Acoustic Panels vs. Wall Cladding—When to Use Which?

Acoustic panels serve two purposes at once—they absorb sound and provide a decorative finish for walls. Traditional wall coverings (CPL, HPL, veneer, slats) are used solely for aesthetics and surface protection. In commercial buildings, the choice between them depends on the room’s acoustic requirements as specified in the PN-B-02151-4 standard, the fire reaction class, and the function of the space.

Acoustic panels and wall coverings are different product categories

Acoustic panels are finishing elements with a documented sound absorption coefficient, classified according to the PN-EN ISO 11654 standard into absorption classes A–E. Wall cladding refers to finishing products evaluated according to the PN-EN 438-3 standard in terms of mechanical resistance, abrasion resistance, and aesthetics—without any requirement for acoustic performance.

This functional difference has specific design implications. The acoustic panel reduces the reverberation time T₆₀ in a room, eliminates echoes, and improves speech intelligibility. Wall paneling protects the wall from scratches, stains, and impacts, but it does not improve the room’s acoustics —the hard laminate finish reflects sound waves just as strongly as paint or drywall.

Optimal Poland offers both categories simultaneously. Acoustic panels are a system solution that combines sound absorption with a decorative function. CPL and HPL cladding are finishing panels used where only aesthetics and surface durability are required.

Technical specifications that distinguish acoustic panels from wall cladding

Acoustic panels are evaluated using the α coefficient_in (weighted sound absorption coefficient) and absorption class A–E according to PN-EN ISO 11654. Wall coverings are evaluated based on mechanical resistance parameters according to PN-EN 438-3, which are identical for CPL and HPL.

The value of α_in = 0.90 indicates Class A —the material absorbs 90% of the acoustic energy incident on its surface. The value_αw = 0.15 for Class E corresponds to a hard laminate cladding. An architect designing a conference room selects Class A or B panel surfaces based on calculations using Sabine’s formula (T = 0.161 × V/A, where V is the volume, A is the sound absorption coefficient), in order to achieve a reverberation time of less than 0.8 seconds, as required by PN-B-02151-4 for rooms intended for verbal communication with a volume of up to 500 m³.

Detailed technical specifications for Optimal Poland acoustic panels are described in in the guide to acoustic parameters.

When Are Acoustic Panels the Right Choice?

Acoustic panels are used wherever the PN-B-02151-4 standard requires control of reverberation time or when a design calls for noise reduction in an open-plan office. These are spaces where acoustic comfort is a critical factor.

List of rooms requiring acoustic panels:

• Conference rooms —reverberation time less than 0.8 s for volumes up to 500 m³ and less than 1.0 s for volumes between 500 and 2,000 m³, according to PN-B-02151-4
• Open-plan offices —reducing the distraction distance (_rD) and lowering the spatial decay rate of speech (_D2,S) according to ISO 3382-3 to protect against the cocktail party effect (distraction caused by simultaneous conversations)
• University lecture halls and auditoriums —requirement for speech intelligibility from any seat, in accordance with PN-EN ISO 3382
• Hotel lobbies and reception areas with a ceiling height of more than 4 m—reverberation control due to the large volume
• Training Rooms and Coworking Spaces — Protecting Against the Cocktail Party Effect
• Restaurants and dining areas in hotels — the comfort of conversation without having to raise your voice

Acoustic panels in commercial buildings also serve a second purpose: decorative finishing. Optimal Poland’s modular CPL cladding solutions are available in the EGGER color palette, with the option to produce panels up to 5,600 mm high in a single sheet, without joints, which eliminates horizontal divisions on the tall walls of the lobby and auditorium.

When Wall Cladding Alone Is Sufficient

Wall cladding is sufficient in spaces where the room’s volume, geometry, and function do not pose an acoustic problem. These are spaces where aesthetics, surface durability, and consistency with the building’s visual concept are the top priorities.

Examples of rooms where wall paneling is a sufficient solution:

• Reception areas and entryways with limited volume—short user exposure times and soft finishes (carpets, upholstered chairs) help improve acoustics
• Offices and meeting rooms for up to 6 people —the small volume does not cause a reverberation problem
• Hallways and walkways —the wall covering protects the walls from impacts by carts and furniture
• Restrooms and utility areas —must be resistant to moisture and cleaning; acoustics are not a concern
• Hotel Rooms – Acoustic performance here is determined by the sound insulation of the partitions (Rw), not by the wall surface area

In these applications, CPL and HPL from Optimal Poland are ideal as durable finishes with a density of ≥ 1.35 g/cm³, abrasion resistance of ≥ 350 IP revolutions according to PN-EN 438-2, and a fire reaction class of B-s2,d0. CPL panels are available in custom sizes in sheets up to 5,600 mm in length, which minimizes the number of seams.

