Ceiling Systems for High Performing Schools
Good acoustics throughout a school can have a life-changing impact. Designing with the right ceiling makes a big difference of occupants of all ages.
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Good acoustics throughout a school can have a life-changing impact. Designing with the right ceiling makes a big difference of occupants of all ages.
Reducing Noise. Evidence suggests that decreased noise levels in schools can be associated with improvement in student achievement.1 Ceilings with superior sound absorption play a critical role in noise reduction.
Rockfon products feature Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) ratings of .70 - 1.05, which are ideal noise reducing options for every school setting. The highter the NRC, the better acoustics in a space, which creates a more conducive learning environment.
Improving Speech Intelligibility. According to the Acoustical Society of America, U.S. classrooms typically have a speech intelligibility rating of about 75%. That means every fourth word is missed.
An investigation found that after treating a ceiling with sound absorbing materials - such as those in Rockfon tiles - students were able to hear teacher's speech more clearly.2
Allowing for More Complex Space. Schools are full of multifunctional spaces that require complex design solutions, including different acoustic approaches depending on the size or purpose of each space. With so many stone wool and metal options, Rockfon has both an acoustic solution for every space and that can add style and beauty.
Rockfon stone wool ceiling tiles & panels a transform learning environments for students and teachers. Stone wool naturally delivers high sound absorption. When stone wool is transformed into an acoustic ceiling, occupants experience acoustic comfort & enhanced classroom acoustics.
Children are often the most susceptible to pollutants emitted from building materials. This is because children breathe in more air and, as a result, are absorbing more chemicals that can be harmful to their growing bodies. Since most children spend the majority of their year inside school buildings, these projects deserve extra attention for IAQ.
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The United States Environmental Protection Agency found that up to half of the schools in the U.S. have problems linked to poor indoor air quality.3 Rockfon offers a solution with products that are GREENGUARD Gold Certified for low VOCs. |
| High sound absorption | |
| Repel water and resist the growth of mold and mildew | |
| Support natural daylighting | |
| Moisture and Impact Resistant |
What if as a student you could hear only 75 percent of the words spoken to you? What if as a ______ you could ___ only 75 percent of the ____ spoken to you?
Airplanes flying overhead, students passing through the halls and reverberation combine to form classroom noise. The acoustics inside education spaces have been proven to impact everything, from the ability of students to focus and understand teachers, to motivation, sleep and teacher job satisfaction.5 Designing a space that promotes learning requires optimized acoustics that consider the purpose of the space and sources of noise. Using materials with high Noise Reduction Coefficients (NRC) ensures sound absorption that reduces noise levels and reverberation time, ultimately improving speech intelligibility and acoustic comfort. Rockfon stone wool and metal ceiling solutions are purpose-built to provide optimal acoustic performance in complex spaces by providing superior sound absorption with NRC ratings up to 0.95.
In schools, moisture poses risks to both the safety and durability of ceilings. If ceiling tiles are affected by humidity, they risk mold growth and sagging tiles. In one Illinois school, mold issues forced it to close for 18 months and spend over $29 million in mold removal.8 Ceiling systems can play an important role in lessening the risk of mold issues.
Stone wool is naturally moisture resistant and lacks the nutritional properties to support harmful microorganisms, like mold and bacteria. Not only does this maintain indoor air quality, which is important when building for vulnerable populations, it reduces maintenance costs. Rockfon’s ceiling tiles won’t need replacing due to mold concerns or sag caused by moisture. Rockfon is committed to creating ceiling solutions that put safety first without sacrificing longevity or maintenance needs.
Sources:
1 https://www.rockfon.com/product-benefits/acoustics/, 1. Harvard T.H Chan (2017) Foundation for Student Success
2 An investigation of acoustic treatment for children in a classroom of an elementary school, Peng, Jianxin; Wang, Dan; Lau, Siu-Kit, et al., (FindIt) Applied Acoustics — 2015, Volume 89, pp. 42-45, 2015, China
3 Effects of Classroom Acoustics and Self-Reported Noise Exposure on Teachers' Well-Being, Kristiansen, Jesper; Persson, Roger; Lund, Soren Peter, et al. (FindIt) Environment and Behavior — 2013, Volume 45, Issue 2, pp. 283-300, 2013, Denmark
4 https://www.wired.com/2013/01/school-design-affect-grades/
5 https://www.wseas.us/e-library/conferences/2013/Malaysia/MACMESE/MACMESE-20.pdf
We provide customers with a complete acoustic ceiling system offering, combining sound absorbing ceiling tiles and specialty metal panels with suspension grid systems and accessories.
