Operable acoustic walls and sound-absorbing panels for spaces that need to change with the brief. In a few minutes one large hall becomes two or three independent rooms, and a reverberant space becomes comfortable for speech and music. DPS delivers the project turnkey: we select the system and calculate the acoustics for the specific hall, issue the working documentation, manufacture the walls and panels to bespoke dimensions, install and commission the system, and take it on for maintenance.
01 · CONSTRUCTION
Photo: Ginkgo2g, CC BY-SA 4.002 · SYSTEM TYPES
Each panel hangs on its own trolley and moves independently along a system of ceiling tracks. The most flexible arrangement: the wall can be formed anywhere along the track, and the panels stack compactly in a recess or store room.
hotel conference halls, banqueting and multi-purpose halls
Panels are joined in pairs by concealed hinges and move as a pair on two trolleys. Faster to set up than single panels, while keeping freedom in choosing the stacking position.
lecture rooms, business centres, meeting rooms
A continuous concertina of hinged panels. It opens in one movement and folds into a stack against the wall. Best when the wall always closes in the same position.
schools, sports halls, waiting areas, exhibition spaces
A single or double door integrated into the panel. It allows passage between halls without opening the wall and serves as an emergency exit.
halls divided into sectors, staff passages
The closing panel has an extending edge that presses tightly against the wall and closes the gap without additional profiles. The acoustic envelope of the wall is continuous.
all systems, as the closing element
Panels move and stack by electric drive on command from a remote control or the building management system. Seals extend automatically, so the operator needs no key.
large congress centres, halls with frequent reconfiguration
Diagrams are indicative: front elevation, the top line is the ceiling track.
03 · TRACK AND STACKING
04 · ACOUSTIC PANELS
The operable wall divides the halls, while acoustic panels determine how each of them sounds: they reduce echo and reverberation time, make speech intelligible and music clear. We select the panel type and area based on the acoustic calculation for the hall.
A sound-absorbing core of mineral wool or glass fibre wrapped in acoustically transparent fabric. The highest absorption across a wide frequency range, with a free choice of colours.
Veneered, lacquered or HPL-faced MDF panels with perforations or routed grooves and an absorber on the back. They keep the look of timber and perform as acoustic panels.
Holes smaller than a millimetre are almost invisible from a distance: the wall looks smooth but damps echo. The solution for halls where strict architecture matters.
Solid timber or veneered slats on an acoustic felt backing. A warm texture and a distinct architectural rhythm in lobbies, restaurants and meeting rooms.
Boards of pressed polyester fibre: light, impact-resistant, washable, and can be routed with patterns. Suitable for offices, schools and children's spaces.
Suspended horizontal islands and vertical baffles for tall halls and atriums where the walls are glazed. They work on both sides and reduce reverberation throughout the volume.
05 · FINISHES
06 · SPECIFICATIONS
Rw rating for acoustic systems according to test reports. The class is selected for the task: from separating meeting rooms to simultaneous events in adjacent halls.
Steel or aluminium frame, double facing and sound-absorbing infill. The thickness depends on the required sound insulation.
Standard heights for halls and lecture rooms; for atriums and exhibition halls, increased heights to the project design with a calculation of the supporting beam.
Panels hang on trolleys from a ceiling track. There are no rails or thresholds on the floor, so the floor finish stays continuous.
Absorption class A for fabric systems, classes B–C for perforated and slatted panels, depending on the perforation and the absorber thickness.
Non-combustible and low-combustibility materials for escape routes and halls with high occupancy. The class is confirmed by a certificate.
Specifications are given as a guide and are confirmed by test reports and certificates for the specific system and project.
07 · APPLICATIONS
One large hall becomes two or three independent rooms in minutes for simultaneous events, without losing space utilisation.
Zoning for intimate and large events; acoustic panels remove reverberation and conversation noise.
Reconfigurable meeting and training rooms, open-plan offices with acoustic comfort.
Divisible lecture rooms and assembly halls, sports halls divided into sections, speech intelligibility in classrooms.
Tall motorised systems for fast reconfiguration of halls between events.
Dividing halls into training zones, acoustics for rehearsal and multi-purpose spaces.
08 · STANDARDS AND DOCUMENTS
The editions of documents in force at the date of the contract apply.
09 · FAQ
Sound insulation (Rw, dB) is the ability of a partition to stop sound passing into the adjacent room: it is provided by the operable wall with its seals. Sound absorption (αw) is the ability of a surface to damp reflected sound inside the hall: it is provided by acoustic panels. In a good hall both solutions work together.
For meeting rooms 40–45 dB is usually sufficient. For simultaneous conferences with PA systems and banquets with music we specify 50 dB and above. Importantly, the actual result also depends on the surrounding construction: the ceiling above the wall, the walls and the ventilation. We work out these details together with the designer.
No. Panels hang on trolleys from a ceiling track, and the floor stays level. Retractable seals provide the tightness at the bottom by pressing against the floor once the panel is in position.
A manual system is set up by one person: the panels roll easily along the track, and the seals extend with a turn of a key or a lever. For large halls and frequent reconfiguration we offer an automatic system.
A supporting beam or slab for the track, a stacking space for the panels (recess, store room or wall pocket) and a sound-insulating barrier in the ceiling void above the wall line. We issue a brief for these details for the structural and architectural sections.
Yes. The panels can be faced in veneer, HPL, RAL lacquer, fabric or the same material as the acoustic panels on the walls, so the hall looks like a single whole even when the wall is open.
10 · GALLERY
SEND US THE HALL PLANS AND YOUR BRIEF — WE WILL SELECT THE SYSTEM AND CALCULATE THE ACOUSTICS AND THE COST.