Acoustic panel with CPL finish—a dual-purpose solution

Optimal Poland acoustic panels with CPL cladding combine an absorptive layer with a decorative CPL laminate finish in EGGER designs. The design combines acoustic performance (Class A or B according to PN-EN ISO 11654) with decorative cladding in a single product.

This solution resolves the architect’s dilemma. Instead of conducting two separate material selection processes (acoustics + aesthetics), the project benefits from a single system that combines both functions on a single wall surface. In practice, this means:

• a single finishing system for the entire wall instead of combining two products
• a uniform color scheme that is consistent with the rest of the interior
• one installation instead of two layers
• a single set of technical documentation for the general contractor

The finish material is CPL (Continuous Pressure Laminate)—a laminate equivalent to HPL according to the PN-EN 438-3 standard. CPL and HPL have identical composition (decorative paper, core paper, melamine-phenolic resins), identical density of ≥ 1.35 g/cm³, and identical performance parameters in classes 3–5 according to PN-EN 438-2. The only difference lies in the production process —CPL is manufactured in twin-belt presses using continuous technology, while HPL is produced in multi-shelf presses.

This equivalence is confirmed by the standard. CPL and HPL are supplied by the same European manufacturers (EGGER, Kronospan, Pfleiderer), made from the same raw materials, and feature identical laminate quality. The CPL used by Optimal Poland is a direct equivalent of the traditional HPL cladding used in hotels and office buildings.

The advantage of CPL over HPL is its production flexibility: lengths ranging from 800 to 5600 mm are available in sheets or rolls, there is no waste from cutting, and it is possible to produce thin laminates less than 0.5 mm thick. HPL remains in use, particularly as a compact laminate with a thickness of ≥ 2 mm according to PN-EN 438-4, for self-supporting applications—countertops, laboratory furniture fronts, and sanitary fixtures.

Fire reaction class and building-specific requirements

All cladding and acoustic panels installed in a public building must have a documented fire reaction class in accordance with PN-EN 13501-1. For most commercial buildings, Class B-s2,d0 or C-s2,d0 is required.

The fire reaction class describes three parameters:

• Main letter (A1, A2, B, C, D, E, F) — contribution to a fire, where A1 denotes non-combustible materials, B denotes materials with limited contribution to a fire, and F denotes unclassified materials
• s1, s2, s3 – smoke emission intensity (s1 – lowest, s3 – highest)
• d0, d1, d2 – presence of burning droplets (d0 – none, d2 – large amounts)

Optimal Poland manufactures systems with a documented fire reaction class of B-s2,d0. This class meets the requirements for public buildings, including hotels, office buildings, universities, and conference centers—in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure on the technical conditions to be met by buildings and their location.

For spaces with building-specific fire safety requirements, Optimal Poland also offers the OPTIMAL 110 Plus Fire EI30 movable wall system with ITB certification—a solution that combines space partitioning with EI 30 fire resistance.

How does this decision play out in design practice?

The choice between acoustic panels and wall cladding is determined during the acoustic design phase. Three questions lead to a clear-cut answer:

• Does the room have a volume of more than 100 m³ and hard surfaces? Yes—acoustic panels. No—wall paneling is enough.
• Does the room’s function require clear speech intelligibility (conference room, auditorium, open-plan office)? Yes—Class A or B acoustic panels. No—decorative cladding.
• Does the PN-B-02151-4 standard specify a particular reverberation time for this function? Yes—calculating the panel area using Sabine’s formula. No—freedom to choose the finish.

An architect designing a Class A office building using Optimal Poland’s movable wall systems most often combines both solutions in a single building. Conference rooms are equipped with acoustic panels on the movable walls and ceilings. Representative areas (reception, VIP corridors, lobby) feature CPL cladding with EGGER decor, visually consistent with the acoustic panels from the same color palette.

Optimal Poland’s hotel and conference projects (Ibis Styles, Focus, and Gromada hotels; the Lublin Conference Center; the Lublin Trade Fair; UMCS; and the Łódź University of Technology) incorporate both product categories into a cohesive design concept. A complete list of projects is available at Projects.

FAQ

Summary

The choice between acoustic panels and wall cladding depends on the room’s function, its volume, and regulatory requirements. Acoustic panels are used where the design requires control of reverberation time in accordance with PN-B-02151-4—in conference rooms, open-plan offices, auditoriums, and hotel lobbies. Wall cladding is sufficient in spaces with a small volume, where aesthetics and surface durability are the only considerations.

Optimal Poland offers both product categories within a single EGGER decor palette, as well as a dual-purpose solution—an acoustic panel with a CPL finish equivalent to HPL according to PN-EN 438-3. Optimal Poland provides architects and developers with an online configurator and BIM models on BIMobject, while its technical team assists with selecting the appropriate acoustic class and finish pattern during the detailed design phase.