Acoustic Baffle

An acoustic baffle is a sound-absorbing panel suspended vertically from the ceiling, typically used in spaces with exposed soffits where conventional ceiling tiles cannot be installed. Baffles are made from mineral wool, glass wool, or melamine foam wrapped in acoustic fabric or encased in perforated metal. They absorb sound on both faces and edges, providing high effective absorption per unit footprint. Baffles are common in industrial buildings, sports halls, swimming pools, open-plan offices with exposed ceilings, and restaurants. Standard sizes range from 1200×600 mm to 2400×600 mm with thicknesses of 40–50 mm. Absorption per baffle depends on spacing, thickness, and material, with effective α values exceeding 1.0 per unit plan area due to edge absorption. Design guidance for baffle arrays is provided in the absorption test report per ISO 354 Annex B, using the object absorption metric A_obj in m².