Wall Panels for Government Buildings
Courtrooms, federal offices, and municipal buildings all share one acoustic challenge: speech privacy. When confidential conversations happen in judge's chambers, secure conference rooms, or interview spaces, the walls need to perform. Acoustic wall panels are how you get there.
Why Government Buildings Need Acoustic Wall Panels
Government facilities handle sensitive conversations daily. Attorney-client discussions in courthouses, classified briefings in federal offices, witness interviews in law enforcement buildings. Sound transmission between rooms isn't just annoying — it's a security and legal liability.
Wall panels serve two purposes in these environments. First, they absorb sound within the room, reducing reverberation so speech is clear and intelligible. Council chambers, hearing rooms, and public meeting spaces all benefit from controlled acoustics. Second, when combined with proper wall construction, they contribute to the overall sound isolation strategy that keeps conversations private.
Courtroom and Hearing Room Applications
Courtrooms are the most demanding application for wall panels in government work. The judge needs to hear witnesses clearly. The jury needs to hear testimony without straining. The court reporter needs clean audio. And spectators in the gallery shouldn't be able to hear sidebar conferences at the bench.
We typically install fabric-wrapped acoustic panels on courtroom walls — high-NRC panels that absorb mid and high frequencies where speech energy concentrates. Panel placement targets the first reflection points on side walls and the rear wall behind the gallery. The result is a reverberation time around 0.6–0.8 seconds, which keeps speech clear without making the room feel dead.
For judge's chambers and deliberation rooms, speech privacy is the priority. We install panels as part of a wall assembly that hits STC 50+ between rooms. The panel absorbs sound within the room while the wall structure blocks transmission to adjacent spaces.
Federal Office Applications
GSA's P100 Facilities Standards specify acoustic requirements for federal workspace. Open office areas need sound absorption to manage noise levels. Enclosed offices and conference rooms need speech privacy — SPI (Speech Privacy Index) ratings that ensure conversations aren't intelligible in adjacent spaces.
Acoustic wall panels in federal offices typically go in conference rooms, collaboration areas, and private offices. Standard fabric-wrapped fiberglass panels in 1" to 2" thicknesses handle most requirements. For higher-security spaces like SCIFs, the panel selection and installation details are part of a comprehensive acoustic envelope design.
Product Selection for Government
Government specs tend to be performance-based rather than brand-specific. You'll see requirements for NRC ratings, fire classifications, and material composition rather than specific product names.
- Fabric-wrapped fiberglass panels: The workhorse. NRC 0.85–1.05 depending on thickness and mounting. Class A fire rated per ASTM E84. Available in hundreds of fabric options to match interior design.
- Stretch fabric wall systems: For courtrooms and council chambers where a seamless appearance matters. Fabric stretched over a track system with acoustic infill behind it. Clean, institutional look.
- Impact-resistant panels: For correctional facilities, juvenile detention, and high-traffic public areas. Kevlar-faced or hardened panels that absorb sound without being vulnerable to damage or vandalism.
All products for federal projects must comply with Buy American Act requirements. Most major panel manufacturers (Kinetics, Primacoustic, Acoustimac) have domestic production, but verify before submitting.
Prevailing Wage and Procurement
Same rules as any government construction — prevailing wages, certified payroll, proper licensing, and bonding. Wall panel installation falls under the acoustical ceiling and wall contractor classification. We carry the insurance limits government projects require and our crews are experienced with the documentation and security protocols these buildings demand.
Procurement follows the standard government bid process. Acoustical ceilings for government covers the procurement process in detail — the same applies to wall panel projects.
Seismic and Fire Compliance
Wall panels in California government buildings must be seismically secured. Panels over a certain weight require positive attachment — not just adhesive. We use Z-clip or French cleat mounting systems rated for seismic loads per CBC requirements.
Fire rating is non-negotiable. All panels must be Class A (flame spread 0-25, smoke developed 0-450) per ASTM E84. In fire-rated wall assemblies, the panel installation cannot compromise the wall's fire resistance rating. We coordinate with the fire protection engineer to ensure compliance.