Reverberation time (often called RT60) measures how long sound “hangs around” in a room after it’s made. For example, if you clap your hands in a church, the long echo is a result of high reverberation time. In offices, schools, or restaurants, long reverberation makes speech unclear and spaces unpleasant.

The ideal reverberation time depends on the room’s purpose:

• Offices and classrooms: 0.4–0.8 seconds
• Restaurants and meeting rooms: 0.6–1.0 seconds
• Auditoriums and performance spaces: 1.0–2.0 seconds

Resonics’ surveys include reverberation analysis to calculate the existing RT60 and design a solution to bring it within target levels. Reducing reverberation improves clarity, comfort, and wellbeing for everyone using the space.

Not usually. While it’s tempting to think “the more panels the better”, effective acoustic design is about strategic placement rather than full coverage. The goal is to control reverberation time and echo — once you reach the optimal level, adding more panels won’t improve performance and can make a room sound “dead”.

Our consultants calculate exactly how much treatment is needed based on room size, materials, and usage. Dependent on the existing room surfaces, often 15–25% of the wall and ceiling surfaces is enough. This allows you to integrate acoustic treatment without compromising aesthetics, using panels as design features, artwork, or ceiling elements.

These terms are often confused, but they do very different jobs.

• Soundproofing means stopping sound from leaving or entering a room. This requires heavy, dense construction methods such as insulated walls, double glazing, and specialist membranes.
• Sound absorption (acoustic treatment) means reducing echo and improving sound quality inside a room. This is what acoustic panels, baffles and rafts achieve — they don’t block sound, they control it.

If you want privacy between rooms, you need soundproofing, or sound masking. If you want better speech clarity and comfort within a room, you need sound absorption. Often the best acoustic designs use a combination of both, depending on the space and its use.

Almost anywhere. We install acoustic solutions in:

• Offices and boardrooms
• Classrooms and lecture halls
• Restaurants and cafés
• Village halls and community centres
• Recording studios and performance spaces
• Homes and residential developments
• Swimming pools

Any space with hard, reflective surfaces can benefit. We’ve delivered over 5,000 installations across the UK and Europe — proving there’s no environment where good acoustics don’t matter.

The best placement depends on how the room is used:

• Offices/meeting rooms: first reflection points (side walls and ceiling above desks). Ideally on 2 perpendicular walls to reduce flutter echo.
• Restaurants/classrooms: spread evenly across walls and ceilings to avoid “hot spots”. Ideally above 50% of the ceiling area using Class A products.
• Studios: direct reflection points behind and beside speakers/microphones.

Ceilings are often the most effective surface because they are large, open, and unobstructed. Our free CAD proposals include detailed layouts showing the exact recommended panel placement for maximum performance.

Yes. Acoustic panels are proven to work — they absorb sound energy, reducing echo and controlling reverberation in a room. Without acoustic treatment, sound bounces around hard surfaces such as glass, plaster, concrete, or wood, creating a noisy and tiring environment. Panels are made from sound-absorbent materials that trap and dissipate this energy. The result is speech clarity, calmer background noise levels, and a more productive atmosphere. At Resonics, we only use panels tested in independent acoustic laboratories, ensuring their performance is certified and measurable. With more than 5,000 completed projects across the UK and Europe, we’ve seen first-hand how transformative they can be in offices, schools, restaurants, and community spaces.

Yes. Custom acoustic panels can be printed with logos, branding, graphics, or artwork — turning functional sound absorbers into design features. This is especially popular in offices, schools, and creative spaces where aesthetics matter.

We also offer shaped and cut panels for bespoke design projects. These deliver excellent sound absorption while doubling as a unique architectural or decorative element.

Yes. All panels we install are tested to meet international fire safety standards. Most are rated to EN 13501-1:2007+A1:2009 (Class B-s1,d0) or equivalent. This ensures they do not contribute to flame spread or smoke production.

Additionally, many panels are low-VOC certified, non-toxic, and safe for use in sensitive environments such as schools, healthcare spaces, and homes. At Resonics, we only work with manufacturers that prioritise safety and compliance.

