by Brianna Crandall — January 17, 2014—Building industry powerhouses ASSA ABLOY and CertainTeed Corporation are teaming up as part of an industry-first collaboration to address acoustical challenges in classroom settings, which experts say are a critical factor in ensuring strong student performance. Representing global leadership in door opening solutions, gypsum board, ceilings and insulation solutions, the collaboration leverages world-class building science and technical expertise to create recommendations for interior spaces that meet or exceed the most stringent acoustical requirements.
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), proper acoustics are critical for students’ ability to understand familiar words and learn new information. ASSA ABLOY and CertainTeed say they have uncovered easily accessible solutions to address these acoustical challenges and reduce the sound reverberation that further complicates noise issues.
ASSA ABLOY and CertainTeed are designing and testing interior solutions that provide exceptional acoustical control between classrooms, music rooms, administrative offices, bathrooms and hallways. Through preliminary research, the collaboration has demonstrated significant acoustical improvements by creating a holistic solution that integrates CertainTeed’s SilentFX noise-reducing gypsum board, Sustainable Insulation fiberglass batt insulation, and Symphony m mineral fiber ceiling panels with door and frame systems, including components, from ASSA ABLOY Group brands CECO Door, CURRIES, PEMKO or SMP Specialty Doors.
Each of the design configurations reportedly aligns with targeted Sound Transmission Class (STC) ratings as well as stringent requirements of the American National Standards Institute, LEED for Schools, Collaborative for High Performance Schools, GREENGUARD Gold, and 2012 International Green Construction Code.
To access free continuing education courses dedicated to interior acoustics, as well as other resources, visit the CertainTeed Center for Building Knowledge .
Sweden-based ASSA ABLOY is a global supplier of intelligent locks and security solutions founded in 1994. The company’s products reportedly account for more than one in ten of all lock and security installations worldwide. An international group with around 43,000 employees and operations in over 70 countries, ASSA ABLOY says it is dedicated to satisfying end-user demands for security, safety and convenience.
CertainTeed , headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, has reportedly helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. CertainTeed is one of North America’s leading brands of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, insulation, gypsum and ceilings. A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, said to be the world’s largest building products company, CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 5,700 employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada.
