The What, Why, and How of Acoustical Plaster
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Acoustical Plaster in the Visitor's Welcome Center at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario
Acoustical plaster is a type of wall or ceiling finish that has sound-absorbing properties, but is disguised as a solid, smooth surface. It is often used in residential and commercial spaces to reduce noise levels, making it a great choice for homes, restaurants, museums, atriums, and other venues that need to control echo and reverberation.
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Sound absorbing acoustical plaster products reduce sound reverberation by capturing and converting sound energy into heat energy, stopping sound waves from bouncing around the room and creating echos. The fibers act as tiny air pockets which absorb sound waves as they travel through the material.
By absorbing the sound energy within the material instead of bouncing it back into the room, acoustical plaster helps create a more balanced listening experience over loud or continued reverberation. It also helps reduce background noise and improve clarity when talking or listening.
Despite the solid appearance of a BASWA system, noise easily pierce through the microporous finishes and ricochet within the mineral wool sub-layer, becoming heat energy. Low end reverberation vibrates the system diaphragmatically, also converting noise into heat energy.
Acoustical plasters are measured in performance characteristics using a Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) Rating, a simplified measurement of how well a material absorbs sound on a scale from 0 to 1. BASWA Systems have NRC Ratings from 0.80 to 1.00.
Get Technical InformationBASWA Phon panels are made of randomly spun mineral wool, from recycled glass, and are factory-coated with recycled expanded glass beads.
BASWA offers systems that are solvent-free, formaldehyde-free, and contain no VOCs.
Environmentally sound manufacturing processes ensure a low or even net-positive impact on the environment.
BASWA system panels are then seamlessly finished with recycled marble aggregate, a by-product of marble extraction.
Historically, Acoustical Plaster was made from gypsum plaster mixed with specially formulated fibers to create an acoustic material that absorbs sound. As the industry progressed, new materials were introduced with much higher acoustical ratings and better appearance.
Acoustical plaster is applied in layers to create a seamless finish layer supported by sound absorptive layers. The BASWA acoustic systems focus on sustainability with materials that are natural, recycled, durable, and long-lasting.
Acoustical plaster can be applied directly onto existing walls without requiring any additional framing or construction work.
It's also fire-resistant and easy to clean, making it a safe and low-maintenance option for any space where you need some extra noise control.
Because acoustical plaster comes in a variety of colors and textures, it can be used to add some style and visual appeal to any room while still providing excellent acoustic performance.
Acoustical plaster is a type of wall or ceiling finish that has sound-absorbing properties, but is disguised as a solid, smooth surface. It is often used in residential and commercial spaces to reduce noise levels, making it a great choice for homes, restaurants, museums, atriums, and other venues that need to control echo and reverberation.
Get a Quote for your ProjectUsing acoustical plaster throughout the reception, conference center and hospitality zones was paramount to ensure the elegant sculpted form overhead serenely led occupants through the space while emulating the forms of the Chicago River below.
With reflective materials such as concrete walls and vast glass that would create a cacophony of echoes, using acoustical plaster to shape the end-user’s subconscious acoustical perception ensured visitors connected to each space.
Acoustical Plaster incorporated thoughtful acoustical design into a beloved historical space, maintaining the ambiance of the original Great Hall while accommodating hundreds of travelers and commuters in a comfortable acoustical environment.
“Having this type of ceiling here helps in controlling the level of noise, the level of interaction that we can have in this space.”
- Peter Scott, Director of Facilities at the Whitney Museum
Faced with the challenge of correcting flutter echoes created by sound bouncing off parallel reflective walls while also introducing amplified sound, acoustical plaster allowed the space to function efficiently as a natural amphitheater as well as a lecture hall.
Acoustical plaster is applied using traditional plastering techniques, with a layer of sound absorbing materials and then the seamless coating layer using special acoustically-mindful methods.
BASWA systems are applied by carpenters, tapers, or plasterers by plasterers or tapers. System panels are either adhered to solid substrate or onto a standard drywall grid assembly. The seams between panels are filled with acoustically transparent materials.
Finally a wet-applied coating of acoustically transparent marble granulate is trowel or spray-applied onto the panels to give the system it’s popular monolithic appearance. Unique to BASWA Systems, the final finish is consistent in its sound absorbing characteristics across the surface.
Learn how BASWA systems are seamlessly applied using system panels and trowelled or spray-applied finishes.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.
If acoustical plaster sounds like the right solution for your acoustic and design needs, it's important to consult with a professional acoustician or acoustical material manufacturer to evaluate the acoustical needs in your space and determine the best approach for application and customization of the acoustical plaster.
