How To Use StratoTiles & ThunderTiles

T-bar ceilings are also known as drop ceilings, false ceilings or suspended ceilings. They are essentially a secondary ceiling that is installed below the structural ceiling as a means to hide unsightly pipes, ductwork, electrical runways and low voltage wiring for telephone, web, cable TV and audio-visual systems. The area above the ceiling tile is called the plenum.

Primacoustic ceilings tiles are equally suitable for new construction or can easily retrofit into existing T-Bar drop down ceiling systems. This section describes options and suggests installation procedures. Always consult the T-bar manufacturer or local representative on best installation practices.

Once in place, a T-Bar ceiling equipped with StratoTiles will enhance the look of a room while providing excellent control over the reverberant field. For added sound control, ThunderTiles can be used to limit the sound traveling up into the plenum from spilling into other rooms.

Go to the installation information page for step-by-step instructions and helpful hints.

24" x 24" Tiles

48" x 24" Tiles

Selecting the panel size

Primacoustic ceiling tiles come in two standard sizes. The larger 24" x 48" (60cm x 121cm) rectangular tiles require a lesser number of runners (T-bar track) therefore making it quicker and more affordable to install. The square 24" x 24" (60cm x 60cm) tiles tend to have more of an architectural look but require more track when doing the installation.

Reveal Edge Ceiling

Trim Edge Ceiling

Selecting the edge treatment

Primacoustic ceiling tiles are available in choice of trim (flush-mount) or reveal (drop-down tegular) edges. Flush mount trim tiles cost a bit less and create a flat ceiling. This is generally a better choice in areas where headroom may be limited and since the edges are concealed behind and above the T-bar track, installation is more forgiving. The drop down reveal edge tiles creates a sculpted look which adds a nice design element to the room. These are slightly more expensive and since the edges are exposed, one has to take more care during the installation.

Extra weight issues

StratoTiles only weigh a bit more than a regular ceiling tile. This allows direct replacement so long as standard T-Bar installation procedures are applied. ThunderTiles are heavier, but their added weight is within the acceptable weight limit guidelines for T-bar ceilings and therefore installation should not cause a problem with preexisting T-bar systems. If you feel the preexisting ceiling grid system may not have been designed well, check that 12 gauge wire (0.203 cm diameter) has been securely mounted at all intersections and properly secured with good heavy eye-screws. These are normally rated for 60lbs (27.22 kg) which is well above the required weight to suspend the ThunderTiles.

Download the suspended ceiling field guide for more info on building codes and best practices.

StratoTiles in the center to absorb sound.

ThunderTiles around the perimeter to block sound.

Regular Ceiling Tiles

Primacoustic ThunderTiles and StratoTiles

Combining ThunderTiles with StratoTiles

Both ThunderTiles and StratoTiles absorb sound and will help control the reverberant field. The ThunderTiles add a mass element to the design that blocks sound. A great way to accomplish excellent sound control without breaking the budget is to combine ThunderTiles and StratoTiles in the same room by taking advantage of each tile’s attributes to maximize their effect.

The idea here is to employ the more expensive ThunderTiles around the perimeter (yellow) to reduce flanking sound from entering or escaping the room. The more affordable StratoTiles (green) are placed in the center where sound absorption is critical for speech intelligibility.

The following image shows how sound energy (blue) tends to pass right through regular acoustic panels and reflect back into the room. Because the walls in most commercial buildings do not extend all the way up into the plenum or are compromised with cut-outs for ventilation and wiring, sound energy (red) will reflect off the ceiling into the adjacent office. This is the main reason you can hear conversations between offices.

Even though the ceiling tiles and plenum will help reduce the sound intensity, without mass, sound will echo off hard surfaces and find its way into other areas. By positioning the ThunderTiles around the outer perimeter (yellow) you will create an effective barrier that will make it more difficult for the sound to flank into adjacent offices. The StratoTiles (green) provide the same esthetics to match while also reducing ‘floor-to-ceiling’ or ‘table top-to-ceiling’ reflections.

Direct flush mounting

This entails mounting the panels directly onto the existing ceiling using screws or by applying construction adhesive to hold them in place. This is best accomplished using the reveal (drop down) tiles as the end finish will look like a tile. This is much easier and more forgiving than trying to align flush-mount panels without gaps.

T-bar track

You can also employ standard T-Bar track without using hanging wire. This entails starting at one end of the room and fitting the panels and T-Bar as you go along. The advantages over gluing the panels in place are that you can use flush-mount panels and you can eventually take down the track and panels.

