Acoustic Ceilings from Armstrong

Acoustic Ceilings: Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC)

Recommended products:
Ultima: NRC=0.70 (high requirements)
Optima Open Plan: NRC=0.90
Fine Fissured High NRC/CAC: NRC=0.70
DUNE: NRC=0.50 (standard requirements)

NRC measures the average percentage of noise a material absorbs at four frequencies: 250, 500, 1000, 2000Hz. This key measure of absorption of general office noise is expressed as a single value percentage from 0.0 to 1.0 (Reference: AS 1045 - 1989, ASTM C 423-00 and E 795-00).

Superior acoustical performance ICON indicates Armstrong products with:

High Articulation Class AC - minimum 170
High Noise Reduction Coefficient NRC - minimum 0.65

For more information, see: Improve Workspace Effectiveness: With UL Classified High Performance Acoustical Ceilings.

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Acoustic Ceilings: Ceiling Attenuation Class (CAC)

Recommended products:
Fine Fissured High NRC/CAC: CAC=40
Dune Second Look: CAC=35
Fine Fissured Prima: CAC=35

CAC rates a ceiling structure’s efficiency as a barrier to airborne sound intrusion between two closed rooms, over the speech frequency range.

It is an especially significant measure in providing acoustic privacy between adjacent work areas, where sound can penetrate plenum spaces and carry to other spaces.

CAC is stated as a minimum value; CAC minimum 25 is acceptable in open plan offices, while a rating of minimum 35 or 40 is preferred for closed offices. (Reference: AS 2499:2000, ASTM E 1414-00a )

For more information, see: Improve Workspace Effectiveness: With UL Classified High Performance Acoustical Ceilings.

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	Acoustic Ceilings: Articulation Class (AC)
		Recommended products: Optima Open Plan: AC=200
	AC rates a ceiling’s suitability for achieving normal speech privacy in open office spaces by absorbing noise reflected at an angle off the ceiling into adjacent cubicles. This is a measure of the noise reflected over office partitions (60", 1.5M high) in the frequencies critical to speech intelligibility and conversational privacy. AC is the primary measure of acoustic performance in the open plan. (Reference: AS 1045 - 1989, ASTM C 423-00 and E 795-00 ) For more information, see: Improve Workspace Effectiveness: With UL Classified High Performance Acoustical Ceilings. Superior acoustical performance ICON indicates Armstrong products with: High Articulation Class AC – minimum 170 High Noise reduction Coefficient NRC – minimum 0.65

Acoustic Ceilings: Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC)

Acoustic Ceilings: Ceiling Attenuation Class (CAC)

Acoustic Ceilings: Articulation Class (AC)