Install the Acoustical Plaster Architects and Contractors Trust
BASWA certifies skilled plasterers, tapers, and carpenters nationwide. Become a certified installer or locate a trained BASWA contractor near your project.
BASWA certifies skilled plasterers, tapers, and carpenters nationwide. Become a certified installer or locate a trained BASWA contractor near your project.
Acoustical comfort is no longer an afterthought in buildingdesign. It is a specification requirement, a wellness standard, and increasingly, a competitive advantage for the contractors who can deliver it. BASWA acoustic offers a complete, Swiss-engineered seamless acoustical plaster system with NRC ratings from 0.80 to 1.00[1] tested according to ASTM C423[2] and backed by the mostcomprehensive installer support program in the industry.
Whether you are a plastering contractor looking to expand yourservice offering, an interior contractor seeking a high-value specialty trade,or a general contractor who wants to deliver acoustical plaster on your nextcommercial or residential project, BASWA certification is your entry point. View current BASWA products or explore commercial and residential project portfolios to see what is possible.
Noise is one of the most documented barriers to humanperformance in built environments. Research published in the NationalInstitutes of Health Proceedings[3] found that elevated noise levels in workplaces increase error rates, reduce cognitive output, and contribute to fatigue and stress. A survey of 2,000 office workers found that 60% reported being unable to concentrate due to poor acoustic conditions at work,[4] and one in three reported submitting late or lower-quality work as a directresult of noise.[4]
In educational settings, the consequences are equallywell-documented. ANSI/ASA S12.60[5] sets maximum background noise levels for permanent classrooms at 35 dBA andmaximum reverberation times at 0.6 seconds for classrooms under 10,000 cubicfeet. Research supporting this standard demonstrates that when classrooms meetits criteria, students show statistically significant improvements in speechrecognition and comprehension performance.[6] Classroom noise levels in untreated spacesroutinely reach 50 to 60 dBA, far above the recommended threshold.[5]
In healthcare, hospitality, performing arts, and multi-family residential construction, architects are increasingly required to specify materials that meet or exceed defined acoustical performance benchmarks. NRC ratings, calculated per ASTM C423,[2] are the standard North American measure for sound absorption. The BASWA Phon system has been independently tested under both A and E mountings using ASTMC423 to reflect actual field installation conditions.[1] The result: contractorscertified to install BASWA systems are positioned to win specifications inmarket segments where acoustical performance is a requirement, not merely apreference.
The BASWA Phon Acoustical Plaster System has earned a reputation among the trades for being the most consistencely installer-friendly, technically complete acoustical plaster system available in North America. Here is what certified BASWA installers experience on every project:
Pre-InstallationSupport That Reduces Risk
Every BASWA project begins with a pre-installation review of site conditions and construction details. BASWA's North American technical team works directly with installers before the first panel goes up, helping to identify potential challenges and resolve them before they become job-site problems. This level of pre-project engagement is standard with BASWA and is rarely offered by competing systems.
Factory-Coated, Sanded Panels with No Lead Time
BASWA Phon panels arrive factory-coated and sanded, ready for adhesive application on-site. The system is designed for efficient installation sequences that allow contractors to maintain project schedules. Because finishes and critical components are made in the USA, delivery timelines are predictable.
Overnight Drying Cycle
Unlike systems that require multi-day drying between coats, the BASWA system is designed for an overnight drying cycle. This reduces total installed timeline, helps contractors meet compressed construction schedules, and reduces the number of return trips required to complete a job.
Trowel-Friendly Coatings and No Seam Telegraphing
BASWA's finish coat is engineered for workability. Trowel-friendly formulations allow plasterers to achieve a consistent, seamless surface with professional results. The system's panel design eliminates seam telegraphing, which is one of the most common aesthetic failures in competing acoustical plaster systems and a frequent source of costly remediation work.
IntegratedColors and Custom Finishes
Color is integrated into BASWA's finish coat system, not applied as a secondary paint layer. This simplifies the installation process, maintains acoustic performance integrity, and allows architects and designers to specify BASWA in a wide range of color and texture options. Contractors are not required to coordinate with a separate painting subcontractor after plaster completion.
Variety of System Options to Meet Project-Specific Demands
BASWA offers systems that can be adhered to stable substrates, like BASWA Phon, BASWA Natural and BASWA Basic, or can be mounted directly to drywall grid, like BASWA DTG. BASWA Base offers extra impact resistance, and like BASWA Phon and BASWA Natural, do well in high humidity environments.
Applicationon Any Geometry
The BASWA system installs seamlessly on flat, curved, domed,and vaulted surfaces. This design versatility gives certified installers theability to take on high-value architectural projects that competing systemscannot accommodate.
Ongoing Technical Support
On-site troubleshooting support is available from the BASWA North American technical team throughout the life of any project. For a fulllibrary of technical bulletins and installation resources, visit the Technical Bulletin Archive and the BASWA Phon Installation Guide.
BASWA certification is not a passive credential. It is anactive, hands-on training partnership between BASWA's technical team and theinstalling contractor. Here is what the process looks like:
Step 1: Selection and Onboarding
Certified installers are selected based on geographic coverage, trade qualifications, and demonstrated craftsmanship. Not every applicant is accepted, which is part of what makes BASWA certification meaningful to architects, designers, and owners. When a contractor is accepted into the program, they join a network that is marketed directly to the architect and design community.