Application Links

Music & Sound	Institutional	Commercial	Office
Home Theatre & Media Rooms Home Theatre & Media Rooms Concern: Usually designed for video projection, these rooms are usually outfitted with a good hi-fi system and sub bass woofer. Problem: Sound travels through ceilings and walls to other rooms disturbing other house guests and family members. Solution: Retrofit ineffective ceiling tiles with ThunderTiles to help abate sound transmission. Add Broadway panels to walls to reduce in-room noise and replace door with solid core if needed.	Courthouse Courthouse Concern: Today, it is standard practice to record and video tape all legal proceedings for archiving and legal review. Problem: Older court houses are often plagued with poor acoustics due to hard wall and ceiling surfaces. This causes excessive reverberation and in larger rooms, echo. Solution: To improve intelligibility, sound absorption is needed. Retrofit ineffective ceiling tiles with StratoTiles and add Broadway panels on wall surfaces.	Hotel Lobby Hotel Lobby Concern: The hotel lobby provides customers with the all-important first impression. Quiet efficiency is the name of the game. Problem: Marble or tile floors, glass windows and hard walls often cause these larger rooms to reverberate and echo making them less welcoming. Solution: To improve intelligibility, sound absorption is needed. Retrofit ineffective ceiling tiles with StratoTiles and add Broadway panels on wall surfaces.	Office Core Office Core Concern: Improving productivity by reducing distractions in the work environment by controlling the reverberant field. Problem: Sound from conversations, printers and computers reverberate off of hard surfaces and windows creating a distracting ‘din’ of noise. Solution: Retrofit ineffective ceiling tiles with ThunderTiles around perimeter and add StratoTiles in the center. Incorporate Broadway panels on open wall surfaces.
Home Recording Studio Home Recording Studio Concern: Digital technology allows professional grade recording to be performed at home. Problem: Room acoustics are usually inappropriate and sound transmission through the walls and ceiling can either disturb household members or corrupt a track when recording. Solution: Retrofit ineffective ceiling tiles with ThunderTiles to help abate sound transmission. Add Broadway panels to walls to reduce in-room noise and replace door with solid core if needed.	Judge Council Chambers Judge Council Chambers Concern: Privacy is critical in this room where the judge may meet with legal representatives during a trial. Problem: These rooms are not always sound proofed which can cause conversations to spill into adjacent offices, hallways and corridors. Solution: Retrofit ineffective ceiling tiles with ThunderTiles and replace door with solid core if needed.	Conference Center Conference Center Concern: Large multi-function rooms must adapt to weddings, conferences, large meetings and trade shows. Problem: Large rooms with hard surfaces are encumbered with echo and excessive reverberation. This severely affects intelligibility and communication. Solution: To improve intelligibility, sound absorption is needed. Retrofit ineffective ceiling tiles with StratoTiles and add Broadway panels on wall surfaces.	Manager's Office Manager's Office Concern: Keeping conversation between manager and employee confidential is an important element in industrial relations. Problem: Most office walls only extend to 8ft or 2.5 meter, leaving the plenum open between offices. Sound easily flanks between them reducing privacy. Solution: Retrofit ineffective ceiling tiles with ThunderTiles and replace door with solid core if needed.
Video Post Production Video Post Production Concern: Converted offices are often used to edit video content. Today, the audio and video manipulation is mostly done in the digital domain with a computer. Problem: Rectangular shaped offices are encumbered with standing waves and flutter echo making it difficult to mix. Poor acoustics lead to ear fatigue and reduced productivity. Sound flanks between offices and corridors. Solution: Add Broadway panels to all exposed wall surfaces to absorb sound energy. If ceiling tiles have been used, replace with more effective ThunderTiles. This will also help contain sound.	Police Interrogation Room Police Interrogation Room Concern: Investigation requires interviewing suspects and witnesses in a controlled and secure environment. Interviews are often recorded and videotaped for review. Problem: Rectangular rooms interview rooms are usually internal and framed with hard highly reflective floors, ceilings and wall surfaces. This severely hampers intelligibility during the recording process. Solution: Retrofit ineffective ceiling tiles with ThunderTiles, add Broadway panels to the wall surfaces to reduce echo and replace door with solid core if needed to further contain sound.	Restaurant Restaurant Concern: Being able to enjoy a meal in a comfortable setting where patrons can enjoy good conversation, a good meal and a glass of wine. Problem: Noise in the restaurant due to excessive reverberation makes communication impossible. Folks raise their voices to compensate and the problem becomes so bad that folks simply refuse to return. Solution: Add Broadway acoustic panels to any available wall surfaces. Add primacoustic Nimbus Clouds above the tables. This will reduce the reverberation in the room caused by the hard surfaces and immediately make the room more enjoyable.	Boardroom Boardroom Concern: Confidential meetings are held in board rooms. These are often recorded for shareholders. Sometimes used for teleconferencing. Problem: Discussions flanking over walls through the plenum into corridor and adjacent offices. Severe echo makes recording and teleconferencing difficult to impossible due to poor acoustics. Solution: Retrofit ineffective ceiling tiles with ThunderTiles around perimeter and add StratoTiles in the center of room to save costs. Incorporate Broadway panels on open wall surfaces.
