The three main types of suspended ceiling tiles — mineral fibre, soft fibre and plasterboard — vary in composition, properties and functionality. Mineral fibre is the commercial workhorse, balancing fire safety and acoustic performance at a cost-effective price. Soft fibre tiles (as well as the related stone wool tiles) provide greater acoustic absorption. Plasterboard tiles have a harder, wipe-clean and more durable surface but offer lower acoustic performance. Selecting the right option ultimately depends on the requirements of the space such as noise, cleanliness, longevity and cost. This is how they compare.
Mineral fibre tiles — the default choice
For very understandable reasons, the ceiling tile that gets specified the most in UK commercial buildings is mineral fibre ceiling tiles. These tiles are made using a wet-felt process and combine mineral wool, perlite, clay and starch. They provide a good balance of sound absorption, sound attenuation between rooms, good light reflectance, and fire reaction classes that are suitable for most offices, schools and retail units.
Ranges such as Zentia Fission (formerly Armstrong Tatra), Zentia Dune eVo and Knauf AMF Thermatex Star sit in this category. They span the budget to mid-range sector and are the tiles you will encounter on most refurbishment jobs. If you need to replace a standard white commercial ceiling tile, this is most likely what you are looking at.
Soft fibre and stone wool tiles – the most important scenario for acoustics
When dealing with echo, speech privacy, and open-plan noise control, more sophisticated acoustic tiles justify their use. These include stone wool tiles like.Rockfon and glass-wool tiles such as Ecophon. Mineral fibre tiles do not always achieve this highest rating, which is Class A sound absorption.
These tiles are indicated for use in open plan offices, call centres, healthcare and educational settings where the ability to control reverberation directly impacts the usability of the space. They are usually more expensive than standard mineral fibres, but in a room where the acoustics are particularly demanding, the difference is immediately noticeable.
Plasterboard tiles — durability and hygiene
Plasterboard ceiling tiles including the British Gypsum, replace acoustic softening and conceal a hard, compact, and easily wipe-clean surface. Their faced vinyl and high reflectance finish makes them simple to maintain and long lasting, which is the reason for their popularity in retail, commercial kitchen, and other areas where ceiling durability and washability is required rather than high absorption.
When it comes to open-plan offices where noise is an issue, they’re not the right answer because a hard surface reflects sound instead of absorbing it. However, in the right environment, they outlast and outperform softer tiles in terms of resilience.
Quick comparison
How to choose on site
Let’s begin with the room. If you are trying to match an existing ceiling in a typical office or corridor space, this will almost always be the case for mineral fibre. If there are noise or echo concerns, consider moving up to a stone wool or glass wool acoustic tile. If the surface is to be cleaned or is in a humid or greasy location, then a plasterboard or moisture resistant tile will be a more appropriate choice. Unless you have other evidence, you are generally safe to match the existing conditions — the original specifier is likely to have a rationale for their tile choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is soft fibre the same as mineral fibre?
Mineral fibre tiles are composed of wet-felted mineral wool and provide balanced all-round performance. Soft fibre and stone wool tiles are designed to deliver superior acoustic performance and as such are softer and more sound absorbent.
Are plasterboard ceiling tiles fire rated?
Although plasterboard tiles may give you a soft, durable surface, with good reaction-to-fire performance, the fire ratings are determined by the specific item and the grid system employed. Always refer to the manufacturer datasheet for the combinations of tiles and systems.
What is the best tile option for open plan offices?
For the purposes of noise control in open-plan spaces, the best performing Class A acoustic tiles are Rockfon and Ecophon. Whereas Standard mineral fibre is good enough for less demanding offices and is less expensive.
Is mixing different types of tiles on one ceiling possible?
For a uniform look and expected functionality, select just one tile type in each continuous ceiling plane. Different areas, such as a kitchen or office, may have different, suitable tiles.
Find the comparison of all tile types on our Suspended Ceiling Tiles category page, with all major UK brands in stock.
Looking for tiles suited to a particular space? Contact our team at01939 251 450 for straight advice, or request a bulk quote for your project.
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