Photographs by Jonathan Kang
Copyright 2004 H.B. Huisinga
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Updated: 01/09/10.
Copyright 2004-10 H.B. Huisinga.
Intern Corner (Episode 1)
June 2004 issue of Mad-Spec
by H.B. Huisinga, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Copyright June 2004 H.B. Huisinga
I’m an
intern. I’ll freely admit that
fact. I ask a lot of questions in
my day-to-day life as a specification writer, and don’t you hate the answers
that seem blatantly obvious once you’ve heard them?
I recently
went on a search and destroy mission for STC ratings for a suspended ceiling
detail that included sound blanket insulation.
My first
question was: What materials
(including the panel system) above the panel system does the STC rating pertain
to? Answer:
Only the materials directly interacting with the suspended ceiling
system, or the panel system and the insulation directly above.
After
talking with the panel system manufacturer I was left with more questions.
Is batt
insulation/roll insulation/sound blankets the same? No. Batt and
roll are essentially the same while sound blankets are much denser and thus
heavier. If the panel system
isn’t designed properly, the sound blanket weight could cause the panel system
to sag over time.
When
talking ceilings, CAC is the new term for STC for the panel system only.
Contact the manufacturer if insulation is included.
Another
general rule-of-thumb is to extend the insulation above the panel system a
nominal 4 feet into each room to aid in stopping sound transmission between
rooms when sound blankets or all-over insulation are not desired.