Good acoustics with Troldtekt
Choose an effective acoustics solution.
Sounds in a room are reflected off the walls and ceilings, and these reflections make up most of the sounds we hear. If we want to be able to talk and clearly hear what others are saying, it is vital that the reverberation time in the room is short – that the sound in the room fades out quickly.
While a concrete ceiling only absorbs 1-2 per cent of the sound, a Troldtekt ceiling with mineral wool behind it will typically absorb 80-90 per cent of the sound – and in some cases even more. This means you can significantly reduce reverberation time by choosing a Troldtekt acoustic solution.
Below you can see our recommended reverberation times for different room types.
You can also see how a family improved the reverberation time in their home with Troldtekt acoustic ceilings.
Structure matters
The different structures with Troldtekt acoustic panels yield different results for reverberation time.
For the best possible acoustic effect in residential properties, install Troldtekt acoustic panels directly beneath the 200–300 mm mineral wool and vapour barrier ceiling structure. However, installing Troldtekt under an existing ceiling may also be a viable solution.
In project buildings such as large offices, schools, institutions and other premises with special acoustic requirements, the optimum solution is usually to install a suspended Troldtekt ceiling in a profile system which hangs 200–300 mm below the fixed ceiling, so that there is a cavity above the acoustic ceiling.
Easy installation with two-layer panel
If you choose the variant Troldtekt Plus, the mineral wool is glued to the back of the panel itself, making it easier for tradespeople to work with compared to loose mineral wool.
Troldtekt Plus acoustic panels have an installation height of only 43 mm, and provide very effective sound absorption in rooms which do not have space for a 200–300 mm cavity between the acoustic panels and the ceiling.
See sound measurements for different constructions with Troldtekt
Paint your panels without compromising acoustics
Troldtekt acoustic panels can be painted again and again with a paint sprayer without compromising their acoustic properties. This can help extend the lifetime of the panels – for example during renovations, and if a building changes owner or tenant.
Read more about the operation and maintenance of Troldtekt panels here
How big a difference Troldtekt makes
Daniel Boje and his family moved to a brand new house south of Aarhus. Shortly after moving in, they realised there was something wrong with the acoustics. Sounds were bouncing around the rooms, even though there were sound-absorbing plasterboard ceilings many places in the house.
The example shows how, after installing Troldtekt acoustic ceilings, the family got the house they dreamed of. Professional sound measurements before and after show that the reverberation time in the open-plan kitchen-dining-living room and bathroom have decreased by up to 60 per cent. And it has made a difference you can hear.
Recommended reverberation times
The reverberation time in a room should suit both the size and purpose of the room. For example, in classrooms short reverberation times are needed to ensure that pupils can hear what the teacher is saying. On the other hand, the sound shouldn’t fade out so quickly that not everyone in the room can hear the teacher.
The reverberation time should ideally be about the same across the entire frequency range. In concert halls designed for classical music, however, a slightly longer reverberation time for the lower frequencies is preferable.
The table shows Troldtekt’s recommended reverberation times for different room types.
Room type |
Reverberation time in seconds |
Sound control rooms |
0.2–0.3 sec. |
Sound studios |
0.4–0.6 sec. |
Open-plan kitchen-dining-living room |
0.4–0.5 sec. |
Cinemas |
0.4–0.8 sec. |
Childcare institutions |
0.4 sec. (requirement) |
Classrooms |
0.6 sec. (requirement) |
Small offices/meeting rooms |
0.6 sec. |
Larger offices |
Absorption area (A) should be greater than 1.1 x floor area |
Patient and treatment rooms |
0.6 sec. |
Restaurants |
0.6 sec. |
Rock music venues |
0.7–1.0 sec. |
Theatres |
1.1–1.4 sec. |
Opera houses |
1.5–1.7 sec. |