Get the acoustics right in every space
Getting the acoustics right is easy with TOTAL ACOUSTICS ceilings, providing the ideal combination of sound absorption and sound blocking in one ceiling panel. With three levels of sound absorption and high sound-blocking performance, Total Acoustics makes it easy to choose the right ceiling for every space, every time.
Best: NRC 0.80+ and CAC 35+
Better: NRC 0.70-0.75 and CAC 35+
Good: NRC 0.60-0.65 and CAC 35+
To make your choice even simpler – request a complimentary Custom Acoustical Report for your project needs. Our TechLine experts can help you get the right sound control for your design and your budget.
Products
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Best
TOTAL ACOUSTICS = NRC 0.80+ AND CAC 35+
High traffic spaces or multipurpose spaces where maximum sound absorption and sound blocking are needed to help keep noise levels down and prevent disruption to adjacent spaces.
CALLA Sound Absorption (NRC) Up to 0.85 Sound Blocking (CAC) 35 Articulation Class (AC) 170 Light Reflectance 85% Recycled Content 76% 
ULTIMA High NRC Sound Absorption (NRC) Up to 0.80 Sound Blocking (CAC) 35 Articulation Class (AC) 170 Light Reflectance 87% Recycled Content 89% 
LYRA PB High CAC Sound Absorption (NRC) 0.95 Sound Blocking (CAC) Up to 44 Articulation Class (AC) 200 Light Reflectance 88% Recycled Content 60% 
CALLA HEALTH ZONE Sound Absorption (NRC) 0.80 Sound Blocking (CAC) 38 Articulation Class (AC) 170 Light Reflectance 85%
WOODWORKS Grille Tegular Sound Absorption (NRC) 0.85 Sound Blocking (CAC) 35 * with Infill Panel #2820BK 
ACOUSTIBUILT Seamless Acoustical Ceiling System Sound Absorption (NRC) 0.80 Sound Blocking (CAC) 46 Articulation Class (AC) 170 NRC Rating E-400 Mounting 0.80 Light Reflectance 87% * Acoustics performance for these ceilings is determined by the product, perforation, and infill panel.
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Better
TOTAL ACOUSTICS = NRC 0.70-0.75 AND CAC 35+
Spaces where strong sound absorption and sound blocking are needed for all-around acoustical performance.
ULTIMA Lay-In and Tegular Sound Absorption (NRC) Up to 0.75 Sound Blocking (CAC) Up to 40 Light Reflectance Up to 88% Recycled Content 87% 
ULTIMA HEALTH ZONE Sound Absorption (NRC) Up to 0.80 Sound Blocking (CAC) Up to 38 Light Reflectance 86% Recycled Content 76% 
SCHOOL ZONE FINE FISSURED Sound Absorption (NRC) 0.70 Sound Blocking (CAC) Up to 40 Light Reflectance 82% Recycled Content Up to 56% 
SCHOOL ZONE FINE FISSURED AIRASSURE Sound Absorption (NRC) 0.70 Sound Blocking (CAC) Up to 45 Articulation Class (AC) 170 Light Reflectance 82% 
CIRRUS Sound Absorption (NRC) Up to 0.70 Sound Blocking (CAC) Up to 40 Light Reflectance Up to 86% Recycled Content 86% 
METALWORKS Tegular Sound Absorption (NRC) 0.70 Sound Blocking (CAC) 37 Light Reflectance Up to 77 Recycled Content 25% * with Infill Panel #1713 & M2 - Microperforated * Acoustics performance for these ceilings is determined by the product, perforation, and infill panel.
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Good
TOTAL ACOUSTICS = NRC 0.60-0.65 AND CAC 35+
Spaces where less sound absorption is required but sound blocking is needed to maintain privacy between adjacent areas.
CANYON Sound Absorption (NRC) 0.65 Sound Blocking (CAC) 35 Light Reflectance 80% Recycled Content 44% 
CIRRUS SECOND LOOK Sound Absorption (NRC) 0.65 Sound Blocking (CAC) 35 Light Reflectance 85% Recycled Content 71% 
MESA Sound Absorption (NRC) 0.60 Sound Blocking (CAC) Up to 38 Light Reflectance 85% Recycled Content Up to 56% 
GEORGIAN Sound Absorption (NRC) Up to 0.65 Sound Blocking (CAC) Up to 35 Light Reflectance 86% Recycled Content Up to 56% 
WOODWORKS Channeled Tegular Sound Absorption (NRC) 0.65 Sound Blocking (CAC) 42 * with Infill Panel #1713 
CIRRUS Profile Sound Absorption (NRC) 0.65 Sound Blocking (CAC) 35 Light Reflectance 85% Recycled Content 77% * Acoustics performance for these ceilings is determined by the product, perforation, and infill panel.
Videos
TOTAL ACOUSTICS – The Importance of Sound Blocking (CAC)
Sound blocking (CAC) in a ceiling is key to preventing noise from traveling to adjacent spaces. See the difference sound blocking can make in your next project.
Acoustics Video Library
Passionate About Sound - Bell Box
Watch as Julian Treasure demonstrates the amazing power of TOTAL ACOUSTICS ceilings using the Armstrong bell box.
Bring Down the Noise - What is NRC?
How do you measure sound absorption?
Passionate About Sound: Education
Watch as Julian Treasure describes the effects of acoustics in education and learning environments and how Armstrong TOTAL ACOUSTICS ceiling panels can help.
Market Segments
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Office
Is your office a chaos symphony? Studies show excessive noise reduces employee effectiveness, raises stress, and lowers productivity. Work and workplaces call for both concentration and collaboration. TOTAL ACOUSTICS ceilings help you address quiet concentration, energetic collaboration, and speech privacy in today’s workplace – creating an optimal work environment.
Sound blocking between office spaces is critical to minimize distraction and preserve speech privacy. For private offices, a ceiling with a CAC of 35+ and wall STC of 35+ will work together to provide proper noise isolation.
LEED v4.1® Leaadership in Energy and Environmental Design Background Sound 35 dBA to 48 dBA for open-plan spaces Reverberation Time 0.6 seconds maximum for private offices -
Education
Is your classroom a racket rampage? Each day, thousands of students are unable to understand one out of every four spoken words in classrooms due to inadequate acoustical treatments. TOTAL ACOUSTICS ceilings will help you meet or exceed ANSI/ ASA standards to create a better place for teachers to teach and students to learn.
Sound blocking between spaces/classrooms is critical to minimize distraction and preserve speech privacy. A ceiling with a CAC of 35+ and wall STC of 50+ will work together to provide proper noise isolation.
ANSI/ASA S12.60 American National Standard Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements and Guidelines for Schools Background Sound Max 35dBA (from HVAC) Reverberation Time < 0.60 Seconds -
Healthcare
Does your healthcare space have a confidentiality conundrum? Hospital noise satisfaction ranks low on HCAHPS scores. Excessive noise in corridors, busy nurses’ stations, and chaotic treatment rooms negatively affect patients and interactions between doctors and staff. TOTAL ACOUSTICS ceilings can help you address that and meet HIPAA healthcare requirements, as well as aid in optimum patient recuperation.
Sound blocking between healthcare spaces is critical to maximize sound isolation and create speech privacy. A ceiling with a CAC of 35+ and wall STC of 45+ will work together to provide proper noise isolation.
FGI Facilities Guidelines Institute Guidelines for the Design and Construction of Hospitals (2022) Background Sound Up to 45dBA for patient rooms Reverberation Time 0.5 to 0.6 seconds for patient rooms
Resources
Technical
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UL Summary
INFOGRAPHICS
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Acoustics