Floating Acoustic Tiles – A good Alternative?

Does floating acoustic ceiling panels/tiles absorb sound more effetely than a ‘normal’ acoustic ceiling?

You probably already know the answer – “It depends.”

A ‘floating’ acoustic panel is essentially just suspending an acoustic material in singular panels from the ceiling. It can be very aesthetically pleasing and can contribute to making the room feel more ‘open’ and inviting. Another positive feature is that you are increasing the total absorption area by utilizing both sides of the absorption panel instead of closing it off completely like you would do with a ‘normal’ acoustic ceiling.

However it does not necessarily mean you will get double the sound absorption effect out of each panel, as the absorption coefficient depends on how far the panel is suspended from the ceiling and also the distance between each panel (if they are placed in a series throughout the ceiling.)

Normally a full-covering acoustic ceiling will cover most of the ceiling area, while a floating panel ceiling will struggle to cover most of the ceiling because of the distance needed between the panels, so in the end it may even out and the floating panels may come a little short compared to the full covering ceiling in regards to the effective absorption area.

A full covering combined with floating acoustic panels can be a pretty strong match if done correctly!