Construction Guide

Local Alternatives

Damascus supply chain fallbacks for every material category. When primary-specification products are unavailable or import-prohibitive, use these verified alternatives.

Acoustic Insulation

RolePrimary SpecLocal AlternativeVerification
Wall cavityRockwool RWA45 50mmIsover (local distributors)NRC ≥ 0.85 at 500Hz
Wall cavity (thick)Rockwool RWA45 70mmLocally-produced glasswool equivalentNRC ≥ 0.85 at 500Hz
Ceiling / plenumRockwool ProRox SL 930 100mmIsover 100mm equivalentNRC ≥ 0.90

Gypsum Board

Primary SpecLocal AlternativeVerification
Knauf 12.5mm standardGyproc Syria (local production)Density ≥ 8.5 kg/m²
Knauf 12.5mm standardAl-Arabiya gypsum boardDensity ≥ 8.5 kg/m²
Knauf 16mm (Wall 3)No local equivalent at 16mmImport required for Wall 3

Green Glue Compound

Primary
Green Glue Compound
Application
2-tube coverage per 4×8 sheet
Alternative
QuietGlue Pro (same application method)
⚠ Local availability
NO local equivalent — must import
Minimum order
12 tubes for Wall 7 (both faces + D4 frame)

Acoustic Sealant

Primary SpecLocal AlternativeNotes
Tremco acoustic sealantSilicone sealant (construction grade, non-hardening)Acceptable for non-critical joints only
[AC] Tremco REQUIRED for all [AC] penetration seals — do not substitute. Local silicone is acceptable only for decorative/non-acoustic joints.

RSIC Clips / Resilient Mounting

Primary SpecAlternativeNotes
RSIC-1 clips (concrete walls)Kinetics RIM clipsImport required — no local equivalent
RSIC-V (diagonal walls)Kinetics RIM clipsImport required — no local equivalent

Ceiling Tiles

RoomPrimary SpecLocal AlternativeNRC
VO / Control / StudioRockfon Sonar E (600×600mm)Armstrong Optima0.90 → 0.85 (slightly lower but acceptable)
Editing SuiteArmstrong Ultima+ (600×600mm)Any 600×600mm mineral tile0.70 → minimum 0.65

Sylomer SR28 (Float Floor)

Primary
Sylomer SR28 (Getzner Werkstoffe)
⚠ Local availability
Import required — no local equivalent
Minimum spec
28 kg/m³ polyurethane, natural frequency ≤12Hz under design load
Contact
Getzner Werkstoffe regional distributor

Panel Fabric

Primary SpecLocal AlternativeTest Method
Acoustically transparent fabric (Class A fire rated)Any lightweight woven fabric from local textile marketsHold to light — should see through
Avoid: Vinyl, rubber-backed, or coated fabrics that block sound. These will reduce panel NRC by 30–50%.

Door Hardware

ComponentPrimary SpecLocal Alternative
Acoustic door seals (perimeter + drop seal)Pemko or equivalentImport required — no local equivalent
Door hinges3× heavy-duty stainless (D1: 4×)Standard heavy-duty sufficient
Note: The seal system IS the acoustic performance — the door leaf provides mass, but the seals provide the actual STC rating. A $2,000 door with bad seals performs worse than a $500 door with perfect seals.