Broadcast & Cable TV Stations Broadcast & Cable TV Stations Concern: Technology allows one to turn virtually any room into a broadcast facility. The trend today is to use live action in news rooms to add excitement. Problem: Rooms are often not acoustically treated due to restrictive budgets. Room echo and excessive reverb make it difficult to get optimize audio for broadcast. Solution: Add Broadway panels to all exposed wall surfaces to absorb sound energy. If ceiling tiles have been used, replace with more effective ThunderTiles.	Firing Range Firing Range Concern: These concrete bunkers are usually located in the basement. They provide easy access to police members and safety to the pubic. Problem: Hard surfaces combined with extreme noise produced by hand guns make the sound level unbearable. This makes communication between members impossible when rage is in use. Solution: Add Broadway panels to all exposed wall surfaces to absorb sound energy. Durable fabric finish and class-A fire rating are critical.	Retail Showroom Retail Showroom Concern: Good first impressions sell products. If the sound is blaring and uncomfortable, more sophisticated patrons will simply leave to spend their money somewhere else. Problem: Hard surfaces such as glass, walls and hard floors combine to create excessive reverberation. This creates a loud and unnerving environment. Solution: Add acoustic tiles to available wall panels. Use Broadway Accent panels to create exciting visual renderings. Panels will absorb excessive energy and deliver great sound without the harshness.	Video Conferencing Video Conferencing Concern: More and more, businesses are using teleconferencing as a means to communicate ‘face to face’ with other parties. Problem: The large hard table surface combines with the hard wall surfaces and glass windows causing an acoustic nightmare. Microphones capture the echo as much as conversation. Solution: To improve intelligibility, sound absorption is needed. Retrofit ineffective ceiling tiles with ThunderTiles and incorporate Broadway panels on open wall surfaces.
Pod-Casting Pod-Casting Concern: With today’s digital technology, one can record from virtually any space and post the resulting event on the internet in the form of a podcast. Problem: Due to lack of acoustic treatment, the resulting audio is usually distant and overly reverberant. This makes communication difficult and tiresome. Solution: Add Broadway panels to all exposed wall surfaces to absorb sound energy. If ceiling tiles have been used, replace with more effective ThunderTiles.	Library Library Concern: Designed to provide quiet enjoyment for those that come to read or study. Problem: Large rooms are sometimes hampered with poor acoustics due to large windows and hard wall & ceiling surfaces which causes echo throughout. Solution: Add Broadway panels to available wall surfaces and ceiling treatment if space is available. Replace ineffective ceiling tiles with StratoTiles to increase absorption.	Dance Studio Dance Studio Concern: Larger rooms designed to accommodate as many as 50 students are usually outfitted with a sound system for music playback. Problem: Halls are outfitted with the prerequisite hardwood floor which, when combined with the reflective walls surfaces cause a build up of tremendous energy. This excessive acoustic energy severely reduces speech intelligibility. Solution: Retrofit ThunderTiles into existing T-bar ceiling and add Broadway acoustic panels to the walls to reduce echo.	Legal Council Office Legal Council Office Concern: Keeping conversation between lawyers and clients helps build trust and ensures confidential matters do not leave the room. Problem: Most office walls only extend to 8ft or 2.5 meter, leaving the plenum open between offices. Sound easily flanks between them reducing privacy. Solution: Retrofit ineffective ceiling tiles with ThunderTiles and replace door with solid core if needed.
Music Teaching Room Music Teaching Room Concern: Large classroom designed to accommodate 30 students plus their instruments, supposedly designed to make music. Problem: Rectangular rooms, usually surrounded by concrete walls and hard floor causes sound to reverberate producing a cacophony of noise. Unpleasant sounds travel to adjacent classrooms. Solution: Retrofit ThunderTiles into existing T-bar ceiling and add Broadway acoustic panels to the walls to reduce echo. Make sure acoustic seal surrounds the door.	Community Center Community Center Concern: Large ‘barn type’ halls generally funded by communities are used for weddings, town hall meetings, Cubs, Scouts, Guides and social events. Problem: Due to budget restrictions, these rooms are usually left acoustically untreated which makes them almost unbearable. This is particularly acute when DJs are brought in. Solution: To improve intelligibility, sound absorption is needed. Retrofit ineffective ceiling tiles with StratoTiles and add Broadway panels on wall surfaces.	