Open-plan layouts, clean materials and minimalist architecture create a sense of visual calm – yet, acoustically, they often have the opposite effect. This is precisely where acoustic luminaires come into their own: they combine light and sound absorption in a single element, thereby meeting two key requirements of modern interior design at the same time.
Rather than adding acoustic measures as an afterthought, room acoustics are taken into account from the outset – precisely, minimalistically and as an integral part of the design concept. This provides architects and planners with a solution that not only illuminates spaces, but also structures them, creates a sense of calm and enhances their functionality.
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Asal + Traub Architekten
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Nikolay Kazakov
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LA BIOSTHÉTIQUE
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ANELLO
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ANELLO
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ANELLO
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ACOUSTIC PANEL
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ACOUSTIC PANEL
Why lighting and room acoustics should be planned together
In many projects, lighting and room acoustics are developed separately. Whilst lighting design is integrated into the architecture at an early stage, acoustic measures often follow later – as additional elements within the space. Acoustic luminaires enable a different approach: lighting and acoustic performance are created simultaneously and become an integral part of the architectural concept.
There are clear advantages for planning and design:
- Reduction of the reverberation time in the room
- Improving speech intelligibility
- fewer additional acoustic elements
- a calmer, clearer sense of space
- Consistent design across all areas
This creates a precise, calm and functional ambience, particularly in open-plan workspaces, meeting areas or reception areas.
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Alexander Strifler
Understanding reverberation time – why rooms become acoustically loud
Sound is reflected off surfaces within a room. When hard materials such as glass, concrete or metal come into contact with one another, the sound lingers in the room for longer – creating reverberation. The result:
- - Conversations become difficult to understand
- - Sounds seem louder than they actually are
- - Rooms can feel chaotic and stressful
- - Concentration and productivity decline
Reverberation time describes how long this effect lasts. The aim of the design is to reduce it in a targeted manner – particularly in areas where communication takes place. Acoustic luminaires address precisely this issue: they incorporate sound-absorbing materials directly into the lighting solution and are effective where they are needed – for example, above workstations, meeting tables or communication zones.
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Reichel Architekten PartG mbB
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Constantin Meyer
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EVANGELIC BANK
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ACOUSTIC BAFFLE
Which acoustic light fitting is best suited to which room?
Choosing the right solution depends heavily on the intended use, the size of the room and the architectural requirements.
Open-plan offices & open-plan workspaces
Above all, high acoustic performance is required here. Baffle luminaires or linear acoustic systems are particularly well suited to reducing reverberation and noise levels across large areas.
Flexible space concepts
Where the use of a space changes, modular systems or luminaires with optional acoustic elements are a sensible choice. This ensures that the design remains consistent, even as the requirements of the space change.
Meeting rooms & communication areas
In these areas, speech intelligibility is a key priority. Luminaires with integrated fabric or felt absorbers can specifically support communication without introducing additional acoustic elements into the room.
Lounge and hospitality areas
Where atmosphere and comfort are key, textiles or natural materials such as moss offer an excellent solution. They create a soft, cosy ambience whilst also improving the acoustics.
Reception areas & foyers
This is about more than just functionality. Large-scale lighting and acoustic elements combine spatial impact with acoustic comfort and contribute to the identity of the space.
In these contexts, they not only improve the acoustic quality, but also contribute to the lighting atmosphere and the spatial structure.
Planning lighting and acoustics together
Are you working on a project with high standards in terms of room acoustics, light quality and a sense of calm in the design? SATTLER can help you develop a solution that considers lighting and acoustic performance together right from the start.
How sound absorption is measured
The sound absorption coefficient αw
The effectiveness of a material is described by the sound absorption coefficient α (alpha). This value ranges from 0 to 1 and indicates how much sound energy is absorbed.
- α = 0 → total reflection | α = 0.5 → 50% absorption | α = 1 → total absorption
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Edison SATTLER
The αw value
The weighted sound absorption coefficient αw is frequently used in planning. It summarises a material’s sound absorption performance across a range of frequencies and enables a comparative assessment.
The αw value is determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 11654 and forms the basis for classification into absorption classes (A–E).
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Edison SATTLER
Frequency ranges
Frequency response curves show the ranges in which a material is particularly effective. For offices and communication rooms, the speech frequency range between 250 and 2000 Hz is particularly important.
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Edison SATTLER
Materials for acoustically effective luminaires
The choice of material influences both the acoustic performance and the visual impact within the room.
