This article was written by Frank Ulstrup for Byggematerialer.dk, issue no. 116 (November 24, 2022).
In 2015, Hz Acoustic ApS set out to develop high-quality acoustic systems that everyone could afford. Today, the company supplies solutions for everything from private homes to Christiansborg Palace – including the Workers’ Museum in Copenhagen.
Since 1879, the former meeting hall of the labor movement – now the Workers’ Museum on Rømersgade – has echoed with workers’ songs and rousing speeches.
But it’s unlikely that the acoustics ever sounded as good as they do today, following a comprehensive restoration of the museum’s central rooms. In addition to fresh paint and a new lighting and climate control system, several of the spaces have now been fitted with acoustic ceilings that reduce reverberation by 70-80%.
And that is far from insignificant when hosting fiery speeches – or, as is the case with the museum today, welcoming lively school classes, says Helge Hansen from the Frederikshavn-based company, Hz Acoustic ApS.
His company provided the solution – and a solution was certainly needed:
– I can hardly imagine what the acoustics were like in there before, with all those large, hard surfaces,” he says with a smile, explaining that the current solution, Hz Dual, consists of panels and plaster developed by the company itself:
– At the Workers’ Museum, we have chosen an acoustic panel consisting of a mineral wool board laminated with a specially designed 10 mm waterproof glass granulate board. In addition, there is the
Helge Hansen has more than 20 years of experience working with acoustic solutions but only founded Hz Acoustic seven years ago. Since then, he and his team have been dedicated to developing products that surpass the existing options on the market.
And looking at the company’s reference list, it seems they have achived their goal. Numerous buildings in Norway and Germany – as well as wide range of projects in Denmark – have had their acoustics improved using various Hz systems.
Helge Hansen points to several key factors when explaining the success:
“Our goal has really been to make good acoustic solutions financially accessible to everyone, and with a price per square meter for an installed panel ranging from 500 to 1000 DKK + VAT, I think we have succeeded,” he says, continuing:
“Additionally, it’s of course a sustainable product, cellulose-based, and therefore doesn’t pollute or burden the environment in the same way as, for example, quartz-based alternatives. I believe this is also one of the reasons why our products are in high demand when it comes to listed and heritage buildings,” says Helge Hansen.
At the Workers’ Museum in Copenhagen, we used our Hz Dual
acoustic panels together with Hz Acoustic Plaster 03.
This panel was particularly well suited for the project because the building is listed.
With Hz Dual, you get an acoustic solution that leaves only eight small screw holes per square meter,
which means the underlying structure can be preserved – an essential requirement in protected buildings.
Should the acoustic ceiling ever need to be removed, the original surfaces can be easily restored.
See our other references here.
