIALS

 "CLASS C UNITS HAVING SLOTS OR GROOVES EXTENDING INTO THE SOUND ABSORBENT MATERIAL.

THE ACTION OF THE SLOTS OR GROOVES IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE HOLES IN THE TILES OF THE
PRECEDING CLASSIFICATION.

TYPE III UNITS HAVING A FISSURED SURFACE

THIS TYPE INCLUDES TILES DIFFERING WIDELY IN COMPOSITION. SOME CONSIST LARGELY OF
FILAMENTS OR MINERAL WOOL GRANULES, VERMICULITE OR CORK IS THE PRINCIPAL INGREDIENT. THE
ACTION OF THE FISSURES IN CAUSING ABSORPTION OF SOUND BY THE UNITS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THAT OF
THE PERFORATIONS IN TYPE II CLASS B. THESE TILES HAVE SURFACES THAT ARE SANDED OR PLANED
SMOOTH, IT MAY BE PAINTED WITHOUT LOSS OF ABSORPTION IF THE FISSURES ARE NUMEROUS AND ARE
NOT FILLED WITH PAINT.

TYPE IV UNITS HAVING A FELTED FIBER SURFACE

"CLASS A UNITS COMPOSED OF LONG WOOD FIBERS.

UNITS OF THIS CLASS ARE MADE OF WOOD SHAVINGS OF EXCELSIOR, GENERALLY PRESSED
TOGETHER WITH A MINERAL BINDER. THE WOOD FIBERS MAY BE FINE, MEDIUM OR COARSE.

"CLASS B UNITS COMPOSED OF FINE FELTED VEGETABLE FIBER OR WOOD PULP.

INCLUDED IN THIS CLASS ARE SMALL TILES AND ALSO ACOUSTICAL FIBERBOARDS, THESE
MATERIALS ARE NOT FIREPROOF. THE FIBERBOARDS PROVIDE A MEANS OF OBTAINING ABSORPTION AT
RELATIVELY LOW COST. THEY ARE COMMENLY MANUFACTURED IN LARGE PANELS. THE USE OF
FIBERBOARDS PRESENTS A DIFFICULTY IN THE MATTER OF DECORATION AND REDECORATION. OIL, LEAD,
AND OTHER NON-POROUS PAINTS WILL CLOSE THE SURFACE PORES OF THE MATERIALS AND DESTROY THE
ABSORPTIVE VALVE.

THIN DYES AND STAINS, STENCIL DESIGNS WITH HEAVIER PAINT DUSTED ON WITH A POUNCE-BAG
CAN BE USED WITHOUT IMPAIRING THE ACOUSTICAL VALVE OF THE MATERIAL.

CHAPTER 5: ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES OF BUILDING MATERIALS

 "CLASS C UNITS COMPRISED OF MINERAL FIBERS.

ACOUSTICAL PLASTER AND SPRAYED-ON MATERIALS

THE USE OF SELECTED TYPES OF ACOUSTICAL PLASTIC MATERIALS HAS PROVED HIGHLY SATISFACTORY FOR
THE TREATMENT OF MANY PUBLIC BUILDINGS. THEY CAN BE USED IN MOST PLACES WHERE ORDINARY LIME OR
GYPSUM PLASTER CAN BE USED WITHOUT ALTERING THE ARCHITECTURAL EFFECTS. TWO COATS OF ACOUSTICAL
PLASTER MAY BE APLIED INSTEAD OF THE FINISH COAT IN THE ORDINARY PLASTER TREATMENT FOR AN ADDED
LITTLE COST PER SQUARE METER.

THE ABSORPTIVITY OF SUCH MATERIAL AS ACOUSTICAL PLASTER IS DEPENDENT ON ITS THICKNESS AND
COMPOSITION AND ON THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS APPLIED AND DRIED, AS THE THICKNESS IS INCREASED, THE
ABSORPTIVITY INCREASES, PARTICULARLY AT LOW FREQUENCIES.

