Acoustic Ceiling Design: Integrating aSoft Backing Into a Perforated Metal Panel

Perforated metal ceiling tiles have a well-established relationship with acoustic performance. The holes in the panel allow sound energy to pass through the metal face and be absorbed by the material behind it. The acoustic performance of the finished ceiling depends on the density of the perforations, the type of absorptive backing used, and the depth of the plenum above the panel. VEIL’s aSoft acoustic backing is specified inside VEIL Studio — no separate acoustic system required. It is engineered into the panel at manufacture.

What is aSoft?

aSoft is NOWN’s acoustic backing material. It is available as either a face application (applied to the face of the panel, behind the perforations) or a backer (applied to the reverse face of the panel). Which option is appropriate depends on the acoustic performance requirement and the construction of the ceiling system.

Face application gives direct contact between the absorptive material and the perforations — maximising the proportion of incident sound that reaches the absorber. Backer application is used when the panel face needs to remain fully exposed or when the plenum above the panel is shallow.

How does NRC relate to perforation density?

NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) is the standard measure of acoustic absorption. An NRC of 1.0 means a surface absorbs all incident sound energy; an NRC of 0.0 means it reflects all of it. For perforated metal ceiling tiles with acoustic backing, NRC is influenced by the perforation ratio — the proportion of the panel face that is open (perforated) versus closed (solid metal).

Higher perforation density increases the open area of the panel, allowing more sound energy to reach the absorptive backing and increasing NRC. In VEIL Studio, the frequency, size, and pitch parameters that define the visual character of the panel also define its perforation ratio — and therefore its acoustic performance profile. Specify for both simultaneously.

How do you specify aSoft in VEIL Studio?

aSoft is selected as an option within VEIL Studio during the design session. Pick face or backer configuration. The specification is included in the DXF output and the quote. The aSoft backing is applied at manufacture — the panel arrives crated with the acoustic layer already integrated. No site application. No additional trades.

Panel format is 596 × 1196mm. Drops into any standard 600×1200 metric or 2’×4′ imperial ceiling grid. Made in days. Shipped in weeks. The hard work happens in our factory. The simple part is yours.