Natural Materials — Acoustic Material Guide
Natural acoustic materials include cork, living green walls, and wool felt panels. While their absorption performance is generally moderate (NRC 0.20-0.55), they are increasingly specified for sustainability credentials, biophilic design objectives, and LEED/WELL certification targets. Natural materials work best as part of a combined treatment strategy alongside higher-performance absorbers.
Products in This Category
| Material | NRC | αw | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cork Wall Panel | 0.20 | 0.15 | Wall |
| Living Green Wall | 0.40 | 0.35 | Wall |
| Wool Felt Acoustic Panel | 0.55 | 0.50 | Wall, Ceiling |
Average Absorption Profile
Average absorption coefficients across all natural materials materials at each octave band frequency.
| Frequency (Hz) | 125 | 250 | 500 | 1000 | 2000 | 4000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg α | 0.08 | 0.17 | 0.32 | 0.48 | 0.55 | 0.53 |
Best Applications
Room types and environments that benefit most from natural materials materials:
Related Standards
International and national standards relevant to natural materials selection, testing, and specification:
Installation Notes
Cork panels can be adhered directly to walls but provide limited absorption alone. Living green walls require irrigation infrastructure and ongoing maintenance. Wool felt panels offer pin-board functionality and are best combined with thicker absorbers for broadband performance.
Typical thickness: 3-100mm (varies by type)
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