Fitness Center Fitness Center Concern: Large rooms filled with various pieces of fitness equipment, dumbbells, bicycles, TV sets, background music and people. Often used as a social setting. Problem: There larger rooms are usually surrounded by hard wall surfaces and solid wood or tile floors. These cause sound to reverberate throughout making the room uncomfortable. Solution: Retrofit ThunderTiles into existing T-bar ceiling and add Broadway acoustic panels to the walls to reduce echo.	Meeting Room Meeting Room Concern: Large multi-function rooms must adapt to conferences and large gatherings such as town hall meetings. Problem: Rooms are rarely designed with acoustic in mind. Large hard surfaces and windows cause excessive reverb and echo which affects intelligibility. Solution: To improve intelligibility, sound absorption is needed. Retrofit ineffective ceiling tiles with StratoTiles and add Broadway panels on wall surfaces.
Music Practice Room Music Practice Room Concern: Small rooms used by students to practice their craft. Sometimes also used for one on one teaching. Problem: Sound from louder instruments travels between adjacent rooms making it difficult to concentrate. Excessive energy build up in the room makes practicing uncomfortable. Drums are loud! Solution: Retrofit ThunderTiles into existing T-bar ceiling and add Broadway acoustic panels to the walls to reduce echo. Make sure acoustic seal surrounds the door.	House of Worship House of Worship Concern: Large rooms designed to communicate the spoken word to parishioners of all ages and hearing abilities. Problem: Older churches were often designed to create austere surroundings. New facilities are often built to accommodate multi functions. Most are overly ambient with low intelligibility. Solution: Add Broadway panels to all exposed wall surfaces to absorb sound energy. If ceiling tiles have been used, replace with more effective StratoTiles.	Martial Arts Club Martial Arts Club Concern: Larger rooms designed to accommodate as many as 50 students are usually outfitted with a sound system for music playback. Problem: Halls are outfitted with the prerequisite hardwood floor which, when combined with the reflective walls surfaces cause tremendous energy build-up. This severely reduces intelligibility. Solution: Retrofit ThunderTiles into existing T-bar ceiling and add Broadway acoustic panels to the walls to reduce echo.	Doctor's Office Doctor's Office Concern: Keeping conversation between doctor and patient confidential and abating sounds from ailing patients in medical room. Problem: Today, it is common for doctors to set up clinics in commercial buildings with standard T-bar ceilings. Sound travels above the walls between offices and corridors via the plenum. Solution: Retrofit ThunderTiles into existing T-bar ceiling or apply directly to ceiling if T-bar is not present.
	Classroom Classroom Concern: Relatively large rooms designed to accommodate 30 students used by teachers to communicate their message. Problem: Concrete walls and tile floors cause excessive flutter echo making it difficult to communicate. Air heating and cooling systems add to the problem by introducing noise. Solution: Retrofit ineffective ceiling tiles with ThunderTiles around perimeter and add StratoTiles in the center. Incorporate Broadway panels on open wall surfaces to reduce room reflections.		Dentist's Office Dentist's Office Concern: Keeping conversation between doctor and patient confidential and abating sounds from drilling or unhappy children! Problem: Most dentist offices employ an open concept. Sound reflects off the walls and ceilings into the corridor and the waiting room. Solution: Retrofit ThunderTiles into existing T-bar ceiling and add Broadway acoustic panels to the walls to reduce echo.
	Shop Class Shop Class Concern: Large rooms often used to teach the use of mechanical equipment for various trades. Problem: Concrete walls and tile floors combine with noise from machines to cause sound levels to be excessive. This makes communication difficult and affects safety for students. Solution: Retrofit ThunderTiles into existing T-bar ceiling and add Broadway acoustic panels to the walls to reduce echo.		Chiropractor's Office Chiropractor's Office Concern: Keeping conversation between doctor and patient confidential and to quiet down moans from patients receiving therapy. Problem: Most clinics are set up in commercial office type buildings. T-bar ceilings are common. Sound travels above the walls between offices and corridors via the plenum. Solution: Retrofit ThunderTiles into existing T-bar ceiling and add Broadway acoustic panels to the walls to reduce ambient reflections from medical rooms to patient waiting room.
	Hospital Hospital Concern: Keeping conversation between doctor and patient confidential and quieting ailing patients. Problem: Often, beds are merely separated by drapes. This allows sound to echo of the ceiling and walls without abatement. Solution: Retrofit ThunderTiles into existing T-bar ceiling. Note: Tiles may require washable finish to be applied such as high-glass paint.
	Therapeutic Clinic Therapeutic Clinic Concern: Keeping conversation between doctor and patient confidential and to quiet down moans from patients receiving massage therapy. Problem: Most clinics are set up in commercial office type buildings. T-bar ceilings are common. Sound travels above the walls between offices and corridors via the plenum. Solution: Retrofit ThunderTiles into existing T-bar ceiling and add Broadway acoustic panels to the walls to reduce echo.

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