Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 36

F

abric plays a critical role in sound control. On the most basic
level, hard surfaces send sound bouncing around a room, while
soft surfaces absorb sound and soften the impact on listening
ears. For environments designed for entertainment, sound control
heightens the experience for anyone sitting in the audience.

"Controlling sound waves is not so different than controlling light-you have to deal with the
reflections," says Joshua Alemany, director of products, Rose Brand, Secaucus, N.J. "Fabric is a versatile
tool in that it can easily adjust from a flat surface, which can be reflective or absorptive depending on
the textile, to a contoured surface, which reflects the sound waves in different direction, scattering and
nullifying the reflections."
Paul Grider, director of product development and technical services, Dazian LLC, South
Hackensack, N.J., says that to manufacture acoustical drapery, one must have a good understanding
of sewing styles and techniques along with fabric knowledge and installation methods. "Knowing
what your client is looking to achieve is the first step in selecting the right material. From there,
we access the space conditions and installation options," he says.

Well-designed curtains reduce unwanted sound reflections that cause excessive
noise or distortions in performance spaces. These window curtains made from
Rose Brand Prestige Velour serve both aesthetic and acoustic purposes at Mason
Hall at Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City. Photo: Rose Brand.

36 REVIEW JANUARY 2020

ABSORPTIVE FINISHES
Damian Doria, president of theater and
acoustics design consultancy Stages Consultants, Highland Park, N.J., breaks down
acoustical applications into three categories:
absorptive finishes, protective covers for
absorptive finishes, and barrier materials.
When selecting fabric as an absorptive
finish, Doria recommends taking into
account absorption coefficients, measured
using a standard laboratory method:
Octave Band Absorption Coefficients and
Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC). "It's
also important to disclose the test method
and mounting for the material because,
as an example, a material that's mounted
over an air space performs differently from
material pressed flat against a surface,"
Doria says. "Since we're often talking
about curtains, it's helpful if the original
test report is available to learn whether
the fabric tested had any special treatment
or backing, was a flat panel or had some
degree of fullness, the type of pleating, etc."
Most often, curtains are used to reduce
the unwanted sound reflections that cause
excessive noise or distortions, Alemany
says. "Fabrics of a heavy weight or specific



Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020

Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - Cover1
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - Cover2
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 1
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 2
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 3
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 4
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 5
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 6
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 7
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 8
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 9
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 10
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 11
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 12
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 13
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 14
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 15
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 16
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 17
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 18
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 19
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 20
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 21
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 22
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 23
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 24
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 25
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 26
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 27
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 28
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 29
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 30
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 31
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 32
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 33
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 34
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 35
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 36
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 37
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 38
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 39
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 40
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 41
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 42
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 43
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 44
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 45
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 46
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 47
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 48
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 49
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 50
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 51
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 52
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 53
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 54
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 55
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 56
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 57
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 58
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 59
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 60
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 61
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 62
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 63
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 64
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 65
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 66
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 67
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 68
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - Cover3
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-february-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-january-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-december-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-november-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-buyers-guide-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-buyers-guide-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-november-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-buyers-guide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-buyers-guide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0121RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1220RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1120RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1020RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0920RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0820RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0720RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0620RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/RVBG20
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0520RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0420RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0320RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0220RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0120RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1219RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1119RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1019RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0919RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0819RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0719RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0619RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/RVBG19
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0519RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0419RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0319RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0219RV_Feb
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0119RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1218RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1118RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1018RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0918RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0818RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0718RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0618RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0518RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/RVBG18
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0418RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0318RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0218RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0118RV
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com