Acoustic panels work by absorbing sound energy that would otherwise bounce around the room. Their porous structure allows sound waves to enter and become trapped in the fibres, dissipating as heat instead of reflecting. They are particularly effective at absorbing mid-to-high frequency sounds such as speech, making them ideal for offices, schools and restaurants.

Most acoustic panels are lightweight, safe (low VOC, non-toxic), and easy to install on walls or ceilings. Plus, because many are made from recycled materials (such as PET), they are one of the most environmentally responsible products available.

Rafts are horizontal panels suspended parallel to the ceiling. They act like “acoustic islands”, absorbing sound that reflects upwards and sound bouncing back from the soffit. Rafts are a great choice for offices, classrooms, and meeting spaces where wall space is limited but ceiling surfaces are free. They often offer the best value for money due to the large surface area of absorption they afford.

They can be square, circular, or custom-shaped, and are available in many finishes to integrate with lighting and HVAC systems. Rafts combine strong acoustic performance with a sleek architectural look — making them one of the most popular solutions we install at Resonics.

Baffles are vertical acoustic panels suspended from the ceiling. Because they hang on both sides, they absorb sound across a greater surface area than flat wall panels. This makes them highly effective in large, noisy spaces such as open-plan offices, atriums, sports halls and restaurants.

Baffles also allow airflow and lighting to pass between them, meaning they don’t interfere with building systems. They can be installed in rows, clusters, or creative patterns, and come in a wide range of colours to complement modern interior design.

PET (polyethylene terephthalate) acoustic panels are made from recycled plastic bottles, transformed into a dense, durable felt material. They are popular because they combine sustainability, versatility, and excellent sound absorption. PET panels come in a wide variety of colours and finishes, and can be cut into custom shapes or printed with graphics, making them both functional and decorative.

Resonics partners with leading PET manufacturers such as Autex and Baux, giving our clients access to the highest-quality, independently tested products on the market.

The number of panels required depends on the size, shape, and materials in the room, as well as the intended use. A small meeting room might need as few as 6–8 wall panels to one wall, while an open-plan office could require dozens of ceiling baffles or rafts. The aim is to reduce the reverberation time to a comfortable level, not to cover every surface.

Walls: Good practise is to apply panelling from skirting to ceiling to 2no. perpendicular walls to reduce flutter echoes.

Ceilings: In accordance with new BS ISO 22955:2021 guidelines, the ceiling is the most important treatment area, and should feature approximately 50-60% Class A coverage in open plan office spaces.

Resonics provides a free acoustic survey and CAD layout to determine exactly how many panels you need and where they should go. This ensures you invest only in what’s necessary to achieve measurable results.

Some panels, like lightweight stick-on absorbers, can be DIY-installed. However, professional installation is strongly recommended for ceiling systems, large projects, or anywhere safety access is needed. Incorrect fixing may compromise both safety and performance. If you are determined to install yourself, get in touch and we will point you in the right direction.

Resonics provides a full supply-and-fit service across the UK, using qualified installers to ensure compliance with building and fire regulations. We also guarantee the quality of our installations — something you won’t get with DIY.

Not much. Most panels are made from durable, stain-resistant materials such as PET felt or fabric-wrapped glass wool. They can be lightly vacuumed or wiped with a damp cloth to remove dust. Unlike soft furnishings, they don’t need regular deep cleaning.

Panels should not be painted, as this can block their sound-absorbing pores. If a panel becomes damaged, it can be replaced individually without affecting the wider system. PET panels, in particular, are highly durable and maintain their acoustic performance for many years.

Most projects are completed within a day or two. A small meeting room might be finished in just a few hours, while a large office floor or school hall could take several days. The timeline depends on the number of panels, site access, and working hours available.

We schedule works to minimise disruption — often installing out of hours or in phases if required. Our CAD designs and pre-installation planning ensure a smooth process, with clear timeframes provided in advance.

