Basotect melamine foam, which is known as a lightweight acoustic insulation material in automotive and interior construction applications, is expanding its application range into the acoustic treatment of elevators. In a recent project with ThyssenKrupp Elevator and National Elevator Cab and Door, the melamine foam was used to reduce the noise levels in elevator cabins of a high-rise building in New York City. Despite the very high speed of the elevators (up to 23 mph), the noise level inside the cabin is lower than 50 decibels, which is quieter than a conversation between two people.
Prior to the actual construction of these super-fast high rise elevators, the material was thoroughly tested in a mock-up elevator constructed by National Elevator in cooperation with Soundcoat, a subsidiary of the Recticel Group and a supplier of thermo-acoustic solutions, and acoustic consultant Frank Kirschner.
Basotect’s open-cell structure gives it high sound absorption capacity. Not only did Basotect meet the acoustic absorption requirements, it also met other design criteria. The material meets Class A for flame spread and smoke density according to ASTM E84. In addition, it could not flake off fibers or particles when exposed to the high airflow as the cab was moving. In order to reduce the energy requirements for the total operation from start to stop, it was very important that the cab be as light as possible, as well. Basotect’s low density of 0.55 pound per cubic foot contributes to the cab meeting the requirement.