BASWA Core | Thermally Conductive Acoustic Plaster for TABS Buildings
Arthur Acoustics provides specialist specification and certified UK installation of BASWA Core, a thermally conductive, seamless acoustic plaster system engineered specifically for buildings utilizing Concrete Core Activation and Thermally Active Building Systems (TABS). Where conventional acoustic ceilings insulate and block thermal radiation from exposed concrete soffits, BASWA Core conducts heating and cooling energy efficiently into the room while delivering high-performance broadband sound absorption.
Why Architects and MEP Engineers Choose BASWA Core
Exposed thermoactive concrete slabs provide sustainable, low-energy radiant heating and cooling, yet bare concrete creates severe reverberation and poor speech intelligibility. BASWA Core solves this architectural conflict by allowing full-surface acoustic coverage without sacrificing thermal efficiency.
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High Thermal Conductivity for TABS. Transfers thermal energy from water-cooled or heated concrete soffits directly into the occupied space, maintaining up to 80% heating and 74% cooling efficiency across covered surfaces.
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Class B Broadband Sound Absorption. Eliminates concrete echo and improves speech clarity with certified sound absorption up to αw 0.80 (Class B).
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Seamless Monolithic Aesthetics. Covers activated concrete ceilings and walls across expansive spans with zero visible joints, baffles, or suspended ceiling grids.
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Flexible Retrofit or In-Situ Installation. Can be cast directly into fresh concrete slabs during shell construction or bonded retroactively to existing concrete soffits during interior fit-out.
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Choice of Marble-Sand Finishes. Finished in a two-coat build-up using your choice of 0.7 mm Base, 0.5 mm Fine, or 0.3 mm Top natural marble aggregate, available in architectural white (~NCS S 0500-N) or custom RAL and NCS colours.
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Non-Combustible & Sustainable. Carries a Euroclass A2-s1, d0 non-combustible fire rating, is 100% VOC-free, and supports BREEAM and LEED sustainability targets.
How the BASWA Core System Works
Unlike standard mineral wool acoustic boards that trap heat, BASWA Core uses a specially engineered, pressure-resistant glass fibre acoustic panel pre-coated with recycled glass granulate and designed with high thermal conductivity.
Our accredited Arthur Acoustics craftsmen bond and mechanically fix the BASWA Core panels directly to the thermoactive concrete soffit. Once the surface grooves and panel joints are filled with thermally conductive BASWA Fill Core compound and precision-sanded flat, a two-coat layer of microporous marble-sand plaster is hand-trowelled across the ceiling. Radiant thermal energy passes effortlessly through the conductive system into the room, while sound waves enter the open plaster pores and are absorbed inside the acoustic panel.
Technical Specifications & Thermal Performance
BASWA Core is engineered to meet demanding acoustic, thermal, and fire safety standards:
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System Thicknesses. Available in 30 mm and 50 mm two-coat profiles.
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Thermal Transmittance (U-Value). 4.78 W/(m²·K) for the 30 mm system; 3.87 W/(m²·K) for the 50 mm system.
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Sound Absorption Performance. Certified Class B sound absorption up to αw 0.80.
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Surface Finish Options. Two-coat application available in 0.7 mm (Base), 0.5 mm (Fine), or 0.3 mm (Top) natural marble aggregate.
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Fire Classification. Euroclass A2-s1, d0 (non-combustible) to DIN EN 13501-1.
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System Weight. Approximately 14 kg/m² to 18 kg/m² depending on profile depth.
Ideal Applications for BASWA Core
Combining concrete core tempering with seamless acoustics makes BASWA Core the benchmark solution for low-energy contemporary architecture:
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Commercial Offices & Corporate Headquarters. Enables exposed-soffit TABS buildings to achieve crisp speech intelligibility and calm acoustics without hanging acoustic islands.
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Universities, Libraries & Research Centres. Controls reverberation in large concrete lecture halls, atriums, and study spaces while preserving radiant thermal comfort.
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Museums, Galleries & Civic Buildings. Delivers clean, architectural concrete-soffit lines alongside strict acoustic and climate performance.
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Sustainable Residential & Mixed-Use Developments. Supports net-zero carbon strategies by pairing heat-pump-driven concrete activation with durable, VOC-free finishes.
Nationwide Specification & Installation by Arthur Acoustics
Arthur Acoustics collaborates with architects, structural engineers, and MEP consultants from early RIBA design stages through to commissioning. Operating from our Henlow Specification Centre on the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire border and our St Albans office, we provide CAD interface detailing and certified installation across London, Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester, and throughout the United Kingdom.
Request a Sample or Book a Technical Consultation
Inspect the thermally conductive BASWA Core panel construction and compare our 0.7 mm, 0.5 mm, and 0.3 mm marble finishes firsthand. Contact our technical team to request sample boxes, U-value data sheets, or a consultation at our Henlow showroom.
Call us on 01462 534610 or email baswa@arthuracoustics.co.uk to speak with a specialist.