About this Calculator

• Take into account the room layout and space constraints, in order to guarantee that the suggested amount of panels can be included in your room.
• For the calculation, we are considering a lightly furnished room, with wooden floor and plasterboard on the walls and ceiling. Rooms with other finishes may require different quantities of panels.
• The calculation model used in this Tool considers the acoustic treatment to be evenly distributed by all surfaces.
• Install the panels evenly across the walls and/or ceiling, using Flexi Glue Ultra (1 tube per box of Flat Panel VMT 59.5 x 59.5 x 2 cm).

Light or Standard Acoustic Treatment?

Managing reflections, absorption of sound waves in a room differs according to the amount of acoustic solutions used. We reached a compromise over the number of acoustic panels required for two levels of acoustic treatment:

Light Acoustic Treatment is primarily used to control minor acoustic issues and enhance the overall sound quality in a space without significantly altering its aesthetics. A small amount of acoustic panels are suggested to discreetly blend with the room's decor.

Standard Acoustic Treatment is employed to address moderate acoustic problems and achieve a balanced sound environment in a room. With an effective amount of acoustic panels, you will be able to control echoes and reduce reverberation.

Aside from the goals of the space, the budget, and the aesthetics, the choice of acoustic treatment also depends on the room features, including materials used on walls, ceiling, and floor. For a more accurate calculation it is recommended an acoustic consultancy project.

What does the NRC rating of acoustic panels mean?

The noise reduction coefficient (NRC) represents how much sound is absorbed by an object, such as an acoustic panel. NRC is the average of the absorption coefficient of a material in the standard frequencies that range from 250 to 2,000 Hz. The material’s absorption is given a single-number rating which ranges from 0 (no absorption) to 1.0 (total absorption).

Why is the acoustic performance for suspended elements not presented?

Suspended acoustic elements such as clouds and baffles (ViCloud VMT, GEN_VMT Cloud and Suspended Baffle 3D) have twice the area of absorbing material exposed to sound waves when compared to common acoustic panels. Depending on the air gap between the element and the structural ceiling, or between elements, the absorbing performance in the medium/low frequencies will vary. For suspended elements the Noise Reduction Coefficient is not presented since these elements’ absorbing performance is quantified by their Equivalent Absorbing Area (in m2) and not by the Sound Absorption Coefficient (which is used to obtain the NRC value).

Are acoustic panels a good solution for reducing external noises?

No, acoustic panels are designed to correct indoor sound issues, control reverberation time, minimize sound reflections, help to deal with room modes produced by sound waves inside a room. Other solutions like sound insulation or soundproofing materials mainly used in construction are recommended to reduce noises originated out of a room or space, or avoid internal noises produced inside the room to affect external spaces.

If you require a sound insulation project, we recommend you contact a construction specialist.