A LARGE MEASURE OF THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE WHICH ATTENDS THE APPLICATION OF ACOUSTICAL
PLASTER DEPENDS ON THE DRYING OUT OF THE PLASTER. THE SURFACE TO WHICH IT IS APPLIED ACCORDINGLY IT
IS ADVISABLE TO PREPARE SCRATCH AND BROWN COATS WHICH WILL DRAW THE WATER FROM THE ACOUSTICAL
PLASTER AND THUS PREVENT THE FORMATION OF A NON-POROUS FILM ON THE FINISHED SURFACE. IT IS ALSO
ADVISABLE TO PROVIDE GOOD DRYING CONDITIONS FOR THE PLASTER AND TO FLOAT OR DRAG THE SURFACE OR
THE PLASTER JUST BEFORE IT TAKES ITS INITIAL SET.

IN SELECTING AN ACOUSTICAL PLASTIC MATERIAL IT IS DESIRABLE TO CONSIDER ITS ADHESIVE AND

COHESIVE PROPERTIES, ITS RESISTANCE TO FIRE AND ABRASION, ITS EASE OF APPLICATION, ITS TEXTURE, AND ITS
MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS ITS COEFFICIENTS OF SOUND ABSORPTION.

IF IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO USE PLASTIC MATERIAL WHICH WILL NOT WITHSTAND THE WEAR AND
ABRASION TO WHICH THE WALLS NEAR THE FLOOR WILL BE SUBJECTED, IT IS A GOOD PLAN TO PROVIDE A
WAINSCOT OF HARDER MATERIAL, SUCH AS WOOD OR HARD PLASTER. THE WAINSCOT SHOULD EXTEND UP TO A
HEIGHT OF ABOUT 6 OR 7 FEET ABOVE THE FLOOR.

ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS FOR PLASTIC APPLICATION ARE CLASSIFIED INTO THREE GROUPS:

TYPE I ACOUSTIC PLASTER"

THIS SHALL BE COMPOSED OF A CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL SUCH AS GYPSUM, PORTLAND
CEMENT, OR LIME WITH OR WITHOUF AN AGGREGATE.
BRANDS: ATOZ, KAUTE, SABINITE, SOFTONE, ZONOLITE, PLAST ACOUSTIC

TYPE II ACOUSTIC MATERIALS OTHER THAN ACOUSTIC PLASTER WHICH ARE APPLIED WITH A TROWEL"
BRAND: ACOUSTIPULP

TYPE III FIBROUS MATERIALS COMBINED WITH A BINDER AGENT AND WHICH ARE APPLIED BY BEING
SPRAYED ON WITH AN AIR GUN OR BLOWER"
BRANDS: LIMPET, SPRAY-ACOUSTIC

CHAPTER 5: ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES OF BUILDING MATERIALS

ACOUSTICAL BLANKETS

THE MATERIAL USED MOST COMMONLY IN THE FABRICATION OF ACOUSTICAL BLANKETS ARE MINERAL
WOOD, HAIR FELT, WOOD FIBER, AND GLASS FIBER. THE THICKNESS OF THESE BLANKETS IS GENERALLY BETWEEN
1/2 AND 4 INCHES, BLANKETS OF GREATER THICKNESS ARE SOMETIMES USED IN SPECIAL APPLICATIONS. THESE
MATETIALS ARE MORE ABSORPTIVE IN THE LOW-FREQUENCY RANGE BECAUSE OF THEIR GREATER THICKNESS, THAN
ARE MOST OTHER TYPES.

THE ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT OF A BLANKET MOUNTED AGAINST A WALL DEPENDS ON ITS DENSITY AND
THICKNESS AND ON THE FREQUENCY OF THE INCIDENT SOUND. INCREASING THE THICKNESS OF THE BLANKET
INCREASES ITS ABSORPTIVITY, PRINCIPALLY AT LOW FREQUENCIES, SLIGHTLY AT THE "HIGHS". THE EFFECT OF AN
AIR SPACE BEHIND A BLANKET IS TO INCREASE ITS ABSORPTION AT LOW FREQUENCIES.

THE FIBERS IN CERTAIN TYPES OF BLANKET, ESPECIALLY SOME MINERAL WOOL PRODUCTS, HAVE A
TENDENCY TO ALTERS THE ACOUSTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BLANKET, FOR THIS REASON, BLANKETS
FABRICATED OF MATERIALS THAT TEND TO SETTLE ARE FREQUENTLY QUILTED AT INTERVALS OF A FEW INCHES. THE
MATERIAL ARE GIVEN ADDITIONAL STRUCTURAL STRENGHT BY THE ADDITION OF A BINDER MATERIAL, OR BY A
WIRE-MESH SCREEN OR HARDWARE CLOTH ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE BLANKET.

PERFORATED FACINGS

A PERFORATED FACING SUCH AS PLYWOOD, METAL, OR FIBERBOARD CONSTITUTES A VERY PRACTICAL

COVERING FOR AN ACOUSTICAL BLANKET.

THIS TYPE OF FACING HAS THE ADVANTAGE THAT IT CAN BE EASILY CLEANED AND DECORATED, AND
REPEATEDLY PAINTING DOES NOT REDUCE ITS ABSORPTIVITY IF THE HOLES ARE NOT BRIDGED WITH PAINT, IT IS
SIMILAR TO TYPE II A PREFABRICATED UNITS.

MOUNTING ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS

THE MANNER OF MOUNTING ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS CAN INFLUENCE MARKEDLY THEIR ABSORPTIVE
PROPERTIES. CERTAIN MATERIALS THAT ARE UNSATISIACTORY WHEN APPLIED DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIGID WALL
MAY BE SATISFACTORY WHEN THEY ARE MOUNTED SOME OTHER WAY. THE EFFECT IS AN INCREASE IN THE
ABSORPTION AT LOW FREQUENCIES, DUE PARTLY TO THE FLEXURAL VIBRATION OF PANELS OF TWO MATERIAL.
INCREASING THE SPACING FROM THE WALL INCREASES THE AVERAGE ABSORPTION AND ALTERS THE FREQUENCY
AT WHICH MAXIMUM ABSORPTION.

ACOUSTICAL TILES ARE MOST FREQUENTLY MOUNTED BY ADHESIVES, NAILS OR SCREWS, OR BY A

MECHANICAL SYSTEM SUCH AS "T-SPLINES" WHICH ENGAGE IN A HORIZONTAL KERF ALONG THE SIDE EDGES OF
THE TILES.

IN MANY INSTANCES A COMBINATION OF TWO METHODS IS USED, AND NO ONE TYPE OF MOUNTING WILL
DEPEND ON THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE ACOUSTICAL MATERIAL, THE BASE TO WHICH IT WILL BE APPLIED,
THE TIME REQUIRED FOR INSTALLATION, AND LABOR COSTS. THE ADHESIVE METHOD OF MOUNTING IS
PARTICULARLY ADVANTAGEOUS ON A JOB. THE ADHESIVE METHOD IS ALSO QUICK, ECONOMICAL, AND CLEAN. THE
ADHESIVE SHOULD BE BONDED TO BOTH THE MATERIAL AND THE WALL OR CEILING, SINCE THE FAILURE TO SECURE
A GOOD BOND MAY RESULT IN THE TILE BECOMING LOOSE, ADHESIVE APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE MADE ONLY BY
INDIVIDUALS THOROUGHLY SKILLED IN THE ART.

CHAPTER 5: ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES OF BUILDING MATERIALS

 TILES FASTENED BY SCREWS ARE USUALLY HELD MORE SECURELY THAN THOSE FASTENED BY NAILS. EITHER
NAILS OR SCREWS CAN BE USED TO MOUNT ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS ON WOOD FURRING STRIPS. THE WOOD
FURRING METHOD OF MOUNTING ALSO PERMITS THE TILES TO VIBRATE FLEXURALLY, THIS VIBRATION GIVES
INCREASED ABSORPTION IN THE LOW-FREQUENCY RANGE.

IF ACOUSTICAL UNITS ARE SUBJECT TO BREAKAGE, A STIFF BACKING FOR THE TILES SHOULD BE PROVIDED.
GYPSUM BOARD PROVIDES SUCH A BACKING, IT ALSO IS FIRE-RESISTANT. IT CAN BE USED TO LEVEL OFF AN EXISTING
IRREGULAR CEILING, OR AS ECONOMICAL SUBSTITUTE FOR A CONVENTIONAL LATH AND PLASTER BACKING IN NEW
CONSTRUCTION.

