FAQs

GETTING STARTED:

Q.
In what types of facilities are your panels commonly installed?
A.
Our wood fiber acoustical panels are great for many different types of spaces, including schools, gymnasiums, restaurants, theaters, common areas, call centers, auditoriums, gun ranges, fitness studios, and more.
Q.
Can I install wood fiber acoustical panels in an existing building?
A.
Of course! Our panels can be installed in new construction or in an existing building structure.
Q.
Where are your panels commonly installed?
A.
Our panels are commonly mounted directly on walls or ceilings. We also offer baffles, which hang vertically from ceilings, and clouds, which are suspended horizontally from ceilings.
Q.
How much and what types of materials do I need?
A.
The most efficient way to determine your best acoustical solution is to run a reverberation report for the building space you’re wanting to equip with acoustical panels. We can do this for you (for free). To create a reverberation report, we need to know the following:
  • Measurements for the length, width, and height of your space
  • Flooring: Is it carpet, wood, concrete or other?
  • Walls: Are they drywall, cinderblock or other?
  • Ceiling: Is it wood, metal, drywall or other?
When you have that information in hand, give us a call at 614-721-3001 and we’ll walk you through the rest.
Q.
How do I get samples of your wood fiber acoustical panels?
A.
Request a sample by contacting us, either via email at info@cardinalacoustics.com or by calling 614-721-3001.

CUSTOMIZATION AND SIZING:

Q.
What are your standard panel thicknesses and dimensions?
A.
  • Our standard interior wood fiber acoustical panels come in three thicknesses: 5/8 inch, 1 inch and 1 1/2 inch.
  • Our composite Cardinal Complete panels come in two thicknesses: 1 5/8 inches and 2 inches thick.
  • The standard widths of our acoustical panels 2 or 4 feet. We carry standard lengths ranging from 2 – 8 feet, in 1-foot increments. All these panels can easily be field fabricated to custom lengths.
  • For more information, check out our detailed catalogs and product sheets.
Q.
What are my options for customization?
A.
We can customize widths under 4 feet and lengths under 8 feet. We can also craft any hexagonal, circular or triangular shapes, as long as the finished shape is 4 feet or less in diameter. (Larger shapes are also possible, using multiple pieces of our acoustical panels.)
Q.
Can Cardinal Acoustics products be field-fabricated?
A.
Yes, our wood fiber acoustical panels are easily field fabricated. You’ll need a circular saw or table saw and a router with which to create a beveled edge. Our panels are very easy to work with.
Q.
Can Cardinal Acoustics wood fiber panels be painted?
A.
Yes, our panels can be painted up to three times without losing any sound absorption quality. If you have field painting questions, give us a call and we can advise you on a process that is best for your project.
Q.
How do you attach Cardinal Acoustics panels to the wall or ceiling?
A.
Typically, our panels are secured to one of several types of building materials:
  • Concrete or masonry requires tapcon fasteners
  • Metal studs require self-drilling fasteners
  • Drywall/wood studs/wood furring requires simple drywall fasteners
For more information about installation, you can refer to our Installation and Mounting resources.
Q.
What is the difference between Painted Natural and Raw Unpainted panel finishes?
A.
Our Raw Unpainted panels are the most affordable and durable sound absorption style we offer.
  • Panel color is derived from the natural poplar fibers used in the manufacturing process and varies from one face to the next. Though visible, these color variations are not indicative of imperfections.
  • Ideal for applications where custom field painted is planned or in less-visible industrial settings.
  • The sound absorption quality of Raw Unpainted panels is equal to that of painted panels.
Our Painted Natural panels are professionally painted in our factory using Sherwin Williams 9110 Malabar.
  • Painted Natural panels embrace the natural color of the poplar wood fiber from which they are constructed.
  • Ideal for applications where a natural, calming, and warm aesthetic is desired.

PERFORMANCE AND CARDINAL ADVANTAGE:

Q.
What is the NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) rating of your wood fiber acoustical panels?
A.
Depending on the thickness, our wood fiber acoustical panels carry NRC ratings that range from 0.45 to 1.0.
  • 5/8” thick panels have NRC rating of .45 - .80
  • 1” thick panels have NRC rating of .60 - .95
  • 1 1/2” thick panels have NRC rating of .70 – 1.0
Q.
What is the fire rating for Cardinal Acoustics products?
A.
Our products have all passed a Class A fire rating, the most stringent rating available for building materials in the U.S.
Q.
Why should I choose wood fiber over metal, perforated panels, fiberglass or laminated wood panels?
A.
Cardinal Acoustics wood fiber panels are environmentally friendly and made with quality materials. The panels are constructed with wood fiber from poplar trees, a renewable and recyclable resource. The trees are fast-growing so there is no clear cutting involved. Those fibers are bonded with a magnesium-oxide cement-like binder.  

Wood fiber does so much for so little: It absorbs sound, its machinable, paintable, customizable, and easy to install.
Q.
Are Cardinal Acoustics panels harmful to myself or the environment?
A.
Both the wood fiber and the binder used to create our panels are environmentally friendly, and they have always been. And, they are formaldehyde and asbestos-free.
Q.
Do your products come with a warranty?
A.
Our panels have a limited lifetime warranty on material breakage provided they are installed in accordance with standard CISCA guidelines and approved by Cardinal Acoustics. For full warranty information, give us a call.