Armstrong Dune / Zentia Aruba Replacement | Rockfon Tropic

Armstrong Dune or Zentia Aruba? Find a high-performance replacement with Rockfon Tropic 

The ceiling tile you may know as Armstrong Dune or Zentia Aruba has a long legacy in UK buildings. 

For years, Armstrong Dune has been a familiar name in ceiling specifications across the UK. 

Following the administration of the Zentia business, many existing specifications and installed ceilings still carry that legacy – often under the name Zentia Aruba. If you’re responsible for maintaining one of those buildings, you may be asking a simple question: What do I use when I need to replace an Aruba or Armstrong Dune tile? 

For many applications, Rockfon Tropic provides a practical, high-performance alternative.

An Armstrong Dune specification may have subsequently become a Zentia Aruba specification. And in many buildings, the tiles are still in place today. Schools, offices and other public buildings can have hundreds or thousands of tiles installed. 

Facilities managers may simply keep a few boxes in stock and replace individual tiles when they become damaged, stained or need to be removed for access. You don’t necessarily need to replace the entire ceiling. Instead, you need a reliable alternative for the tiles that need replacing. 

That’s where Rockfon Tropic can help. 

A practical replacement for Armstrong Dune and Zentia Aruba 

Rockfon Tropic is a widely specified acoustic ceiling tile for education, community buildings, offices and other applications. It offers a different surface appearance to the textured, perforated surface associated with Aruba, so it should not be presented as a visually identical replacement. 

But when assessing a replacement tile, performance matters too. 

Rockfon Tropic provides: 

• A1 reaction to fire – non-combustible 

• Class A sound absorption 

• αw up to 1.00 

• NRC up to 1.00 

• Up to 100% relative humidity resistance 

• 86% light reflection 

• Stone wool construction 

• A wide range of sizes and edge details 

• Visible and semi-concealed grid options 

A1 non-combustible 

Fire safety is an important consideration when choosing a ceiling tile. 

Rockfon Tropic is classified A1 for reaction to fire according to EN 13501-1. You can learn more about the Reaction to Fire classification here. 

A1 is the highest reaction-to-fire classification and means the product is classified as non-combustible. 

Compared with the A2-s1,d0 classification listed for Zentia Aruba, this provides a significant performance advantage when considering a replacement product. 

Reaction-to-fire classification applies to the product. The fire resistance of a complete ceiling system depends on the complete construction and installation and should be assessed against the requirements of the specific project. 

Class A acoustic performance 

A ceiling does more than finish a room. Controlling reverberation and background noise can have a major impact on how a space feels and functions, especially in classrooms and school corridors. 

Rockfon Tropic provides Class A sound absorption, with an αw of up to 1.00. That makes it suitable for applications including classrooms, corridors, offices and communal spaces. 

High humidity resistance 

Buildings can experience significant changes in humidity throughout their lifetime. 

Rockfon Tropic offers up to 100% relative humidity resistance, with no visible deflection in high humidity. That helps provide confidence in demanding environments and during the construction or refurbishment process. 

Bright, clean appearance 

Rockfon Tropic provides 86% light reflection, helping contribute to bright, comfortable interior spaces. 

Its smooth white surface gives a clean, contemporary appearance. 

Performance information is based on published product information. Always check the exact product, size, edge detail and installation requirements for your project.