Rockfon Lamella
Innovation overview and development
An overview of the product
Rockfon® Lamella is a modular slatted wood acoustic wall system which provides Class A sound absorption for commercial projects.
There are scores of timber slatted wall panels on the market. These are targeted at the residential market, offering standardised sizes in one colour per panel, using low quality materials like MDF and polyester and often offering poor acoustic performance. Rockfon Lamella is different. The product has the convenience of highly standardised panels, but with a range of slats in different colours and dimensions which offers 650,000 design combinations. The slats come in boxes of just 10 which means mixing and matching them is both highly flexible and affordable. Each individual lamella is mounted onto a platform which contains specially designed charcoal Rockfon Sound Absorbing Panels, providing the system with outstanding sound absorption properties.
How the new product was developed, including effective collaboration, knowledge transfer and partnership along the project team
There are two initial criteria that any Rockfon innovation must satisfy. Firstly, it must be an acoustic solution that is modular, customisable and demountable, and secondly it must make occupiers ‘feel good’ through the use of colour, biophilic-inspired design and natural surfaces.
In bringing Rockfon Lamella to the market, our Innovation team interviewed over 30 installers, specifiers and end-users to identity the pain points with existing wood panel products. The feedback ranged from very practical problems such high minimum order quantities, long and uncertain lead time, components from multiple sources and too much time spent on complex quotation processes, through to occupants feeling sick and dizzy after extended periods in proximity to these types of products.
Rockfon Lamella combines powerful sound absorption with visual appeal – and is practical to specify and install.
How might this product have an influence on the specification
Unlike many other acoustic fixtures and fittings on the market, this product has clear, transparent test data that shows how the whole system (and not individual components) – the wooden slats, mounting profiles, sound absorbing panel and components – performs. Specifiers can be confident the product provides:
• Acoustic performance: Class A sound absorption in accordance with ISO 11654
• Reaction to Fire performance: classification of c-S2,d0 in accordance with EN 13501
• To execute a speedy specification, all specification data, BIM Objects and CAD drawings are available on NBS Chorus, NBS Source and pCON
How can this product enhance an interior space
Rockfon® Lamella is inspired by biophilic design trends which – as shown in many studies – triggers physical and mental health benefits. Interacting with nature and specifically the presence of wood in the workplace is positively correlated with lower absenteeism and higher job satisfaction. In one study1, it correlated with decreasing blood pressure and heart rate, as employees felt connected with nature. Office workers also reported better concentration, more optimism, less stress and greater productivity when their office included exposed wood.
Combining the beauty of wood with our stone wool sound absorbent panel, Rockfon Lamella creates calm interiors, from open plan quiet to higher energy collaboration zones.
1Naturally Wood, Wood Performance, https://www.naturallywood.com/wood-performance/health/
How the product improved usability and / or performance of the interior system
The Rockfon® Lamella system comes as a complete kit containing all components – no additional screws, mounting batons or sound absorption material is required.
The installation process is simple and can be done by in-house facilities teams. The process is:
• Mount aluminium horizontal and vertical profiles to the wall
• Slide in sound absorption panels
• Place the Rockfon Lamella Guiding Ruler against the vertical end profile to position the Mounting Clips
• Mount clips onto horizontal profiles using Rockfon Lamella Guiding Ruler
• Click in each lamella slat