ASSA ABLOY, CertainTeed team up to tackle classroom acoustics

ASSA ABLOY and CertainTeed Corporation are teaming up as part of an industry-first collaboration to address acoustical challenges in classroom settings — a critical factor in ensuring strong student performance. Representing global leadership in door opening solutions, gypsum board, ceilings and insulation solutions, the collaboration leverages world-class building science and technical expertise to create recommendations for interior spaces that meet or exceed the most stringent acoustical requirements.    

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), proper acoustics are critical for students’ ability to understand familiar words and learn new information. The new alliance between ASSA ABLOY and CertainTeed has uncovered easily accessible solutions to address these acoustical challenges and reduce the sound reverberation that further complicates noise issues.

“The convergence of these two building industry powerhouses represents an unprecedented approach in optimizing acoustics in educational settings,” said Eric Nilsson, vice president of Corporate Marketing for CertainTeed Corporation. “We look forward to  deepening this collaboration by leveraging our collective expertise, while tapping the global resources of our parent company Saint-Gobain to make a true material difference in how students learn.”

ASSA ABLOY and CertainTeed are designing and testing interior solutions that provide exceptional acoustical control between classrooms, music rooms, administrative offices, bathrooms and hallways. Through preliminary research, the collaboration has demonstrated significant acoustical improvements by creating a holistic solution that integrates CertainTeed’s SilentFX® noise-reducing gypsum board, Sustainable Insulation® fiberglass batt insulation and Symphony® m mineral fiber ceiling panels with door and frame systems, including components, from ASSA ABLOY Group brands CECO Door, CURRIES, PEMKO or SMP Specialty Doors. Each of the design configurations align with targeted Sound Transmission Class (STC) ratings as well as stringent requirements of the American National Standards Institute, LEED® for Schools, Collaborative for High Performance Schools, GREENGUARD Gold, and 2012 International Green Construction Code.

The enthusiasm is mutual, as shared by Stacey Callahan, vice president of marketing and innovation for ASSA ABLOY: “This landmark collaboration between CertainTeed and ASSA ABLOY places the needs of education front and center. The standard we are setting for the built environment is ‘head of the class’ in form and function – a superior solution that exceeds the expectations of our (or education’s) stakeholders.”

To learn more about the collaboration between ASSA ABLOY and CertainTeed visit us at Greenbuild 2013 in Philadelphia.  ASSA ABLOY— booth 3559 and CertainTeed/Saint-Gobain-- booth 1411. To access free continuing education courses dedicated to interior acoustics, visit www.certainteed.com/buildingknowledge.

About Saint-Gobain North America at Greenbuild
The Saint-Gobain North America family of brands at Greenbuild 2013 includes CertainTeed, SAGE, ADFORS, and two products from Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics - Green Glue and Thermalbond®. In a wide variety of verticals – from education to healthcare and beyond - Saint-Gobain North America offers a number of products and solutions that do everything from improve indoor air quality to reduce noise pollution – ultimately making “Life’s Material Difference.” We encourage you to visit sgnagreen.com to learn more about these brands and products, and learn more about Saint-Gobain North America.

About ASSA ABLOY
ASSA ABLOY is the global leader in door opening solutions, dedicated to satisfying end-user demands for security, safety and convenience. For more information visit http://www.assaabloy.com. 

About CertainTeed
CertainTeed, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Today, CertainTeed® is North America’s leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, insulation, gypsum and ceilings. A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, the world’s largest building products company, CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 5,700 employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. www.certainteed.com