Described herein are building panels and surface covering systems useful for spaces requiring acoustic control and design flexibility, and methods to prepare the same. Such building panels and surface covering systems comprise an building panel having a first major surface opposite a second major surface and a side surface extending there-between, the acoustic building panel comprising a body having an upper surface opposite a lower surface and side surfaces extending there-between; backing having a first side opposite a second side and comprising denim web and a low-melt polyester bicomponent fiber; wherein the first side of the denim web backing is in contact with the upper surface of the body; and wherein the denim web backing has a web basis weight from about 1150 to about 1350 g/m2. In certain embodiments, building panels and surface covering systems have superior fire resistant qualities.