Acoustic Ceiling Absorbers – Ceiling Clouds and Baffles

Acoustic Ceiling Clouds, Ceiling Panels, and Baffles Made of PET Felt – Solutions for Interior Acoustic Design

Acoustic ceiling elements are among the most effective ways to reduce reverberation time in rooms and significantly improve speech intelligibility. Ceiling clouds, ceiling panels, and baffles made of PET felt offer a functional and versatile design solution for optimizing room acoustics without altering the building structure. Shape, material thickness, distance from the ceiling, and layout can be combined to meet individual aesthetic and acoustic goals.

PET Felt Ceiling Clouds – Functional Acoustic Elements with Versatile Design Options

Ceiling clouds are among the most effective acoustic elements for interiors. They reduce reverberation, improve speech intelligibility, and allow for customized, visually appealing ceiling designs. The combination of shape, spacing, material, and surface texture allows functional and aesthetic requirements to be met precisely. The elements are lightweight, stable, easy to install, and can be produced in virtually any geometry.

Shapes and Geometries

Ceiling clouds offer an extensive range of design possibilities. In addition to classic rectangular and square versions, trapezoidal, triangular, and hexagonal shapes are also used. Ceiling clouds can also be manufactured in round, elliptical, cloud-shaped, or free-form organic contours.

A distinctive design element is the Reuleaux triangle. These are triangular ceiling cloud shapes with rounded edges and gentle transitions that create a softer appearance and are particularly well suited to dynamic interior concepts. Reuleaux triangles can be arranged individually or combined with other shapes – for example, in interlocking patterns, rhythmic structures, or free-form groupings. Depending on the radius of the rounded corners, the appearance can be more technical or more organic. This shape is frequently used in creative environments, lounges, and modern office concepts where a flowing, harmonious ceiling design is desired.

On request, all shapes can be manufactured with rounded corners in specified radii. This allows functional surfaces to blend elegantly into the interior design without looking technical. Combining basic geometric shapes with soft curves opens up a wide range of design possibilities for individual architectural solutions.

Material and Construction

The clouds are made from PET felt panels in material thicknesses of 9 or 12 mm. The material is dimensionally stable, thermally bonded, and made from recycled polyester fibers. For higher sound absorption or stability requirements, double-layer versions (e.g., 2 × 9 mm) can be used. An optional sound-absorbing nonwoven can be laminated to the back (e.g., a 9 + 40 mm combination) to increase effectiveness at lower frequencies as well. This provides broadband absorption even with a low material thickness.

Suspension and Acoustic Performance

Ceiling clouds are generally suspended from the structural ceiling using cable suspension systems. The suspension distance can be individually selected between 100 mm and 600 mm. At a distance of approximately 200 mm, a 9 mm PET cloud achieves very good broadband sound absorption. The air gap between the cloud and the ceiling acts as a resonant cavity that effectively attenuates low frequencies.

At shorter or longer suspension distances, the acoustic properties can be adjusted by using a nonwoven composite (9 + 40 mm). This combination provides balanced sound distribution and optimized room acoustics even with low ceilings or narrow gaps.

Frame Construction and Visible Edges

Ceiling clouds made of 9 mm or 12 mm PET felt can be equipped with a recessed frame on the back, approximately 40 mm high. The frame is completely covered with the same PET felt material as the exposed face, giving the cloud a uniform appearance from all sides. This construction not only offers visual benefits but also increases stability and creates clean lines. The visible frame looks particularly refined when the clouds are viewed at an angle – for example, from stairs or galleries.

Installation with Minimal Suspension Distance – Ceiling Panels and Direct Mounting

If cable suspension is not possible because of limited ceiling height, the acoustic elements can be mounted directly to the ceiling. In this configuration, they are referred to as ceiling panels or ceiling cladding. They are attached using spacers or wood battens secured to the ceiling. The clouds are then screwed into place through their frames from below. For concealed installation, circular cutouts (Ø 20 mm) are made in the PET material at the fastening points. After the screws are installed, the cut-out PET discs are reinserted, leaving the fasteners completely hidden.

Optional Integrated Lighting

Ceiling clouds and baffles can optionally be equipped with integrated lighting. Options include an Acrux recessed luminaire (195 mm diameter, 26W, dimmable, silver) for directional downlighting and an LED strip (4000K neutral white, 6100 lm/5m) for perimeter indirect lighting. This turns the ceiling cloud into a combined acoustic and lighting element – ideal above conference tables, reception counters, and in restaurants.

Acoustic Performance and Range of Applications

The combination of sound-absorbing material, an air cavity, and an optional nonwoven composite produces highly efficient broadband sound absorption. Ceiling clouds are suitable both for individual applications in small rooms and for covering large areas. They are frequently used in offices, meeting rooms, restaurants, schools, foyers, and living spaces where reverberation needs to be reduced and room acoustics specifically improved. Depending on their shape, color, and arrangement, ceiling clouds can also serve as design elements, defining areas within a room or creating visual accents.

Surfaces and Design Options

The visible PET felt surface can be left untreated, textured, or finished with graphics. Options include incised textures (e.g., lines, waves, or grids), geometric or organic relief patterns, and direct CMYK printing on the surface, for example, for logos, images, or designs. This allows acoustically effective surfaces to be customized to interior concepts or integrated into existing design schemes.

Ceiling Clouds: Summary

An all-around versatile sound-absorbing ceiling solution, from ceiling panels and ceiling cladding to suspended ceiling clouds.

