Topakustik® is available in many groove patterns as a 5" (128 mm) wide tongue and groove plank and as a panel from that ranges in width from 11.8" (300 mm) to 48.875" (1216 mm). Planks are available in lengths up to 11.98' (3650 mm) and the maximum panel dimension is 11.94' (3640 mm).

The precise tongue and groove connection between planks provides a seamless coverage and the long lengths remove the problematic line often found at 8'. The planks can be installed simply by stapling to a nailing strip as with hardwood flooring or attaching to 15/16" T-bar with special clips. A wide variety of edge conditions is available.

Topakustik® panels are mounted with visible joints to allow for expansion/contraction and are also available with many edge treatments. The panels can also be bent parallel to the grooves or perpendicular to the grooves to provide vaults and special shapes.

Both can be fire rated and available in a wide range of painted colors and natural wood veneers. No project is too complicated or too simple. Give us a call to discuss your absorptive wood needs. Ask your rep for a copy of the informative 23 page color brochure.

The 17th ICA will be held September 2-7, 2001 in Rome. This congress will host a wide variety of exciting papers by the world's leading acousticians. One of the sessions, called SCATTERING IN ROOM ACOUSTICS, was organized by Michael Vorlander and will include a number of interesting papers on the effects of scattering in room acoustics. For the past 18 years RPG has been interested in the importance of scattering and it is gratifying to see the number of papers on this topic. Acoustic designers are used to specifying the required absorption coefficient of surfaces in room designs. Yet, diffusion is often applied in a more haphazard fashion, with no quantification of whether too little or too much surface diffusion is being used. By creating a standard evaluation technique, it is hoped that a more scientific basis for the application of surface diffusion can be formed. For example, the techniques outlined in AES-4id-2001 have been successfully used as the basis of performance specifications for auditoria and other performance spaces.

While there are several equations (Sabine, Eyring, etc. ) to evaluate the affects of absorption on the reverberation time, all of these approaches assume a completely diffuse sound field. Therefore, one needs to find a way to evaluate the influence of surface diffusion on the room acoustic objective parameters. To evaluate the effects of both absorption and surface diffusion on room acoustic objective parameters, one can use a room modeling program like CATT Acoustics, which includes a meaningful diffusion algorithm. RPG will be presenting a tutorial on the influence of diffusion on reverberation in the near future so stay tuned.

Paper Titles presented by RPG:

1. Contrasting Surface Diffusion and Scattering Coefficients- T.J. Cox and P.D'Antonio
2. A Standard Method for Assessing Diffusor Quality- P. D'Antonio and T.J. Cox

The interest in a smooth absorptive plaster system has simply been overwhelming. BASWA®phon has already been specified into numerous high visibility projects across North America. The first major installation slated to begin in the fall of 2001 is the Weatherhead School in Cleveland, OH designed by Frank Gehry and Associates, Santa Monica, CA. The acoustician is Dave Conant on McKay Conant Brook, Westlake Village, CA. BASWA®phon was selected because of its ability to conform to complex compound curved surfaces and its high absorption coefficient. Many other school applications are in the offing. In addition to schools, BASWA®phon is being considered for a significant number of new museums across North America and Europe. Home theater applications by Steve Haas, of SH Acoustics are also under construction. BASWA®phon offers an absorptive, smooth, seamless and durable plastered finish to satisfy the aesthetic requirements of architects and clients. Read More

Now FlutterFree can be used to provide low frequency absorption along with high frequency diffusion. RPG is developing a expanded line of products that absorb sound below the diffusion frequency cutoff and diffuse sound above it. Thus, RPG has developed the first diffsorptive surfaces. The BAD™ panel is enjoying significant interest as a complement or replacement for purely absorptive panels. To provide diffsorption using a wooden finish, RPG offers a slotted version of its popular FlutterFree planks. We invite you to consider using slotted FlutterFree when you want to absorb low frequency sound and diffuse high frequency sound. Since this is a common desire, we expect acousticians and architects to find slotted FlutterFree a very popular acoustical finish. The absorption data for a surface and cavity mount are now available.

RPG add reverberation chamber and impedance tube measurement capabilities at headquarters

Diffuse Seminars
RPG offers regular educational seminars for acousticians, sound contractors, home theater system integrators, architects, and other specifying consultants to apprise the industry of our research, new products, application assistance, and an introduction to RPG's Room Sizer, Room Optimizer, Shape Optimizer, CATT Acoustics software and Lake Technology convolution platforms. The press is also welcome. RPG is applying for AIA Continuing Education credits. The response to these educational seminars has been very enthusiastic. The 2001 seminar calendar will be posted next month.

If you are interested in attending, please e-mail to info@rpginc.com, contact your local rep or call Jeff Angel at 301-249-0044.