Rockfon acoustic solutions bring harmony to the Valley

Islwyn High in Caerphilly is an ambitious project to amalgamate two former schools in a new purpose-built development.

Part of the 21st Century School Programme across Wales, the impressive three storey building comprises a range of modern teaching spaces, an amphitheatre, technology workshops and science labs.

A variety of Rockfon acoustic ceiling tiles are installed throughout the school to control noise and harmonise with the contemporary interior.

Rockfon were able to successfully fulfil the ceiling design and performance requirements specified by Caerphilly Borough Council.

Willmott Dixon Design Manager Julian Morgan explains the role Rockfon played in the success of the project: “Rockfon is our mandated material suppliers for suspended ceilings. The building work was finished on time and within budget. The help they provided with product selection and ensuring the installations went smoothly enabled us to achieve our objectives.”

Rockfon are delighted to have received a Highly Commended award in the Product of the Year category of the Willmott Dixon Regional Awards.

Acoustics were high on the agenda when it came to the ceiling specification. Rockfon Scholar 40mm and Rockfon Tropic dB40 ceiling tiles are installed on the school’s top floors in part to reduce the noise generated internally by rainfall on the external metal roof.

Rockfon Scholar, with its Class A sound absorption and durable, impact resistant surface, is ideal for education buildings as it helps lower the level of reverberation in classrooms. Rockfon Tropic dB offers superior sound absorption and sound insulation which decreases the ambient sound level in the classrooms and limits noise transference to the spaces around and below.

Caerphilly County Borough Councils’ Lead Designer Julian Harding explains his choice of Rockfon Blanka tiles with Z-edge for use in the school’s reception area and dining hall: “These tiles conceal the grid and create a modern linear aesthetic which accentuates the directional geometry of the space.This provides an attractive visual contrast between these areas and the rest of the school.”

Rockfon Koral E-edge ceiling tiles deliver outstanding acoustic control and the safest fire classification which is why 4,800m² is installed in the classrooms, circulation areas and auditorium. Background noise can interfere with concentration levels and performance in schools, the Class A sound absorption of Rockfon Koral improves speech intelligibility.

All Rockfon acoustic solutions on this project offer Class A1 fire safety performance characteristics and are therefore non-combustible and prevent the spread of fire – essential for schools and public buildings.

Andrew Pearce of M&P Group installed the ceilings at the school and is impressed with how well the job went. “I’ve worked with Rockfon for a number of years and I’ve always found their products easy to handle and install. I also like how quickly and efficiently the team at Rockfon respond to calls and queries. They are great to work with.”

The Rockfon Blanka range of ceiling tiles benefits from their whitest surface yet. The super white surface provides 85% light reflection to optimise the available natural light, creating a pleasant environment, helping minimise energy consumption, leading to energy cost savings. Its enhanced surface durability makes Rockfon Blanka more resistant to direct wear and tear – ideal for a busy school environment where tiles may be frequently removed for maintenance purposes.

Rockfon Blanka dB44 ceilings installed in the music rooms provide outstanding sound insulation and the highest level of sound absorption to prevent music becoming a distraction in adjoining rooms.