Fabtec™ Panels: A Fully-wrapped option.
Posted by Acoustics First in Absorption, Product Applications, Products on March 7, 2023
This month we thought we would post a of picture of the seldom seen FabTec™ with fully wrapped edges. Although more commonly produced with unwrapped edges to facilitate abutting panels for seamless installs, FabTec™ can also be produced with a fully wrapped edge, for a look and function very similar to our Sonora® wall panels.
These fully wrapped FabTec™ panels do exhibit a few unique qualities all their own:
1. They are extremely lightweight, roughly ¼ the weight of a standard Sonora® wall panel.
2. They flex. Unlike panels produced with the more commonly used rigid fiberglass boards, the FireFlex™ foam substrate of the FabTec™ panels can flex a bit. This can be particularly helpful when trying to install over a curved surface.
3. The combination of the spongy FireFlex™ substrate coupled with FabTec’s robust fabric covering make for a panel that’s actually pretty tough.
So, there you have it: a solid offering that straddles the line of acoustical foam products and architectural type panels, and encompasses some of the more desirable characteristics of both.
Reach out to Acoustics First® with any questions about which acoustic treatments would work best for your space!
Chickahominy Multipurpose Room – Sonora® Wall and Ceiling Panels
Posted by Acoustics First in Absorption, Multipurpose Rooms, Product Applications on January 31, 2023
With multi-function rooms, there are usually a wide range of events being held in the same space. It could be full of kids playing games, dancing and music, or large important meetings. A balance can often be struck, making the room lively enough for the music and games, but tame enough for the speech intelligibility needed for the important meetings.
This particular space took advantage of the expansive ceiling with the use of direct mounted Sonora® Panels – which helped reduce the low-frequency buildup between the ceiling and the floor. Then some carefully-placed, wall-mounted Sonora® Panels were used to reduce the reflections bouncing off the walls. These panels were spread out in clusters along the walls to help reduce troublesome reflections, and tame the flutter from the long parallel walls.
The end result turned out great and all were pleased.
Treating a reclaimed space: Tone Tiles®
Posted by Acoustics First in Absorption, Multipurpose Rooms, Product Applications, Restaurants on December 30, 2022
Reclaiming historic spaces and updating them for modern functions is a bit of a balancing act. Often, the aesthetics of the space are tantamount, and should be minimally impacted by the materials and methods used to bring them up to modern standards. Acoustic treatments are no exception, and it is usually best if the materials blend into the space – or at least don’t detract from the overall “vibe.”
When this old factory was converted into a multi-function space with a restaurant and brewery, there were concerns about the build-up of sound. As is often the case, the rustic patina of the concrete and brick surfaces were a focal point in this space, leaving the ceiling as the primary treatment location.
The solution was to install 2″ Tone Tiles® directly to the ceiling. This solution allowed for the sound build-up to be absorbed, while blending into the whitewashed ceiling structure. The rustic charm of the room was maintained, while having a modern, intimate acoustic profile, which is more conducive to gatherings and functions.
Sonora® & Sonora® Lite – together in Michigan
Posted by Acoustics First in Absorption, Customer Feedback, Product Applications, Products, Worship Facilities on November 30, 2022
Here are a couple of fresh install photos – courtesy of SLS Productions in Michigan. For this fellowship hall at Kalamazoo Missionary Church, a mix of standard Sonora® Panels and Sonora® Lite PVC encapsulated panels were used. The Steel Grey Sonora® Panels, installed on the wall, are the standard 6-7# density panels that have become ubiquitous in so many churches and schools throughout the country for improving speech clarity and taming harsh reverb times.
For the ceiling of the room, Sonora® Lite Panels were used. Notice how the white PVC covering and clear washer plates help the panels blend aesthetically into the ceiling. These lower density (1.65#) PVC encapsulated panels could be thought of as a ‘direct mount’ cousin of our Cloudscape® baffles and are an excellent budget friendly choice when treating ceilings. The final results turned out great and all were pleased.
Taming the Cube with Cloudscape®
Posted by Acoustics First in Absorption, Classrooms, Customer Feedback, Manufacturing, Media Room, Product Applications, School & Educational Facilities, Teaching Rooms, Universities on October 21, 2022
When the University of the Pacific reached out to help tame the acoustics of their makerspace called “The Cube”, many different concerns were underlined about the space, its uses, and the problems they faced.
These concerns covered more than just the room dimensions – size, height, HVAC, glass walls, etc…. there were functional requirements for collaboration, classes, and workshops. The overwhelming acoustic problems involved the near constant noises generated by the vast array of equipment in this space – sewing machines, large format printers, plotting cutters, 3D printers, scanners, and every other modern tool for allowing the creative minds at their school to create. It was a cacophony of stepper motors, fans, and moving parts – which made collaboration very difficult.
The other parameter that needed to be maintained was the ability to reconfigure the layout of the equipment without affecting the acoustic treatment in the space. This removed almost all of the walls in the space as possible locations for treatment. This left the ceiling as the only viable space left for treatment, but with an array of lights and exposed HVAC systems, there were few treatments that would be easy to implement and still be effective.
The decision was made to creatively weave Cloudscape® Baffles into all the spaces available in the ceiling. Dodging duct-work and suspended lighting rails was made possible with careful planning and execution – and the results were immediately notable. (Also noticeable was that the baffles had very little impact on the lighting which is vital in any makerspace.)
“…The sound baffles you recommended finally got installed in my makerspace about two weeks ago and I wanted to send a quick thank you since they’ve made a very noticeable acoustic difference to the room, and it’s a lot more pleasant in here now. “
Chris Crawford – Innovation Spaces Manager (University of the Pacific)
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