It depends on the type of panel and the space. Wall panels can often be bonded directly with adhesives or mounted using concealed clips, making them relatively straightforward. Where full coverage is needed, panels will require cutting/trimming which is where experience and skill is required. Ceiling rafts and baffles require suspension kits and safe access equipment — meaning professional installation is recommended.

At Resonics, our in-house fitting teams have completed over 5,000 installations, ranging from single-room projects to large corporate offices. All staff carry CSCS cards, and our supervisors are SSSTS/SMSTS certified. We also have IPAF specialists for high-level access. While DIY installation is possible for small projects, professional fitting ensures safety, compliance, and the best acoustic results.

Absolutely. Poor acoustics are linked to lower productivity, higher stress, reduced learning outcomes, and poor customer experience. By investing in sound control, you improve communication, wellbeing, and comfort.

In many workplaces, the cost of poor acoustics (lost productivity, absenteeism, staff turnover) far exceeds the cost of treatment. In hospitality, bad acoustics can directly impact reviews and repeat business. Acoustic solutions deliver a measurable return on investment.

A typical sound masking system costs between £15–£25 per square metre installed. For an average open-plan office, this usually means between £5,000 and £15,000.

Costs depend on system type, coverage area, and whether it is combined with paging or background music. Our consultants provide a detailed breakdown and CAD design so you can see exactly what you are paying for.

Prices vary depending on size, material, and finish, but as a very rough guide:

• Wall panels: from £80–£200 each
• Ceiling rafts: from £150–£400 each
• Baffles: from £60–£120 each

Installation costs are additional and depend on project complexity. The best way to get an accurate price is through our free site survey and quotation.

While acoustic treatment is an investment, it quickly pays back in improved productivity, wellbeing, and customer satisfaction. In offices, better acoustics reduce distractions and boost concentration. In restaurants, they improve ambience and encourage repeat visits.

Yes — but it’s designed to blend into the background. Sound masking produces a low-level, unobtrusive noise similar to airflow. It reduces speech intelligibility, making conversations fade into the background. Most people don’t consciously notice it after a few minutes.

Unlike white noise machines of the past, modern systems are carefully tuned to the frequencies of human speech, making them effective and comfortable.

No. Most emitters are small and installed above the ceiling tiles or discreetly mounted. Once installed, the system is virtually invisible, blending seamlessly into the workspace.

Yes. Most modern systems come with smartphone or wall-mounted controls. You can adjust volume, zone settings, and even integrate with paging or music systems. Our installations use leading brands like Cambridge and Soft dB, which offer flexible, user-friendly controls.

We don’t recommend it. Professional design and tuning are critical to ensure the system is effective and comfortable. DIY systems often lack the ability to calibrate properly, which can make the masking either too loud or ineffective. Resonics provides full design, installation, and tuning to industry standards.

Not exactly. White noise is a random signal containing all frequencies equally, which can sound harsh. Sound masking uses a tuned, engineered spectrum that targets the frequencies of human speech. This makes it effective at reducing distractions while remaining comfortable to listen to all day.

Yes. Our proposals include predicted reverberation times (RT60) based on room dimensions and materials. Post-installation, we can carry out acoustic testing to verify performance. All products come with manufacturer test certificates showing absorption coefficients.

Yes — to a degree. Panels absorb sound within a room, reducing how far speech travels. However, for true speech privacy between rooms, soundproofing or sound masking is usually needed. Many of our projects combine both absorption and masking for the best results.

When properly designed, no. Ceiling rafts and baffles are suspended to allow airflow, lighting, and sprinklers to function normally. We always liaise with M&E (mechanical & electrical) consultants during design to ensure compliance with building systems.

Yes. All products we install are fire-tested to European standards (typically EN 13501-1 Class B-s1,d0 or equivalent). We only specify panels that are safe for use in offices, schools, restaurants, and public buildings.

Yes. Many of our panels are made from recycled PET (plastic bottles) and are 100% recyclable. We also work with suppliers committed to sustainable manufacturing, low-VOC materials, and long product lifespans. Choosing PET panels reduces landfill waste while providing excellent acoustic performance.