Sound Dampening and Acoustic Tiles

When installing a ceiling something to consider aside from aesthetics is the products ability to block and absorb sound. There are two sound ratings for ceiling tiles:  Ceiling Attenuation Class (CAC) and Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC).

Ceiling Attenuation Class (CAC)

The CAC rating measures how much sound is being blocked by the tile.  This rating is good if you are trying to minimize sound transmission between floors and rooms. Bedrooms and workout rooms are the most common areas where this sound rating is considered important. A very good CAC rating is above 35.

Noise Reduction Coeffiecient (NRC)

The second sound rating, NRC is typically a factor many never consider when selecting products.  This rating is used to determine how much sound the tile absorbs and how much sound is bounced back causing an echo effect.  This rating is extremely important in television rooms or any area where in-room acoustics are priority.  This sound rating is measured on a scale ranging from 0.00 to 1.00 representing 0% to 100% of sound absorption.  Many common ceiling tiles have a NRC rating  of 0.55 (55%) with high-end tile ranging from 0.70 to 1.00 (70% – 100%).

We carry a variety of ceiling tiles with the sound rating to suit your needs. Come to our show room and let our experienced staff find the right tile for you, whether it be a high end sound rated tile like the Sandrift or Black frost tile (NRC .70 & CAC 38) for your theater room or a tile with a washable surface like the Georgian tile (NRC 0.0 & CAC 33) for your shower room, we are always happy to help.