BASF foam Basotect controls acoustics and enriches aesthetics in Children’s Museum of South Dakota, USA

The Children’s Museum of South Dakota in Brookings, USA uses various acoustic panels made from BASF’s melamine resin foam Basotect ® for sound absorption and noise control in several rooms and exhibits throughout the museum. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) July 04, 2011 - The architectural and design team for the interactive museum decided on sound-absorptive Basotect panels from the acoustic products manufacturer, pinta acoustic inc., Minneapolis, USA.

The excellent sound absorption of Basotect is due to its open-cell structure, which absorbs sound waves that would otherwise reflect off the hard surfaces in the room. Unmitigated, these sound waves create an undesired echo effect and increase the level of unwanted background noise.

The BASF foam's versatility allowed the museum to design acoustic baffles of various shapes that had texture and form such as, for example, a cloud. "The pinta acoustic products look great and effectively control noise in a very active space," says Andrew Eitreim of Architecture Incorporated, the architect firm of the project. "The primary consideration when you’re designing a project such as this is to find a product that adds visual impact and blends seamlessly into the aesthetics without broadcasting its purpose - acoustical control, in this case." The low weight of Basotect allows for various means of simple installation, reducing cost and allowing greater design freedom. In one exhibit, panels are attached directly to the wall. Another exhibit uses linear absorbers that have been attached via a metal track mounted to the ceiling for a three-dimensional effect.

In addition, panels made from Basotect provide certain safety and environmental friendliness aspects that are highly valued in spaces primarily designed for children. Basotect is free of fibers that could be dislodged, and it has a Class 1 fire rating according to ASTM E 84. The high light reflectance, low emissions and acoustic performance of Basotect qualify pinta’s panels for LEED credits for new construction and school projects. These credits contribute to the museum's goal of achieving a LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the leading national standard for environmentally friendly building.

The Children’s Museum of South Dakota, which opened in September 2010, is the first broad-based, cross-discipline children’s museum in South Dakota. The purpose of the museum is to promote learning for children of all ages and abilities through interactive, hands-on exhibits. Pinta acoustic manufactures a broad range of ceiling tiles, wall panels and other acoustical materials for commercial and industrial applications, as well as foam, composite materials, and ceiling grid products.

For further information on Basotect: www.basotect.com.
For information about pinta acoustic products: www.pinta-acoustic.com.

Note to editorial offices: A press photograph can be found at www.basf.com/pressphoto-database under the keyword "plastics". In the near future, text and photo will also be available at www.basf.de/plastics/pressreleases

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