FAQs

AUS Baffles™ are suspended acoustic baffles that hang vertically from the ceiling. Because both faces are exposed, they absorb direct sound from the source as well as sound reflected off the ceiling, which makes them efficient in large-volume spaces.

When wall space is limited or unavailable — taken up by glazing, joinery, doors, storage, whiteboards, shelving or equipment — or when the walls sit too far from the main sound activity to be effective. Baffles move the treatment into the ceiling zone.

Offices, sporting venues, libraries, auditoriums and other large interiors with open or exposed ceilings, high ceilings, large floor areas, hard finishes and busy occupancy.

Yes — that is their main advantage. They deliver acoustic absorption while preserving the open-ceiling architectural look, rather than closing it in with a suspended ceiling system.

There is no universally best material — only the best material for the brief, the room, the compliance requirements and how the space will be used. Fabric-wrapped, timber slat, PET felt, perforated MDF and foam each have strengths and limitations.

They can be, but performance depends on what sits behind them. A timber slat panel backed with the right acoustic absorber performs well; used mainly as a decorative surface, it offers much less control.

PET felt suits lightweight workspace applications well, but it will not satisfy every impact, fire or finish requirement. Check the project's compliance and durability needs before specifying it.

No. Thickness, density, backing material, air gap, perforation pattern, mounting method and location all affect performance. Two panels of the same material can perform very differently.

There is no single price. Cost depends on material, finish, size, thickness, fire rating, performance requirements, quantity, fixing method, customisation, delivery, documentation and installation. Most suppliers price commercial projects from the brief rather than a shelf rate.

Because commercial projects rarely use panels the same way. A small meeting room with standard wall panels is a very different scope from a multi-level education project with ceiling baffles, custom colours, fire-rated documentation and staged delivery.

Customisation. Special colours, printed surfaces, veneer finishes, routed patterns, custom shapes, curves and cut-outs all add design coordination, manufacturing time and installation planning.

Provide the brief: room type and use, drawings and dimensions, target acoustic outcome, finish preferences, any fire or compliance requirements, quantities and the delivery programme. The more defined the scope, the more useful the quote.

Start with the ceiling. In most commercial interiors the ceiling is the largest uninterrupted surface and the one sound reflects off before returning to the occupied zone. After the ceiling, treat first reflection points on walls and the surfaces closest to the main sound sources. Placement usually matters more than panel count.

Moving them. Two rooms with the same number of panels can perform very differently depending on placement. The useful question is not how many panels fit, but where each square metre of absorption produces the greatest acoustic return.

A decorative feature wall rarely solves the acoustic problem on its own. It can look impressive while leaving the ceiling and first reflection points untreated, which is where most of the reverberation is generated.

They are the surfaces where sound from a source bounces once before reaching the listener. Treating them improves speech clarity and intelligibility, which is why they matter in meeting rooms, classrooms and offices.

Acoustic panels absorb sound inside a room to reduce echo and reverberation, making speech clearer and the space more comfortable. Soundproofing reduces sound transfer between spaces, stopping noise passing through walls, floors, ceilings, doors and glazing. One controls sound within a room; the other controls sound moving between rooms.

Not usually. Acoustic panels are designed to absorb reflections inside a room, not to block sound moving to adjacent spaces. If conversations or noise are passing to the next room, that is a sound-isolation problem that typically requires changes to walls, doors, glazing or ceilings.

The term is often used loosely. Most wall- or ceiling-mounted panels are acoustic absorption products that improve sound quality inside a room. True soundproofing usually relies on construction methods — insulation, acoustic-rated systems, seals and isolation details — rather than a single panel.

Ask what the sound is doing. If sound is bouncing around inside the same room (echo, poor speech clarity), you likely need acoustic panels. If sound is passing from one room to another, you likely need soundproofing. Some spaces, such as meeting rooms, need both.

Often, yes. Because they are usually installed on visible surfaces such as walls and ceilings, acoustic panels can frequently be retrofitted. Soundproofing is harder to add later because it may involve changes to the building fabric, so it is best planned early in the project.

Consider specialist input when sound is travelling between rooms, privacy or confidentiality matters, noise affects neighbouring tenancies, the project involves apartments, hotels, healthcare or education, there are compliance requirements, or previous acoustic treatments have not solved the issue.

Acoustic panels absorb sound inside a room — they reduce echo, reverberation, and excessive sound reflection. Soundproofing is different: it stops sound from travelling between rooms, which requires changes to walls, doors, ceilings, glazing, and other building elements. If a room feels harsh or echoey, you need acoustic panels. If conversations are leaking between rooms, you need soundproofing.

The best location depends on where sound is reflecting and what surfaces are available. Wall panels work well in meeting rooms and classrooms where speech clarity matters. Ceiling panels, rafts, and clouds are highly effective because ceilings are often the largest available surface. Suspended baffles and acoustic fins are useful in spaces with high ceilings or limited wall area.

Yes — fire performance is an important part of product selection for Australian commercial projects. The required rating depends on project type, location, and building requirements (Group 1 compliance to ISO 9705-2003 is common for high-occupancy public spaces). Always check the product documentation supports the specific project's needs before specifying.

Yes. Thicker panels can absorb a broader range of frequencies — thin panels help with higher frequencies, while thicker panels improve performance across mid and lower frequencies. Material density, installation method (an air gap behind the panel can boost performance), and coverage area also matter just as much as thickness alone.