Acoustical Panels
An acoustical panel or tile is a sound-absorbing product that adheres directly to walls or ceilings and is designed to reduce reverberation and echoes. For that reason, acoustical panels are widely used in a number of situations where it's necessary to increase speech intelligibility or enhance musical performance, such as schools, lecture halls, ballrooms, recording studios, performance halls, music practice rooms, churches, and other places where crowds of people often gather to listen to speakers, watch films, or perform in some way or another.
These panels are usually installed by experienced tile workers or by other construction professionals who possess the skills necessary to lay these panels correctly so that the most is gained by their installation.
Acoustical Panels and Asbestos
The use of acoustical panels in both residences and commercial facilities has always been popular because of the improvement in sound quality and sound proofing the panels offer. You will find these panels in many homes, commercial establishments, and literally millions of schools throughout the United States.
Unfortunately, prior to the 1980s, acoustical panels contained asbestos. Asbestos was added to the panels or tiles to make them stronger and more resistant to fire. While the panels themselves, left untouched, are not hazardous to one's health, old asbestos-containing acoustic panels can be a problem.
Though many schools and other public buildings have already replaced hazardous asbestos-containing acoustical panels with those that do not contain the mineral, it's not unusual to find old, damaged panels in places where replacement has not been accomplished due to high cost or other pertinent reasons. That means those who work, live, or attend school near crumbled, "friable" asbestos from old tiles could be compromising their health.
Old acoustical panels that are damaged may emit dangerous asbestos dust and fibers that can easily be inhaled by those in the vicinity. Therefore, it's necessary to enclose these panels or have them removed by a licensed asbestos abatement professional as soon as possible.
