Ceilings & suspended ceilings

Fibre-free acoustic ceiling with WHISPER®: Class A sound absorption in offices and catering establishments

Last updated: 18 October 2026

It explains when the problem is reverberation rather than sound insulation, how WHISPER® is installed in islands or baffles, and why it is resistant to water, d

The system at a glance

Solutions & Applications · Acoustics for Offices & Catering Establishments

In modern open-plan offices and restaurants, the problem is not noise from the neighbouring space — it is the reverberation within the space itself. Glass façades, plasterboard, hard floors and exposed beams reflect everything. The ceiling is the largest unobstructed surface and, usually, the only one available for acoustic treatment — and with WHISPER®, the treatment can be carried out without a suspended ceiling and without fibres.

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Why the roof is the right place to intervene

In an open-plan space or a dining area, there are few walls, and those that exist are often glass partitions. The floor is covered by furniture. The ceiling remains unobstructed, exposed and directly opposite the source of the noise — people’s voices. A sound-absorbing ceiling reduces reverberation time, improves speech intelligibility and lowers the overall noise level, as people stop unconsciously raising their voices. It’s the ‘busy restaurant effect’: the more people are talking, the louder everyone speaks.

WHISPER®: the fibre-free sound-absorbing material

SEE’s WHISPER® panels are a sound-absorbing material made from high-performance polyethylene foam, with a honeycomb-type interlocking cell structure. The material remains acoustically ‘soft’ and traps sound without any fibres. The manufacturer’s specifications:

Property	Price
Sound absorption 50 mm	NRC 1.00 · αw 1.00 — Class A according to EN ISO 11654 (Class A at 40 mm)
Airflow resistance	2,785,000 Pa·s/m³ — the index that explains absorption
Weight	≈ 1.25 kg/m² at 50 mm — minimum load on the suspension
Fibres & emissions	Fibre-free, formaldehyde-free, low VOC; particle emissions 0.02 mg/m²
Water & chemicals	Washable · resistant to chlorine, peroxides and quaternary ammonium compounds
Fungi	Does not support development
Operating temperature	−40 °C to +80 °C
Dimensions & colours	120×240 cm · 20 to 50 mm · white, grey, charcoal

The real ‘weapon’: water, dust and chemicals

WHISPER® is a non-polar, low-surface-energy plastic: water and dust do not adhere to it. The manufacturer substantiates this with a ‘once-in-50-years’ storm simulation — water at 3 l/min, wind speeds up to 16 m/s — after which the material retains 100 per cent of its acoustic performance, without the need for a vapour barrier or protective lining.

This is precisely why it excels where fibrous materials fall short: kitchens, swimming pools, changing rooms, food processing plants — and in any space where fibre dust is undesirable, such as offices with sensitive equipment or catering areas.

Four installation methods

Format	How to install	When to choose it
Roof raft	Horizontal panels suspended beneath the slab, with a clear void above	Offices and catering — where architectural aesthetics matter and headroom is limited
Sound baffle	Vertical panels in rows	High-ceilinged spaces: sports halls, industrial premises, swimming pools — absorb sound from both sides
Directly onto the slab	Adhesive bonding or mechanical fastening with screws and large-diameter washers	Low clear height, technical areas, plant rooms
Wall cladding	In a document or directly	Additionally, where the ceiling is insufficient or the echo comes from opposite walls

It is rarely necessary to cover the entire ceiling. With the correct zoning — islands above tables or workstations — partial coverage delivers excellent results at a lower cost, whilst leaving areas free for lighting, air conditioning and sprinklers.

ARGYNET Note

Sound absorption is not sound insulation. The figures show this clearly: at 50 mm, WHISPER® achieves Class A sound absorption, but the sound reduction of the material on its own is Rw 13.8 dB. It will make your space quiet from the inside; it will not prevent sound from passing into the neighbouring office. First, determine which of the two problems you have — often it is both.

The coverage ratio and thickness are selected on the basis of the target reverberation time (T60). For interior spaces, the WHISPER® FR version is used; the reaction to fire is confirmed by the manufacturer’s current data sheet for each application.

Correct installation

Plan view first: positions of islands in relation to light fittings, vents, sprinkler heads and detectors — the panels must not obstruct the flow of air or the coverage of the sprinklers.
Suspension: wire ropes or cables with suitable fittings; the low weight allows for lightweight suspension and large spans.
Cutting: on site using a blade or saw — no fibre dust, no gloves or masks required.
Colour: anthracite ‘blends into’ dark ceilings and allows the lighting to take centre stage; white reflects more light.
Cleaning: with water — ideal for kitchens and areas with greasy vapours.

And the other sound-absorbing solutions

Solution	When do we prefer it?
WHISPER® in islands or baffles	No suspended ceiling, no fibres, resistant to moisture or chemicals, for refurbishment with an exposed ceiling
60×60 mineral fibre boards	When access to the entire void is required for electrical and mechanical services and sprinklers
Perforated plasterboard	A single, monolithic or curved roof with no visible battens
Wood wool	Natural texture, impact resistance — schools, sports halls

If the noise comes from an adjacent room or from the floor above, the problem is sound insulation: mass, filling the void with stone wool, a viscoelastic membrane and, for impact noise, an anti-vibration layer on the floor.

ARGYNET Note

The most cost-effective acoustic intervention is one carried out before the premises are opened. Afterwards, any intervention must be carried out whilst the shop or offices are closed or in operation. A light fitting included in the lighting design costs less than one added because customers have complained.

At ARGYNET, we analyse the acoustic requirements of your space, recommend the thickness and method of installation, and calculate the materials required per square metre.