A NUMBER OF MANUFACTURING OF ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS HAVE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS FOR THE

INSTALLATION OF PREFABRICATED TILES WHICH ENABLE UNITS TO BE REMOVED RELATIVELY EASILY AND REPLACED
AFTER THE ORIGINAL INSTALLATION HAS BEEN MADE. MECHANICAL SYSTEMS PROVIDE A CONVENIENT MEANS OF
FURRING BELOW CEILING OBSTRUCTIONS WITH INCOMBUSTIBLE SUPPORTING MEMBERS.

MOST ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS ARE EFFICIENT THERMAL INSULATOR, CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PREVENT
CONDENSATION ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE SLABS OR DECKS ON WHICH THE MATERIALS IS INSTALLED. AN
UNDERSIRABLE DISLOCATION MAY RESULT FROM AIR FLOW CALLED BREATHING THROUGH THE CRACKS
BETWEEN TILES OR EVEN THROUGH VERY POROUS TILES. IT CAN BE MINIMIZED IN INSTALLATION BY THE
APPLICATION OF A LAYER OF BUILDING PAPER DIRECTLY BEHIND THE TILES. THIS PRECAUTION MAY BE ADVISABLE
IN SOME WOOD FURRING INSTALLATIONS.

ALTHOUGH SOME ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS, SUCH AS MINERAL TILES, ARE NOT AFFECTED BY CHANGES IN
HUMIDITY OR MOISTURE IN A ROOM, THOSE MADE OF CELLULOSE PRODUCTS, SUCH AS WOOD OR VEGETABLE
FIBERS TEND TO EXPAND UPON ABSORPTION OF WATER VAPOR AND TO CONTRACT UPON DRYING. THIS POSSIBILITY
MUST BE BORNE IN MIND WHEN HYGROSCOPIC ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS ARE BEING INSTALLED.

SOME COMMON STANDARDIZED MOUNTING

ABSORPTION BY PATCHES OF MATERIALS

THE LOCATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ABSORPTIVE MATERIAL IN ROOMS AFFECTS THE ABSORPTION DUE
TO THE MATERIAL, AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOUND IN THE ROOM. THIS DEPENDENCE OF ABSORPTION ON THE
SIZE OF PATCH IS FREQUENTLY REFERRED TO AS THE "AREA EFFECT". ALTHOUGH THE APPLICATION OF ABSORPTIVE
MATERIAL IN THE FORM OF SMALL PATCHES OR NARROW STRIPS IS MORE EFFECIENT THAN A UNIFORM
TREATMENT, IT IS USUALLY NOT THE CHEAPER METHOD OF OBTAINING A SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF ABSORPTION
WITH A GIVEN MATERIAL SINCE THE COST OF INSTALLATION OF PATCHES ON A PER SQUARE METER BASIS IS
GENERALLY MUCH HIGHER THAN IS THE COST FOR UNIFORM COVERAGE.

CHAPTER 5: ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES OF BUILDING MATERIALS

 THE ABSORPTION BY A PATCH OF MATERIAL IS NOT INDEPENDENT OF ITS POSITION ON THE WALLS OF A
ROOM. THE MOST EFFECTIVE POSITIONS FOR THE USUAL TYPES OF ABSORPTIVE MATERIALS, ARE NOT THE
CORNERS, ESPECIALLV AT FREQUENCIES. THE MOST EFFICIENT POSITIONS ARE ALONG THE EDGES BETWEEN TWO
WALLS. THE APPLICATION OF ACOUSTICAL MATERIAL IN PATCHES, DISTRIBUTED MORE OR LESS AT RANDOM ON
THE WALLS, PROVIDES A MORE DIFFUSE SOUND FIELD IN THE ROOM THAN WOULD BE OBTAINED BY UNIFORM
TREATMENT OF THE WALLS.

