ACOUSTILUX

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

ACOUSTILUX CEILING/WALL SYSTEMS

Acoustilux is an economical, versatile acoutic sheet material for use in applications where internal sound reduction is required. It is manufactured from standard flat sheeting produced by James Hardie and Coy under brand names "Versilux', "Villaboard" and "Hardiflex". The sheets are perforated with small round holes at predetermined centres and when these are installed backed with absorbent material, they achieve significant sound absorption and acoustic control.
Acoustilux is designed primarily for use as an acoustic ceiling and wall material and it has been used successfully in a wide range of applications including hospitals, schools, offices, hotels, club buildings, factories and machine rooms as well as domestic buildings. Acoustilux combines low maintenance, stability, strength and economy with good noise reduction characteristics.

THE BASIC MATERIAL

Hardie's sheet materials, the basis for Acoustilux, are flexible tough fibre cement lining boards with high impact resistance and stability. They are unaffected by termites, insects, sunlight or steam and are suitable for a variety of surface finishes.
"Hardiflex" is manufactured for external use or in wet areas or where a very tough surface is required. The soft sheet materials (Versilux and Villaboard) are designed for internal application whilst still retaining the characteristics of impact resistance and stability in humid areas. These materials are non-combustible and for technical information on the basic materials reference should be made to general product data in James Hardie's current literature.

SIZES

Large sheets are available for direct fastening to timber framing or screwing to metal furring channel or studs. Cut to size panels are available for exposed suspended ceiling systems.

PERFORATIONS

The sheets are machine punched with 4.5m (nominal) diameter holes at various centres and a range of patterns according to requirements. Details of sizes and perforations are outlined on pages 5 and 6.

JOINTING

Large standard size sheets of Hardiflex and Versilux have arrissed (bevelled) edges for butt jointing thereby eliminating the need for wet plaster trades. Jointing may be in conventional joint mould or cover strip finish if preferred.

FINISHING AND DECORATING

Acoustilux can be decorated to client's specification. It readily accepts most types of paint finishes which can be factory applied or applied on site. It is also available prefinished with vinyl laminating foil.
These attractive easily cleaned foils are available in a range of colours, designs and surface textures and afford the designer greater flexibility. Our technical service is available to assist in the selection of surface treatment.

ADVANTAGES OF ACOUSTILUX

1. Excellent sound absorption characteristics including good performance at low sound frequencies.
2. Stability in virtually any climatic condition.
3. Suitable for air-conditioned or non air-conditioned areas.
4. Occupies minimum storage space.
5. Resists damage both in installation and service.
6. Very simple to install.
7. Adaptable to a range of finishes.
8. Easily cleaned and/or repaired.
9. Readily available in large range of sizes.
10. Weight of suspended panels resists lifting in wind.
11. Attractive appearance.
12. Plain border around suspended panel enhances appearance.
13. Economical to purchase and install.

DESIGN FLEXIBILITY

Acoustilux affords the designer/acoustic engineer greater flexibility by offering alternative methods of overcoming noise problems.
 
1. Large sheets with stone cut bevelled (arrissed) edges are available for conventional fixing to ceilings and walls.
2. Large sheets are suitable for the manufacture of sandwich panels for such applications as fixed or movable partitioning in offices and machine rooms and other noisy areas.
3. Lay-in panels are manufactured for two-way exposed grid applications.

Perforated Acoustilux allows transmission of sound energy to an absorbent backing material. This material is usually fibreglass or mineral fibre type insulation. Variations in performance can be achieved by varying:

1. The centres of the hole spacings.
2. The air space between the Acoustilux and the absorbent backing material.
3. The air space behind the absorbent backing material.
4. The thickness and density of the backing material.

Basically, the greater the free area (the area of the perforations) in the sheet, the greater the noise reduction coefficient.

PLACEMENT OF ABSORBENT MATERIAL

It is not necessary to place the absorbent material directly behind the Acoustilux and in fact improved acoustic performance can often be achieved by allowing an air space between the two. For example, insulation blankets may be laid above and at right angles to ceiling joists and supported by light gauge wire mesh. Alternatively, combined thermal and acoustic control can frequently be achieved by installing bulk insulation directly under the roof structure above the Acoustilux ceiling. The actual positioning of the insulation is flexible and depends largely on structural design.

NAIL/SCREW UP CEILINGS OR WALLS

The wall studs, ceiling battens or furring channel should be spaced at a maximum of 450mm centres. Sheets should be laid across the framing and the ends of the sheets fastened to a framing member. It is preferable to stagger the ends to assist in bracing the framing. 4.5mm sheets should be fastened at 150mm centres around the edges of the sheets and 200mm centres in the body of the sheet. 6mm material should be fastened at 175mm centres at edges and 250mm in the centre.
For timber framing, 30 x 1.8 flex sheet nails are recommended. Load bearing steel framing requires the use of 8g x 20mm self embedding, wafer head "Teks" fasteners or similar. With light weight studding (maximum 20 gauge) the use of "Streaker" type 8/20 self embedding head screws (or similar) may be advantageous. The use of adhesive is usually not recommended because of the perforated surface of the material and the risk of of adhesive being visible through the perforations.
A backing of fibreglass or mineral wool insulation of chosen thickness (usually 50mm) should be positioned behind the sheets. In ceiling applications, a layer of polythene, tissue paper or similar material should be installed between the absorbent material and the Acoustilux.

SUSPENDED CEILINGS

Two-way exposed ceiling grid is first fixed according to the manufacturer's instructions normally in a 1200m x 600mm module. Prefinished Acoustilux lay-in panels are then positioned in the grid. Hold down clips are not usually necessary. Simultaneously, fibreglass or mineral wool batts of chosen R rating (usually R1.3 approximately 50mm thick) are laid over the panels.
The insulation should be separated from the perforated panel by a thin layer of either polythene, tissue paper or similar material. The most common method is to use polythene enclosed batts.

ACOUSTIC PLASTERBOARD

Purchase of new machinery has put A.B.P in a situation to perforate plasterboard and similar products by an improved method unavailable, to our knowledge, anywhere else in Australia! Various patterns are available upon application, however, the most popular production run would be 4.5mm holes at 25mm centres.
The process can be done in either sheet form, e.g., 2400 x 1200 or in convenient drop in ceiling panel size 1193 x 593 to suit all ceiling grid situation.
Please enquire about our single leaf brochure for more information and technical advice.

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