PET felt ceiling clouds are a versatile solution for acoustically effective ceiling surfaces with demanding design requirements. They combine technical functionality with aesthetic freedom – from standard rectangular shapes to complex free-form shapes such as Reuleaux triangles, clouds, and elliptical structures. The choice of suspension, material thickness, color, and surface finish allows tailored solutions for any interior architecture. Whether suspended, directly mounted, or combined with lighting systems, ceiling clouds create an acoustically balanced and visually harmonious environment.

Baffles – Vertical Acoustic Elements for Exposed Ceilings

Baffles are vertically suspended acoustic elements primarily used in rooms with exposed structural ceilings, for example, thermally activated ceilings in open-plan offices, foyers, or workshops. They typically extend 150 – 300 mm downward and are arranged at uniform or variable intervals. This enables efficient sound absorption without restricting the thermal functions of a concrete ceiling or concealing attractive wood ceilings or architecturally distinctive ceiling structures, such as those from the Art Nouveau period.

Design Options and Shapes

Baffles can be manufactured in rectangular, trapezoidal, stepped, or rounded shapes. Organic free-form shapes are also possible for creating flowing 3D spatial structures. Standard thicknesses are 9, 12, or 24 mm, supplemented by double-layer versions (e.g., 2 × 9 mm or 2 × 12 mm). U-shaped miter folds allow greater widths of 30–300 mm without significantly increasing weight. This provides extensive design variety with many customizable design parameters.

Mounting Methods and Systems

Various construction methods are available for mounting baffles:

• Individual cable suspension – each baffle is mounted separately using cables or wire hangers.
• Linked system – several baffles are connected by a shared tube to reduce the number of suspension points.
• Halfen channels – flexible channel systems into which the baffles can simply be clipped. These are also suitable for wall mounting.

Lighting systems can be integrated into the baffles on request. Options include downlights or linear lights that can serve both functional and design purposes.

Acoustic Performance – Tested in Accordance with ISO 354 / Rated in Accordance with DIN EN ISO 11654

The acoustic effectiveness of PET felt ceiling clouds and baffles has been measured in independent laboratories in accordance with ISO 354 and rated in accordance with DIN EN ISO 11654. Freely suspended ceiling elements absorb sound from both sides and use the distance from the ceiling as a natural air gap – enabling significantly higher sound absorption performance than wall-mounted panels:

• NRC 0.85 | Sound absorption class B – as a freely suspended ceiling cloud with an air gap below the ceiling (from approximately 200 mm suspension distance)
• Sound absorption class A – with a nonwoven composite (PET + 40 mm nonwoven) – broadband absorption from 250 Hz, the highest sound absorption class

The absorption values apply to all material thicknesses (9 and 12 mm), since panel thickness has only a minor influence on the sound absorption of PET felt – suspension distance and construction are the decisive factors.

PET felt ceiling clouds and baffles support compliance with DIN 18041 for reducing reverberation time – particularly effective in conference rooms, open-plan offices, schools, restaurants, and hotels, where good speech intelligibility is essential.

Certifications and Fire Safety

• Flame-resistant in accordance with EN 13501-1 (B-s1,d0) – tested by Intertek, equivalent to DIN 4102 B1
• OekoTex 100 – tested for harmful substances, suitable for kindergartens, schools, and hospitals
• Greenguard Gold – low VOC emissions for healthy indoor air
• EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) – relevant to DGNB and LEED certification
• SCS Recycled Content – certified recycled content from PET bottles

Our PET panels are manufactured with high-quality B1 fibers that reliably ensure flame resistance even when freely suspended. Every batch is inspected on-site by our staff.

Design Possibilities and Variants

The material surface can be textured with V-Cut lines, chamfered, or printed. Options include linear textures (vertical, diagonal, or horizontal), graphic patterns, and circular or free-form structures. Alternatively, CMYK printing can be applied directly to the material to incorporate designs, logos, or images. This combines acoustics with visual design – functional and customized.

Typical Applications

PET felt ceiling clouds and baffles are suitable for virtually every area of interior architecture:

• Offices, open-plan spaces, and meeting rooms – reduced reverberation for focused work and clear communication
• Conference rooms – targeted placement above the conference table for optimal speech intelligibility
• Foyers, reception areas, and lobbies – visually impressive and sound-absorbing
• Restaurants, hotels, and hospitality venues – a comfortable atmosphere for guest conversations
• Schools, daycare centers, and universities – OekoTex-tested and B1-certified for safe learning environments
• Medical offices, hospitals, and therapy rooms – speech privacy and a quiet atmosphere
• Studios, music rooms, and creative spaces – targeted sound control
• Living spaces and stairwells – in interiors with hard surfaces (concrete, glass, parquet)

Color and Material Variety

Over 50 colors and several material thicknesses (9, 12, 18, and 24 mm) are available for customized interior designs. Custom colors and two-color combinations are also possible. Surfaces can be left untreated or given additional finishes, depending on the desired appearance.

Summary

Through their shape, construction, and material, PET felt acoustic ceiling elements offer extensive design freedom and an effective improvement in room acoustics. Whether ceiling clouds, ceiling panels, or baffles – the combination of element shape, spacing, nonwoven backing, and optional lighting allows functional and visually appealing solutions for virtually any room.

Call us at +49 7248-93566-90 or email us at [email protected].