SPECIAL SOUND-ABSORPTIVE CONSTRUCTION

MANY ABSORPTIVE MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTIONS THAT ARE NOT DESCRIBED EARLIER ARE USEFUL OR
EVEN INDESPENSABLE FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF ACOUSTICAL INSTALLATIONS. OFTEN THESE SPECIAL TREATMENTS,
PROVIDE NOT ONLY BETTER ACOUSTICS THAT CAN BE OBTAINED BY THE USE OF THE STANDARDS OR "CLASSIFIED"
MATERIALS, BUT ALSO A MORE ARTISTIC APPEARANCE, SOMETIMES AT A CONSIDERABLE REDUCTION IN COST.

PANEL ABSORBERS

THIN PANELS, IF MADE SUFFICIENTLY DURABLE AND FLEXIBLE MATERIALS LIKE PRESSED WOOD
FIBER OR PAPER BOARDS, PLYWOOD, OR PLASTIC BOARDS, CAN BE EMPLOYED FOR CEILINGS,
WAINSCOTING, OR EVEN FOR THE ENTIRE WALLS OF ROOMS WHERE LOW-FREQUENCIES ABSORPTION IS
REQUIRED. SUCH MATERIALS, IF USED FOR WALLS OR CEILINGS OF SMALL ROOMS, REDUCE THE AMOUNT
OF ADDITIONAL ABSORPTION REQUIRED FOR OPTIMUM.

THE EFFECTIVE STIFFNESS OF A THIN PANEL IS INFLUENCED BY THE PRESENCE OF AN ENCLOSED

AIR SPACE BACK OF IT, AND THEREFORE THE AIR SPACE AFFECTS THE ABSORPTION CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE PANEL.

THE ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT OF A THIN WOOD PANEL CAN BE INCREASED BY PLACING AN

ABSORPTIVE MATERIAL, SUCH AS MINERAL WOOL BLANKET, IN AN ENCLOSED AIR SPACE BEHIND THE
PANEL, OR BY SPOT CEMETING THE ABSORPTIVE MATERIAL DIRECTLY TO THE PANEL.

DRAPERIES

DRAPERIES ARE NOT SATISFACTORY FOR THE ABSORPTIVE TREATMENT, ALTHOUGH VERY
ABSORPTIVE AT HIGH FREQUENCIES, THEY ARE ONLY SLIGHTLY ABSORPTIVE AT LOW FREQUENCIES. THE
USE OF DRAPERIES, UNLESS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED, SHOULD BE RESTRICTED TO PLACES SUCH AS
DOORWAYS OR PROSCENIUMS. FOR MAXIMUM ABSORPTION, THEY SHOULD BE MADE OF HEAVY, LINED
AND INTERLINED VELOURS AND SHOULD HAVE A GATHER OF 100 TO 200 PERCENT. IN ORDER TO INCREASE
THEIR ABSORPTION AT THE LOWER FREQUENCIES, HANGINGS USED TO COVER HIGHLY REFLECTIVE
SURFACES SHOULD BE HUNG AT LEAST 6 INCHES TO 1 FOOT FROM THE WALL AND SHOULD BE GATHERED
INTO DEEP FOLDS. MOVABLE DRAPERIES PROVIDE A CONVENIENT MEANS OF ALTERING THE TOTAL
ABSORPTION IN A ROOM.

VARIABLE ABSORBERS

CERTAIN ROOMS, USE OF VARIABLE ABSORBERS SUCH AS HINGED PANELS, ROTATABLE CYLINDERS
OR MOVABLE DRAPERIES. THE HINGED PANELS ARE ABSORPTIVE ON ONE SIDE AND REFLECTIVE ON THE
OTHER, THE CYLINDERS INCORPORATE VARIOUS COMBINATIONS OF ABSORBERS AND REFLECTORS. THESE
SPECIAL DEVICES ARE UTILIZED FOR VARYING AND CONTROLLING THE ACOUSTICAL CONDITIONS IN THE
ROOM. THE CONTROL OF THE FOLLOWING THREE FACTORS IS DESIRABLE:
A. THE MAGNITUDE OF THE AVERAGE ABSORPTION OVER THE GREATER PART OF THE AUDIBLE
FREQUENCY RANGE.
B. THE SHAPE OF THE ABSORPTION IS FREQUENCY CHARACTERISTIC.
C. THE SCATTERING OR DISPERSION OF SOUND IN THE ROOM.