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Alexander Strifler
Typical materials include:
Acoustic textiles
High sound absorption combined with great design flexibility
Felt & foam materials
Tried-and-tested materials with a significant effect in the speech frequency range
PET acoustic baffles
Dimensionally stable, sustainable and particularly effective in large rooms
Natural materials (e.g. moss)
A combination of visual and acoustic effects – ideal for prestigious areas
Acoustic lighting from SATTLER
SATTLER combines lighting technology with acoustic performance in architecturally precise solutions. The result is not standardised solutions, but a variety of lighting concepts – ranging from linear baffles and flat acoustic panels to decorative luminaires with integrated acoustic features. This allows each application to be tailored specifically to the room, its intended use and the acoustic requirements.
Depending on the application, various systems may be suitable:
- ACOUSTIC PANELS for open-plan offices and high acoustic performance
- GIOCO with optional acoustic set for communication zones, lounges and reception areas
- ACOUSTIC LIGHT PANEL and ACOUSTIC PANEL for creating a sense of spaciousness and tranquillity in a room
- LUCE VERDE for prestigious interiors featuring natural materials and additional sound reduction
- SOFT and CIRCOLO are Light + Acoustic solutions featuring a fabric-based acoustic diffuser that noticeably reduces the reverberation time.
LUMINOUS CEILINGS
Lighting ceilings with sound-absorbing insulation are available in flexible sizes tailored to individual projects.
Foam + Perforated film
αw up to 0.7
GIOCO
Pendant lights with felt inserts for a noticeable improvement in room acoustics. (various sizes).
Felt αw up to 0.9
ACOUSTIC PANEL
Round or square acoustic panels, without lighting, which improve room acoustics through the use of acoustic fabric.
Fabric αw = 0,5
LUCE VERDE SERIES
Nicht nur eine Wohltat für das Auge, unsere LUCE VERDE Serie sorgt für eine natürliche Schallreduktion im Raum.
Moos αw bis 0,7
ACOUSTIC LIGHT PANEL
Licht und Akustik perfekt in einem Element kombiniert, rund oder eckig in verschiedenen Größen.
Stoff αw = 0,5
SOFT SERIES, CIRCOLO
Viele unserer runden, quadratischen, rechteckigen und elliptischen Leuchten lassen sich zusätzlich mit einem Schallabsorber ausstatten.
Stoff αw = 0,5
BAFFLE
A baffle-shaped light fitting, available with or without a light insert.
PET-Staple fibre (30% recycled material)
αw = 0,95
The significance of absorption classes for planning
For many applications in offices and communication rooms, absorption classes A or B are the target, as they enable a noticeable improvement in room acoustics.
Absorption class A
Absorption class A indicates particularly high acoustic effectiveness. Typical solutions include acoustic ceiling panels, baffle systems or large-scale acoustic luminaires, which are specifically designed to reduce reverberation time. They are primarily used in open-plan offices or larger rooms where significant acoustic improvement is required.
Absorption class B
Absorption class B refers to materials and solutions with good, but slightly lower, absorption performance. These include, in particular, textile acoustic elements and more compact lighting solutions. They are particularly suitable for smaller rooms or areas where targeted acoustic improvements are sufficient without the need for large-scale measures.
Materials with an αw < 0.15 are generally not considered to be sound-absorbing and do little to improve room acoustics.
An overview of absorption classes
The acoustic performance of a material is often defined in terms of so-called absorption classes. This is based on the weighted sound absorption coefficient αw as specified in DIN EN ISO 11654.
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Edison Sattler
Classification is carried out into the following categories:
- Class A: αw = 0.90 – 1.00 (very high absorption)
- Class B: αw = 0.80 – 0.85 (high absorption)
- Class C: αw = 0.60 – 0.75 (medium absorption)
- Class D: αw = 0.30 – 0.55 (low absorption)
- Class E: αw = 0.15 – 0.25 (very low absorption)<
This classification enables a rapid assessment of acoustic performance and serves as a guide for the design of rooms with specific requirements in terms of room acoustics.
Planning lighting and acoustics together
Are you working on a project with high standards in terms of room acoustics, light quality and a sense of calm in the design? SATTLER can help you develop a solution that integrates lighting and acoustic performance right from the start.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Acoustic Lights
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Acoustic luminaires are lighting systems incorporating sound-absorbing materials. They improve room acoustics whilst also serving as functional or atmospheric lighting.
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Typical areas of use include offices, meeting rooms, open-plan spaces, lobbies, educational spaces, and lounge and hospitality areas.
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The effect depends on the material, surface area, positioning and room geometry. When combined with other acoustic measures, the reverberation time can be significantly reduced and speech intelligibility noticeably improved.
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That depends on the size and use of the room. In smaller or carefully planned areas, they can already have a significant impact. In larger rooms, they are often part of a comprehensive acoustic design.
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Depending on the application, acoustic textiles, felt, PET fibres, foams or natural materials such as moss are used.
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Particularly for spaces where communication, concentration and the quality of the environment play an important role – such as offices, meeting rooms, foyers, study areas or lounges.
Author: Alexander Strifler
