Acoustic Baffles 101: The Complete Guide to Suspended Ceiling Noise Control

Introduction

High ceilings are architecturally stunning. They create a sense of airiness, grandeur, and open space that defines modern offices, restaurants, and atriums. But they come with a hidden cost: terrible acoustics. If you’ve ever struggled to hear a conversation in a trendy restaurant or an open-plan office, you’ve experienced the "canyon effect" of untreated high ceilings. The solution isn’t always to cover your beautiful ceiling in tiles.

Enter Acoustic Baffles—the suspended solution that stops noise without hiding your architecture.

What Are Acoustic Baffles?

Acoustic baffles are vertically suspended sound-absorbing panels that hang from the ceiling. Unlike traditional "clouds" or "rafts" that hang horizontally, baffles hang like blades. This unique orientation is the secret to their performance. Because they hang vertically, they expose multiple sides of the absorptive material to the room.

At GB Acoustics, our PetFelt Acoustic Baffles are engineered from recycled PET bottles, turning plastic waste into high-performance architectural silence.

The "Unframed" Advantage: Maximizing Absorption

We often get asked: "Why shouldn't I just glue panels to the ceiling?" While direct-fix panels work well for lower ceilings, our baffles offer a distinct advantage: exposed edges.

Most traditional acoustic panels are framed or hidden in a grid, which blocks the edges from absorbing sound. Our PetFelt baffles are completely unframed. This means that not only are the two large faces absorbing noise, but the bottom and side edges are active too.

  • 3-4 Sides of Absorption: Sound waves don't just hit the front; they wrap around the baffle. By leaving the edges exposed, we significantly increase the effective surface area of every single unit without adding bulk.

  • Double the Impact: They "trap" sound waves bouncing between the ceiling and the floor more efficiently than a flat panel ever could.

Designs That Define Your Space

Function doesn’t have to mean boring. While standard straight baffles offer a clean, linear look, we offer four distinct design profiles to match your interior’s character.

  • Range: Our classic straight-edge profile. Perfect for creating clean, continuous lines in corporate offices or mimicking the look of timber beams without the weight.

  • Curves A: A gentle, convex wave pattern that adds softness to industrial spaces. When installed in series, it creates a rolling "dune" effect across the ceiling.

  • Curves B: The inverse concave profile. Use it alone for a scalloped look, or mix it with 'Curves A' to create complex, flowing undulations that act as a visual centrepiece.

  • Gridwork: A striking cross-hatch design that forms a suspended lattice. This is ideal for masking unsightly plenum spaces (pipes and ducts) while allowing services to remain accessible.

How Many Baffles Do You Need?

This is the most common question we receive. While every space is unique, a general rule of thumb for commercial spaces is to cover 30% to 50% of the ceiling area with acoustic treatment to notice a significant reduction in reverberation time (RT60).

However, because our unframed baffles are so efficient at capturing sound from all angles, you can often achieve better results with less material coverage compared to flat tiles.

Factors that influence your coverage needs:

  • Ceiling Height: Higher ceilings generally require deeper baffles (e.g., 200mm+ depth).

  • Floor Finish: Concrete or wood floors reflect more sound than carpet, requiring more ceiling treatment to compensate.

  • Usage: A recording studio needs "dead" silence, while a restaurant just needs "lively but intelligible" speech clarity.

Installation: Easier Than You Think

One of the biggest benefits of our PetFelt system is weight—or lack thereof. Traditional acoustic treatments can be heavy and require complex reinforced fixing points. Our PetFelt baffles are lightweight and durable. They can be installed using simple cable suspension kits that clip directly into the baffle spine or suspended via profiles to create a modular raft. This makes them ideal for:

  • Retrofitting: Upgrading an office without major construction work.

  • Historic Buildings: Where you cannot drill extensively into heritage plasterwork. (See our study on Acoustic Design in Historic & Listed Buildings for more on this challenge).

Sustainability: Silence with a Conscience

Modern architecture demands sustainability. It’s no longer enough for a product to just "work"; it must also respect the planet. Our baffles are not just recyclable; they are made from recycled material. By using PetFelt, you are diverting plastic from oceans and landfills. They contain no chemical binders, are non-allergenic, and are safe for use in schools and healthcare environments where air quality is paramount.

Ready to Lower the Volume?

Whether you are designing a bustling food hall or a focused library, acoustic baffles offer the perfect balance of form and function.

 
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