Step 2: On-Site Technical Training
BASWA's dedicated technical support team trains new certified installers directly on the job site through their first installation. This is not a classroom-only certification. Contractors learn the BASWA installation sequence by doing it, with expert guidance available at every step. This model reduces the learning curve substantially compared to trying to interpret an installation manual independently or recall techniques learned in brief classroom settings.
Step 3: Advanced Training and Continuing Education
BASWA supports ongoing contractor development through advanced training modules and continued education programs. Certified installers have access to the Advanced Training for Certified Installers program, as well as BASWA's Continued Education resources that can be applied toward professional development requirements.
Step 4: Inclusion in the BASWA Installer Network
Certified installers in the BASWA North American installer network, throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean and Latin America, are shared with architects, general contractors, and owners looking for qualified BASWA installers for their projects. Network inclusion generates project leads and positions certified installers as the preferred source for high-performance acoustical plaster in their region.
BASWA certified installers work across a wide range of commercial and residential project types where acoustic performance andaesthetic quality are both priorities. Explore the BASWAcommercial project portfolio and the BASWA residential portfolio to see system applications.
• Corporate offices and open-plan work environments wherespeech privacy and noise control are specification requirements
• K-12 and higher education classrooms designed to meetANSI/ASA S12.60 acoustical performance criteria for schools5
• Healthcare facilities where ambient noise reductionsupports patient outcomes and staff performance
• Performing arts centers, recording studios, andmultipurpose auditoriums where precise reverberation control is engineered
• Private residences acoustic comfort and interior finish quality are primary selling features
• Hospitality and restaurant environments wherecontrolled reverberation time creates a more comfortable guest experience
• Houses of worship, civic buildings, and culturalinstitutions with complex architectural geometries
BASWA provides technical resources at every stage of aproject, from pre-bid estimating through post-installation maintenanceguidance.
• Technical Bulletin Archive - installation guidance and system updates
• BASWA Phon Installation Guide.- step-by-step installation reference
• Advanced Training for Certified Installers - continuing professional development
• Technical Data and ASTM Test Summaries - specification-ready performance data
• Product Overview - full BASWA system and component catalog
• Continued Education - learning resources for the full project team
• Document Downloads - specs, details, and submittals
BASWA certification means access to a growing market, a provensystem, and a technical support team that is invested in your success on everyjob. Certified installers benefit from network referrals, on-site training,factory-level product support, and the credibility of being associated with themost rigorously tested acoustical plaster system available in North America.
Contact the BASWA North America team today to begin the certiificastion process
Contact BASWA to locate a certified installer in your area. For direct technical support or to discuss a current project contact us at info@baswana.com or 855-902-2792.
[1] BASWA acoustic North America. BASWA Phon Acoustical Plaster System Technical Data. BASWA acoustic North America, LLC. Available at: baswana.com/tech-data. Acoustic coefficient testing conducted under ASTM C423 by certified third-party laboratories. NRC ratings (0.75 to 1.00+) per 30mm, 40mm, and 70mm system configurations. Class A Fire Rating per ASTM E84; mold resistance per ASTMD3273; light reflectance per ASTM E1477.
[2] ASTM International. ASTM C423: Standard Test Method for Sound Absorption and Sound Absorption Coefficients by the Reverberation Room Method. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International. https://www.astm.org/c0423-22.html
[3] Nassiri P, Monazam M, Dehaghi BF, et al. The Effect of Exposure to High Noise Levels on the Performance and Rate of Error in Manual Activities. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2013;4(2):87-94. Available at:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4844473/
[4] Oscar Acoustics. Noise Annoys: UK Workplace Acoustics Survey. London: Oscar Acoustics, 2022. Survey of 2,000 UK office workers conducted July 2022.Reported by Work in Mind, September 20, 2022. Available at: https://workinmind.org/2022/09/20/acoustics-survey-reveals-60-of-office-workers-unable-to-concentrate/
[5] American National Standards Institute / Acoustical Society of America. ANSI/ASAS12.60-2010 (R2020): Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools, Part 1: Permanent Schools. Melville, NY: Acoustical Society of America, 2010 (reaffirmed 2020). Maximum background noise limit: 35dBA; maximum reverberation time: 0.6 seconds (classrooms under 10,000 ft3). Available from ANSI at: https://blog.ansi.org/ansi/ansi-asa-s12-60-part-1-2010-r2020-school-acoustics/
[6] Crandell CC, Smaldino JJ. Implementation of ANSI S12.60 Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements and Guidelines for Schools. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. Results demonstrate statistically significant improvements in speech recognition performance in classrooms meeting ANSI S12.60-2002 criteria. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272258015
BASWA Contractors are highly skilled plasterers that are trained by BASWA's technical team on the appropriate steps for installation. The BASWA System's unique characteristics allow it to be seamlessly installed to any wall or ceiling, including flat, domed, and curved spaces.
Connect with our skilled network of certified installers
BASWA's network of certified installers is available throughout the world. Contact the installer in your project location.
