Measured case study · Social care facility
Blindeninstitut München
In the 81 m³ multi-purpose room, ceiling and wall absorbers reduced the average reverberation time from 1.47 to 0.41 seconds.
- Before
- 1.47 s
- After
- 0.41 s
- Reduction
- −72 %
For daycare centres & providers
Acoustics in daycare centres and kindergartens: calmer group rooms
Cloud absorbers, ceiling and wall elements shorten the reverberation in the group room. Children understand each other better, and staff no longer have to talk over the room.
- Pay by invoice for institutions
- Reply on the next working day
- Reaction to fire B-s1,d0 tested
In daycare group rooms, hard floors, large windows and few soft furnishings keep sound in the room for a long time. Anyone talking over this reverberation gets louder, and the others follow suit. That is how the noise level climbs over the course of the day. Ceiling and wall absorbers shorten the reverberation and break this cycle.
How loud is it in a daycare centre?
Measurements by the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA/DGUV) found daily averages of around 80 dB(A) for daycare staff.1 In a study by the University of Magdeburg, the level in group rooms averaged 75 dB(A), with peaks above 100 dB(A).2 Hearing is usually not damaged, but communication becomes much harder: 93% of daycare managers name the noise level as a factor that affects their health.3
What does occupational safety law say?
The German accident prevention regulation for childcare facilities requires room acoustics appropriate to the use of the room, binding for new builds, conversions and changes of use.4 The DGUV refers to the reverberation times in DIN 18041 and names sound-absorbing ceilings and absorber elements as effective measures.5 A guideline from the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state office assigns group rooms to usage type A4, because children without hearing impairment also need particularly good listening conditions. This results in a reverberation time of around 0.4 to 0.5 seconds in the occupied room.6
What does less reverberation achieve?
Speech becomes easier to understand, and nobody has to speak louder to be heard. According to Unfallkasse Berlin, bringing the reverberation down to a good level typically lowers the noise level by around 10 dB.7 As a rule of thumb, Unfallkasse NRW cites about 30% of the room surface as highly absorbent; in a furnished room, two thirds of the ceiling is often enough.8
Which solutions suit daycare centres?
The ceiling usually makes the biggest difference because it is the largest free surface: custom-made cloud absorbers or ceiling panels above play and dining areas. Wall absorbers add to this where children sit and talk, and acoustic art panels combine artwork and absorption. We check material certificates, mounting method and fire rating for each product before we send a quote.
Sources (in German)
- Maue, Burford, Hermanns (IFA/DGUV): Lärmbelastungssituation für das Personal in Kindertagesstätten, DAGA 2015
- Hohmann et al. (University of Magdeburg): Lärm in Kindertagesstätten als Risikofaktor, ASU 2023
- DKLK-Studie 2022, survey of 4,827 daycare managers
- DGUV Vorschrift 82, § 6, cited in Unfallkasse NRW: Lärmprävention in Kindertageseinrichtungen, 2019, p. 32
- DGUV Regel 102-602 Branche Kindertageseinrichtung, 2019, p. 27
- LAGuS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Akustik in Kindertageseinrichtungen, 2022, Table 2
- Unfallkasse Berlin: Auf dem Weg zur leisen Kita, 2024, p. 21
- Unfallkasse NRW: Lärmprävention in Kindertageseinrichtungen, 2019, p. 24
Completed rooms
See completed rooms
Measured projects are documented in detail. Approved customer images also show typical everyday applications.
Kundenstimme
„Thank you again to the whole FENNEXT team for the really great acoustic panels. They truly work wonders for all of us at Cherry Tree.“
Cherry Tree
Daycare centre in Prague (translated from German)
Kundenstimme
„The elements look really great on the wall. Many thanks :)“
Die Zappels
Childcare (translated from German)
Solutions by room
Every room sounds different
Daycare centre · group room with PET felt cloud absorbers
Where people talk all day
Group room
In the group room, the ceiling makes the biggest difference because it is the largest free surface. PET felt cloud absorbers hang above the play and seating areas, out of children's reach, and shorten the reverberation where it gets loud. Wall absorbers on the longest free wall complement them.
- Custom-made cloud absorbers, 50 mm PET felt
- Suspended, no building work
- Rectangular ceiling panels as an alternative
Daycare centre · play corner with cloud absorbers
Where children run around
Play and movement room
Soft play blocks, slides, noisy games: play and movement rooms produce the highest levels. Several cloud absorbers in different sizes absorb sound across the whole room instead of calming just one corner.
- Combine clouds in several sizes
- High up under the ceiling, out of children's reach
Blindeninstitut München · multi-purpose and group room
Where plates clatter
Dining area
Lots of voices, hard tables, clattering crockery: mealtimes are often the loudest part of the day. Ceiling panels above the table groups absorb the sound right where it is created.