CHAPTER 5: ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES OF BUILDING MATERIALS

 IF HINGED OR ROTATABLE PANELS ARE USED WHICH HAVE AN ABSORPTIVE SURFACE ONE SIDE
AND A THIN REFLECTIVE SURFACE ON THE OTHER, CARE MUST BE EXERCISED SO THAT THE REFLECTIVE
SURFACE, SUCH AS PLYWOOD FACING, DOES NOT ACT AS RESONANT PANEL BACKLED BY AN ABSORPTIVE
MATERIAL. IF THIS PRECAUTION IS NOT TAKEN, TOTAL VARIATION IN THE ABSORPTION MAY NOT BE GREAT
AS EXPECTED OR DESIRED.

ROTATABLE CYLINDERS

THE CONVEX SURFACE OF EACH CYLINDER IS MADE UP OF THREE DIFFERENT MATERIALS EACH
EXTENDING THE FULL LENGTH OF THE CYLINDER AND 120 AROUND IT. THE CYLINDERS ARE FITTED INTO
OPENINGS OF SUCH SIZE THAT 120 OF EACH PROJECTS THROUGH A SUSPENDED PLASTER CEILING.

MATERIAL A A 2 INCH LAYER OF FIBERGLASS, HAVING A DENSITY OF 6 POUNDS PER CUBIC FOOT,
COVERED WITH INCH PERFORATED PLYWOOD (THERE ARE 1024 CIRCULAR HOLES ARE 1/8 INCH IN
DIAMETER AND ARE ARRANGED 3/8 INCH ON CENTERS. IT IS MODERATELY ABSORPTIVE AT LOW
FREGUENCIES AND IS INCREASINGLY ABSORPTIVE AT HIGHER FREQUENCIES.

MATERIAL B A 1/8 INCH UNPERFORATED PLYWOOD BACKED WITH A 2 INCH LAYER OF FIBERGLASS. IT
IS MOST ABSORPTIVE AT LOW FREQUENCIES AND IS DECREASINGLY ABSORPTIVE AT HIGHER FREQUENCIES.

MATERIAL C A 1/2 INCH UNPERFORATED PLYWOOD. IT IS SLIGHTLY ABSORPTIVE AT ALL REQUENCIES.

ROTATABLE PANELS

THIS CHANGES THE TOTAL ABSORPTION OF A ROOM THEY DIFFER FROM THE CYLINDERS IN THAT
THEIR ROTATION GENERALLY CHANGES THE SHAPE OF THE WALLS OR CEILING. THE ROTATION OF PANELS
HAS A PRONOUNCED INFLUENCE ON THE DIFFUSION AS WELL AS ON THE ABSORPTION OF SOUND IN THE
ROOM. ONE SIDE OF THE PANEL IS FLAT AND IS COVERED WITH ACOUSTICAL TILE, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
PANEL IS CONVEX AND IS TREATED HARDBOARD". THIS PANELS CONTROL DIFFUSION, THEY CAN BE
BUCKED BY AN AIR SPACE AND AN ABSORPTIVE BLANKET. THIS CAN BE CONTROLLED BY PUSH BUTTON.

SUSPENDED ABSORBERS

THE USE OF SUCH SUSPENDED ABSORBERS IS ESPECIALLY ADAPTABLE TO LOCATIONS WHERE

THERE ARE NO EXTENDED SURFACES ON WHICH TO APPLY ACOUSTICAL TILE, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS, AND
WHERE IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT OR EXPENSIVE TO INSTALL A FALSE CEILING BECAUSE OF PIPES OR OTHER
OBSTRUCTIONS. OWING TO DIFFRACTION, THE EFFECTIVE ABSORPTION PER UNIT AREA OR PER UNIT
WEIGHT OF SMALL ABSORBERS CAN BE VERY HIGH. SOUND WAVES IMPINGE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
ABSORBERS, ENCHANCING THEIR ABSORPTION.

CHAPTER 5: ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES OF BUILDING MATERIALS