Myths on Soundproofing Ceiling Tiles

Ceiling tiles are found everywhere, mostly in commercial settings, some residential and some industrial. The bulk of the ceiling tiles target a decorative means by which to finish off a ceiling in expensively, leaving access to the pipes, phone lines, computer lines and ductwork that the ceiling tiles disguise. While some ceiling tile styles cater to the high end, decorative, architectural market, the bulk of the ceiling tiles available are simple 1" thick fiberglass tiles with some version of a white, nubby faced finish. The good news is that standard ceiling tiles are a low cost way to dress up the room and leave access to the ceiling. The bad news targets the myths about these ceiling tiles, which are addressed here for your benefit.

First, most commercial grade ceiling tiles are not designed to absorb echo. Most will carry NRC values (Noise Reduction Coefficients) of a .50-.55. NRC values are one means by which acousticians can gauge the effect of the material and its ability to control background noise within a room. Sound panels and upgraded ceiling tiles will carry NRC values of .80 - 1.15. These panels target an increase in sound absorption, some even doubling the overall impact of sound reduction that lower grade ceiling tiles will deliver. So for loud venues filled with background noise, standard commercial grade ceiling tiles offer little in terms of sound abatement.

The second great myth about ceiling tiles is that they "block" noise. Where common floor/ceilinig assembly's exist, and a drop grid tile system is in place, commercial grade ceiling tiles offer little in their ability to "cap" off a room acoustically. Most ceiling tiles are light weight, designed to rest into a grid system and not combat the bleed of noise into or out of a room. If your goal is to block sound from bleeding through a drop grid tile system, be sure your tiles are dense, or rest weight insulation plates above them. Like flooding water, sandbags are used to block the direction of the water because of the density of the sandbag. You need density to redirect waves, whether they are water or sound waves, and most ceiling tiles are lightweight. They do not block noise.

There are ceiling tiles that have density embedded into the tiles, and there are insulation plates that can arest atop existing, commercial grade ceiling tiles. Both of these options will add the density you need to combat the sound bleeed. Installing weighted ceiling tiles will require you to add additional hangers to your grid system, which in turn can support the density of your treatment.

In conclusion, if you have an existing grid system or intend to install one, be sure that you target ceiling tiles designed to "absorb" echo or that "block" noise. Do not install a standard commercial grade ceiling tile unless your only goal is to hide the pipes in the ceiling.


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