Idea of the Acoustic guide profile
Metal ceilings are ideal as heating and cooling ceilings due to their steel or aluminium sheet base materials.
High performance values in cooling or heating mode are achieved when the ceiling elements are used appropriately. At the same time, perforated metal ceilings in offices have to fulfil demanding requirements in terms of sound absorption.
The perforation offers the best acoustic values if the holes are not covered by the heat conducting profiles of the heating/cooling elements. However, to ensure excellent cooling efficiency, a large area should be covered with these heat-conducting profiles.
In collaborative tests, the companies Schmöle (Menden), wg plan (Simmerath), and Fural (Gmunden) have developed a solution that effectively combines cooling performance with sound absorption.
The result is the ALP (Acoustic Guide Profile), a patent-pending component that minimally covers the perforated, acoustically effective surface compared to other products. This allows the perforation, the acoustic fleece and the ceiling cavity to work in the same way as with standard metal ceilings.
Heat conducting profile (WLB) vs. Acoustic guide profile (ALP)
When using the ALP, much less acoustically effective surface area is covered than when using heat conducting profiles. The sound energy can be absorbed, but the thermal energy is still transferred to the water-bearing pipes. No material is wasted due to the partial bending of the louvres.
The use of ALP results in higher sound absorption compared to conventional heat conducting profiles with the same meander configuration.
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BVF Award for Acoustic guide profile
The Bundesverband Flächenheizungen und Flächenkühlungen e.V. (BVF) represents over 60 companies. Thanks to its neutrality, the association can influence changes in standardisation and legislation and promote the positioning of surface heating and cooling systems on the market.
The BVF Award is presented annually, and in collaboration with its partners Schmöle and wg-plan, Fural was recognized in the ‘Heating and Cooling Ceiling System Product’ category for its Acoustic Guide Profile (ALP). This system has been thoroughly tested for sound absorption and heating and cooling performance, with independent institutes measuring values approximately 20% higher than known reference values - an impressive innovation.