- Ceiling panels above the tables
- Add wall absorbers on the free wall
Daycare centre · washroom with Hexa absorbers
Where tiles reflect everything
Washroom and bathroom
Tiled walls and floors make washrooms the most reverberant rooms in the building. A cluster of Hexa absorbers above the children's head height takes the edge off the peaks and adds colour to the room.
Daycare centre · reading corner with Hexa absorbers
Where it should be quiet
Reading and quiet area
Reading corners and quiet areas are often right inside the group room. Absorbers on the wall behind them dampen the sound from the rest of the room and make the corner noticeably calmer.
Ready to order
Sets for individual rooms
Wall panels
Velvet Hexa Shades (Set of 8)
€114,95 incl. VAT · free shipping within Germany →
Wall panels
Fiber Hexa (Set of 8 / Set of 10)
€112,95 incl. VAT · free shipping within Germany →
Wandpaneele
Velvet Pixel Shades (Set of 8)
€112,95 incl. VAT · free shipping within Germany →
Deckenelemente
Fiber Sky Deckenelemente
€229,95 incl. VAT · plus shipping →Example fit-out
What does a room need?
A first estimate based on our rule of thumb. We calculate the quote with your room data.
Your estimate
- Absorber area
- –
- of which wall, approx. 70 %
- – · Fiber Hexa (Set of 8 / Set of 10)
- of which ceiling, approx. 30 %
- – · Fiber Sky Deckenelemente
- Indicative material price
-
– net
– gross
Estimate without installation and shipping, based on current shop prices. Depending on room height, use and requirements, the need can be considerably higher.
How B2B projects start
Review the data before preparing a useful quote
Not every project needs an on-site appointment. Photos, dimensions and a short description are usually enough for a reliable first step.
- 01
Show the room
Send photos, a floor plan or plan link plus the room use and approximate dimensions.
- 02
Clarify requirements
We review questions, suitable product families and whether a measurement or site visit makes sense.
- 03
Receive a quote
You receive a clear quote with the available documents for your internal approval.
Frequently asked questions
What reverberation time should a daycare group room have?
The DGUV refers to DIN 18041. The guideline from the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state office assigns group rooms to the inclusive usage type A4, because children without hearing impairment also need particularly good listening conditions. For typical group rooms, this results in 0.40 to 0.48 seconds when occupied.
How much absorber area does a group room need?
As a rule of thumb, Unfallkasse NRW cites about 30% of the room surface as highly absorbent; in a furnished room, two thirds of the ceiling is often enough. The example set-up on this page gives you a first guide value; we calculate the exact requirement using your room data.
What are cloud absorbers?
Suspended cloud-shaped absorbers made of 50 mm thick PET felt, made to measure, for example 1200 × 800 or 1000 × 500 mm. We work out how many clouds and which sizes are right using your room data.
Do the 80 and 85 dB(A) noise limits apply in daycare centres?
The German Noise and Vibration Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance sets action values of 80 and 85 dB(A) over 8 hours. IFA measurements put daycare staff at around 80 dB(A) and find no risk to hearing. What matters in daycare centres is therefore the room acoustics: the German workplace rule ASR A3.7 explicitly names childcare facilities in its room acoustics requirements.
Does this also help against noise from neighbouring rooms?
No, and that is an important difference: sound absorbers improve the acoustics within the room by reducing echo and reverberation. Sound transmitted through walls, ceilings or windows requires structural sound insulation. If you are unsure what will solve your problem, ask us before you order.
Do daycare centres need flame-retardant acoustic elements?
Often yes, depending on the state building regulations and the facility — and as a rule in escape routes. Our PET felt absorbers are classified B-s1,d0 for reaction to fire under EN 13501-1, i.e. flame-retardant, tested as a free-hanging installation. We will send you the test report on request. Find out more on the Acoustic panels and fire safety page.
Is there funding for acoustics in daycare centres?
Until now this was possible under the German KiTa Quality Act in the field of action “child-friendly spaces”. This field was dropped in 2025, and the transition period ended on 31 December 2025. It is best to check directly with your federal state or provider whether they run their own programmes. For new builds and conversions, room acoustics requirements are mandatory anyway.
Can noise control be retrofitted?
Yes. Clouds and ceiling panels are suspended, wall absorbers are bonded. No building work is needed.
How much does noise control for a group room cost?
That depends on the room size, product and quantity. The example set-up on this page shows a guide price excluding and including VAT. We calculate the quote after a free initial assessment.
Can the daycare centre order on invoice?
Yes. For businesses and institutions, pay by invoice works via a personal quote. You can request samples and tender specification texts using the form.
Project consultation
We review your project
Send us the use, approximate room dimensions, photos or plans. We will respond with questions and a suitable next step.
- Purchase on account for businesses and institutions – via a personal quote
- Quote and available product documents for internal approval
- Initial advice usually based on photos, plans and room data
Request a free assessment
Name, email and a short description are enough. You can add photos or plans as a link.