alta™ wall panel

Wall panels play an important role in shaping how a space sounds and feels. Whether the goal is to reduce echo in a room or to prevent sound from traveling between spaces, understanding acoustic ratings helps designers and facility managers select the right solution.

Fabrics engineered with Alta™ enhance performance in decorative and acoustical wall panel systems — delivering durability, cleanability, repellency, and improved acoustic assembly performance when paired with appropriate backing systems.

understanding NRC vs. STC

While both ratings relate to sound performance, they measure very different acoustic outcomes.

NRC (noise reduction coefficient) — sound absorption

NRC measures how much sound a material absorbs within a space, helping reduce echo and reverberation. Ratings range from 0.0 (no absorption) to 1.0 (high absorption).

High NRC wall panels help create more comfortable environments by:

• Improving speech clarity

• Reducing distracting background noise

• Softening harsh acoustics in large or open areas

• Supporting productivity and occupant wellbeing

Typical applications include:

• Open offices

• Hospitality environments

• Classrooms and auditoriums

• Healthcare waiting areas

Acoustic panels wrapped in engineered fabric can achieve excellent NRC performance, making them ideal for spaces where sound quality matters.

STC (sound transmission class) — sound blocking

STC measures how effectively a wall or panel assembly prevents sound from passing from one space to another. The higher the STC rating, the greater the sound isolation.

Higher STC assemblies help:

• Improve privacy in meeting rooms and offices

• Reduce noise transfer between guestrooms or workspaces

• Support concentration in multi-tenant environments

• Limit disruption in healthcare or education settings

Unlike NRC, which focuses on sound inside a room, STC is about controlling sound between rooms.

why panel construction matters

Acoustic performance is not determined by fabric alone. The complete panel assembly, including backing systems, density, and layering plays a critical role.

fabrics treated with alta™ paired with:

Acrylic backing, EC1 backing, or both in multi-layer constructions can improve STC performance by adding mass, structure, and system integrity.

In many sound-control scenarios, more mass and layered construction can help improve sound isolation, which is why integrated acoustic panel design is essential.

alta™ wall panel environments: