When designing a performance space, acoustics are often one of the most overlooked parts of the project. Many schools, churches, theaters, and multipurpose halls struggle with echo, excessive reverberation, and poor speech clarity caused by hard surfaces such as concrete walls, drywall, wood flooring, and exposed ceilings.

One of the most effective and visually appealing ways to help control sound in these environments is through the use of heavier acoustic theatrical drapery fabrics.

At Equus Fabrics, we regularly supply fire-rated stage curtain fabrics for schools, churches, theaters, AV companies, and commercial performance spaces across Canada.

Why Acoustics Matter in Performance Spaces

Large open rooms naturally reflect sound. Without proper acoustic control, spaces can become difficult for:

• speeches
• live performances
• assemblies
• music
• presentations
• worship services
• theatrical productions

Common acoustic problems include:

• echo
• harsh sound reflections
• poor speech intelligibility
• listener fatigue
• excessive reverberation

This is especially common in:

• school gyms converted into stages
• churches
• auditoriums
• black box theaters
• community centers
• multipurpose halls

Do Curtains Actually Help Reduce Echo?

Yes — especially heavier velour stage curtains with fullness.

Unlike thin decorative drapery, theatrical velours are dense fabrics designed to absorb portions of reflected sound energy instead of simply reflecting sound back into the room.

Several factors affect acoustic performance:

• fabric weight
• fullness
• installation method
• air space behind the curtain
• overall coverage area

In most cases, heavier velours with deeper folds perform significantly better acoustically than lighter flat fabrics.

Why Fullness Is Important

One of the biggest mistakes people make with stage curtains is not using enough fullness.

A flat curtain absorbs considerably less sound than a curtain with proper folds and depth.

Typical theatrical fullness includes:

• 50% fullness
• 75% fullness
• 100% fullness

Additional fullness creates:

• deeper folds
• greater surface area
• improved sound absorption
• richer visual appearance

This is one reason professional theater curtains appear heavily pleated instead of flat.

Acoustic Performance Comparison

Below is a general comparison of commonly used theatrical velours tested with 100% fullness installation.

15 oz vs 23 oz IFR Velour

Two of the most common theatrical curtain options are 15 oz IFR velour and 23 oz IFR velour.

15 oz IFR Velour

15 oz IFR velour is commonly used for:

• school stages
• churches
• divider curtains
• portable stage systems
• multipurpose halls

Benefits include:

• lighter handling
• good opacity
• economical pricing
• noticeable acoustic improvement

23 oz IFR Velour

23 oz IFR velour is typically preferred for more demanding acoustic and theatrical applications.

Benefits include:

• richer appearance
• improved acoustic performance
• better opacity
• stronger light control
• heavier theatrical folds
• more luxurious presentation

This fabric is commonly used in:

• theaters
• auditoriums
• performance halls
• black box theaters
• cinema-style installations

Understanding NRC & SAA Ratings

When comparing acoustic fabrics, two common measurements are:

NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient)

NRC measures how much sound a material absorbs on average.

The higher the number:

• the greater the sound absorption.

SAA (Sound Absorption Average)

SAA is another acoustic measurement based on multiple tested frequencies.

Again:

• higher values generally indicate stronger sound absorption performance.

For comparison:

• standard decorative fabrics typically perform much lower acoustically than heavier theatrical velours.

Fire Rated Fabrics for Canadian Projects

Most schools, churches, theaters, and public buildings require flame-resistant fabrics.

Common standards include:

• CAN/ULC-S109
• NFPA 701

Our theatrical fabrics are commonly used in commercial and institutional environments requiring compliance with these standards.

IFR (Inherently Flame Retardant) fabrics are especially popular because the flame resistance is built directly into the fiber rather than being applied as a temporary treatment.

Benefits of IFR fabrics include:

• long-term flame resistance
• no retreatment required
• easier maintenance
• consistent performance over time

Are Velour Stage Curtains Blackout?

Heavy theatrical velours — especially black 23 oz velour — provide very high opacity and strong light control for stage environments.

While standard velours are not technically blackout fabrics with blackout backing, they are commonly used in theaters and performance spaces where significant light reduction is required.

Common Applications

Acoustic theatrical fabrics are commonly used for:

• school performance halls
• churches
• auditoriums
• lecture halls
• theaters
• music rooms
• black box theaters
• divider curtains
• AV installations
• home cinemas

Choosing the Right Acoustic Curtain Fabric

The best acoustic fabric depends on:

• budget
• appearance
• acoustic goals
• stage requirements
• fullness
• installation type

For many schools and churches:

• 15 oz IFR velour offers a strong balance between cost and performance.

For higher-end theatrical and performance applications:

• 23 oz IFR velour is often the preferred choice due to its richer appearance and improved acoustic performance.

At Equus Fabrics, we can assist with:

• acoustic stage fabrics
• IFR velours
• fire-rated theatrical fabrics
• custom fabrication
• stage curtains
• curtain track systems
• commercial and institutional projects across Canada