Middle Atlantic Nivo 9/16 1DROP Charcoal Gray - AUNV221DG2CHG

Middle Atlantic AUNV221DG2CHG Acoustic Ceiling Tile, 2x2, Charcoal Gray

Overview

The Middle Atlantic AUNV221DG2CHG is a 2' x 2' acoustic ceiling tile from the Nivo series, engineered for suspended grid ceiling systems in AV, conference, and security infrastructure environments. Made from 100% polyester PET felt in a charcoal gray finish, it mounts via a 9/16" lay-in grid method with a 1-inch drop profile — a low-profile fit that keeps ceiling assemblies clean and consistent where aesthetics and acoustic performance both matter. If you're finishing out a control room, conference space, or integrated security operations center, this tile slots directly into standard 9/16" T-bar grid without modification. Browse the full Middle Atlantic catalog for compatible furniture and infrastructure products.

Key Features

• 2' x 2' Lay-In Format (9/16" Grid): Fits directly into the most common commercial suspended ceiling grid without adapters or custom cuts. If your facility uses standard 9/16" T-bar — the default in most U.S. commercial construction — this drops in without modifications, saving installation time across large ceiling fields.
• 1-Inch Drop Profile: The AUNV221DG2CHG sits just 1 inch below the grid plane (with a 2-inch total height including the grid lip). That minimal intrusion matters in rooms with low ceiling clearances or where flush aesthetics are specified — it won't create a visually heavy ceiling break.
• 100% PET Felt Construction: Polyester felt absorbs mid- and high-frequency sound rather than reflecting it back into the room. In security operations centers, conference rooms, or integrated AV spaces where intelligibility matters, this reduces echo and reverberation without requiring a secondary acoustic treatment layer.
• Charcoal Gray Finish: A neutral dark tone that blends into modern control rooms and professional AV environments. Charcoal gray also minimizes the visual contrast of ceiling-mounted equipment — cameras, speakers, sensors — making it a practical choice for security integration projects where a clean ceiling plane is the goal.
• PET Felt Material Durability: 100% polyester construction resists moisture absorption better than mineral fiber alternatives and holds its shape over time. In environments with occasional humidity variation — like server rooms with fluctuating HVAC — this is a more stable choice than standard gypsum or mineral fiber tiles.
• Lightweight Shipping Profile: At 5 lbs shipping weight for the tile, the AUNV221DG2CHG is easy to handle during installation and won't overload standard suspended grid systems. For large-scale deployments across a full ceiling field, weight per unit matters for grid load calculations.

Integration & Compatibility

The AUNV221DG2CHG is designed for 9/16" lay-in T-bar ceiling grid systems — the standard found in the vast majority of commercial office, conference, and operations center builds in North America. It is a 2' x 2' tile, so it is not interchangeable with 2' x 4' grid bays without cutting. The 1-inch drop profile is fixed; if your installation requires a flush or deeper drop, verify that profile against your ceiling assembly before ordering. This tile pairs naturally with AV and security room infrastructure from the broader Middle Atlantic line. For rooms where you're also deploying IP cameras or ceiling-mounted audio equipment, the acoustic and aesthetic properties of the Nivo series provide a consistent finish that integrates with structured ceiling assemblies. Consult your NVR and rack infrastructure planning to ensure the ceiling treatment is specified early in the project — retrofit acoustic tile installation around existing cable runs is always harder than roughing it in during initial build-out. See the ceiling mounts and brackets category for related hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What ceiling grid type does the AUNV221DG2CHG require?

A: It requires a standard 9/16" lay-in T-bar suspended ceiling grid. This is the most common commercial grid type in North America. It will not fit 15/16" grid systems without an adapter.

Q: What are the exact tile dimensions?

A: The ceiling tile covers a 2' x 2' (approximately 60.33 x 60.33 cm) grid bay. The tile itself has a 2-inch height (including grid lip) and a 1-inch drop profile below the grid plane, with a 1-inch depth.

Q: What material is the AUNV221DG2CHG made from?

A: It is made from PET felt — 100% polyester. This provides acoustic absorption and resists moisture better than mineral fiber tiles.

Q: Can this tile be used in outdoor or high-humidity environments?

A: The product specifications do not include an environmental rating or outdoor listing. It is designed for interior suspended ceiling grid applications. Do not install in exposed outdoor or high-humidity environments without verifying suitability with Middle Atlantic directly.

Q: Is the AUNV221DG2CHG available in other colors or profiles?

A: This listing is specifically the charcoal gray, 1-inch drop variant. Middle Atlantic's Nivo series includes other color and drop profile options — check the full Middle Atlantic product line for alternatives.

James Everett

The AUNV221DG2CHG is one of those spec items that gets overlooked in project documentation but causes real friction when it's wrong. The 9/16" lay-in mount method is the key dimension — confirm your grid before ordering. I've seen installs where a facility mixed 9/16" and 15/16" grid in different zones, and the wrong tile order set a ceiling finish back by a week. The 1-inch drop profile on this unit keeps the ceiling plane low, which matters in rooms where you're also mounting IP cameras or ceiling speakers and need consistent sightlines.

Technical Highlights:

• 1-Inch Drop Profile: At just 1 inch of drop below the grid plane (2 inches total height), this tile keeps the ceiling assembly minimal — useful in rooms with 9-foot ceilings where every inch of clearance affects HVAC duct routing and equipment hang depth.
• PET Felt (100% Polyester): Unlike mineral fiber, PET felt doesn't crumble when cut for penetrations (camera conduit, speaker wire, sensor mounts). Cleaner field cuts mean less ceiling debris during installation and a better finished appearance around ceiling-mounted security hardware.
• 2' x 2' Coverage, 5 lb Shipping Weight: Light enough to handle solo during installation without a second set of hands, and the 60.33 x 60.33 cm footprint tiles evenly across standard commercial ceiling fields with no leftover cut waste at standard room dimensions.

Deployment Considerations:

• Verify grid type before ordering: this tile is specifically cut for 9/16" T-bar. A 15/16" grid will not hold it correctly, and the tile will either sit proud or drop through the bay.
• The charcoal gray finish is a fixed color for this SKU — if the rest of your ceiling field is white or off-white, plan a color break strategy or specify the correct Nivo color variant from the start. Mixing colors in a finished operations center ceiling is a difficult retrofit.

For security operations centers and integrated AV control rooms finishing out with ceiling-mounted IP cameras, speakers, and access control hardware, the AUNV221DG2CHG delivers a clean, acoustically appropriate ceiling field that handles field penetrations better than mineral fiber alternatives — spec it early in the project, not as an afterthought.