Metal Ceilings: Aesthetics Plus Acoustics
by Marcy Marro | December 1, 2022 12:00 am
Metal ceilings grow in popularity as a result of their eye-catching visual and effective noise control
The lobby of First Tech Federal Credit Union in Hillsboro, Ore., features a perforated metal ceiling.
One of the main reasons for their popularity is the sleek, upscale, high tech look metal brings to a space. This sophisticated look makes them ideal for use in high visibility areas.
Unfortunately, specifiers don’t always associate metal with good acoustics. Yet, metal ceilings can provide very effective acoustical control in addition to their eye-catching aesthetics, making them a versatile and functional design element.
To obtain the acoustic benefits, however, the panels must be perforated and backed with a sound absorbent liner behind the perforations, usually in the form of an acoustical fleece and/or an encapsulated fiberglass infill. In typical backloading applications, the material is laid on top of the perforated metal panels with an air gap between the material and deck above.
The number, size and shape of the perforations affect the acoustical performance of the ceiling panel. Depending on the perforations, metal ceilings can attain a Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) as high as 0.95, meaning they absorb 95% of the sound that strikes them.
Multitude of Choices
The perforation pattern that is chosen also affects the acoustical absorption of the ceiling. When selecting metal ceilings, there are three general categories of perforated panels to consider when aesthetics and acoustics are needed for a space:
Highly perforated. These ceilings have a perforation area greater than 20% of the ceiling area. The relatively large perforations are available in a wide variety of patterns and shapes. Since the panels are essentially transparent to sound, acoustical performance is dependent upon the acoustic treatment placed behind the ceiling panel.
Moderately perforated. These ceilings have an open area less than 20%. The perforations are predominantly circular in shape, although other shapes are available. These ceilings are commonly used in commercial applications, including office buildings, healthcare facilities, and educational buildings.
Minimally perforated. These ceilings have an open area less than 2%, but still provide good acoustical performance if properly designed and backed with an appropriate infill. Minimally perforated ceiling panels can be installed in a wide variety of applications. Visually, the perforations can hardly be seen and give the appearance of an unperforated ceiling.
Assistance Available
The increasing popularity of perforated metal ceiling systems has resulted in the need for more collaboration between specifier and ceiling manufacturer, especially in the case of custom installations.
To meet this need, one ceiling manufacturer now offers complementary collaborative design support aimed at simplifying complex ceiling designs. Included is a drawing package to assist with takeoffs and ordering and to ensure efficiency across a project’s construction process, thereby enhancing ceiling visuals and helping to develop faster and more efficient design.
Sean D. Browne is manager of codes and standards for Armstrong Ceiling and Wall Solutions, Lancaster, Pa., where he leads the Armstrong acoustics, fire and seismic programs. He can be reached at sdbrowne@armstrongceilings.com[1].
- sdbrowne@armstrongceilings.com: mailto:sdbrowne@armstrongceilings.com
Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/metal-ceilings-aesthetics-plus-acoustics/