Soundproofing A Drop Grid Ceiling Tile System
The soundproofing treatment outlined here targets the control of noise bleeding in or out of a room through a drop grid ceiling tile system. As we outline in our course on Sound Transmission, noise will bleed through a common surface both structurally and airborne. To combat the bleed of air borne noise, we add weight. To combat the bleed of structure borne noise, we add disconnection to the weight. Our goal with a drop grid ceiling tile system is increase its density, the disconnection is already in place.
Standard ceiling tiles do not block noise. They are a cosmetic way to finish a ceiling system, or help control background noise in a room by absorbing unwanted sound reflections. But standard ceiling tiles do not protect against noise bleeding upstairs, or combat noise from bleeding down into your room. Our goal is to upgrade the properties of the ceiling tile by adding density to the material.
DENSITY
Our goal with a drop grid tile system is to simply increase its density. This will help deaden the transmitting noise, protect one room's noise from bleeding upstairs or up through a plenum area to spill down into an adjoining room. There are two options available to you for the addition of this weight. If you have a current tile system in place, simply rest NetWell Ceiling Caps atop your existing tiles. These Caps serve as an acoustic "lid" designed to seal your room. Available in 2'x2' or 2'x4' tiles to match your tile dimensions. If you have florescent lighting, Shrouds are available as oversized pieces designed to rest atop your lighting fixture.
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Your alternative is to install a new finished ceiling tile that carries the density you need to combat the bleed of noise. NetWell's Granite Tiles are a finished tile lined with the density of dB-Bloc. Simply rest these tiles into your grid system. These tiles will combine to both absorb sound reflections within your room, and combat the bleed of noise in or out through your ceiling. In either case, remember to double up on the hangers you use to support the grid system. A standard grid system will not be designed to accept the weight of either treatment.
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