• ACOUSTICAL CHECKLIST BY PROJECT TYPE

• BALLROOMS
• Goal: To provide a multi-purpose space that can successfully control noise appropriate for
meetings and receptions, both large and small.
• Recommended Reverberation Time: 1 - 1.2 seconds
• - Absorptive materials are needed to reduce the reverberation time, and are most
appropriate when applied to the ceiling.
• - Be cautious when designing ceiling intricacies as they may cause unwanted reflections.
• - Movable partition walls covered with fabric alone do not guarantee absorption.
• - Once divided by movable partitions, the acoustics in the new space can change.
• - Control exterior and background noise levels from HVAC.
• - Maintain an elegant appearance by addressing acoustical issues during the design
phase.
• CINEMAS
• Goal: To properly use absorption, working with the sound system, to provide the best
acoustical environment for every moviegoer.
• Recommended Reverberation Time: 0.8 - 1.2 seconds*
• - Background noise levels should be kept to a minimum. Two primary potential noise sources
are mechanical equipment (HVAC) and outdoor noise. *
• - Excessive room length should be avoided.
• - Walls, except those close to the screen, should be absorptive.
• CONFERENCE/BOARD ROOMS
• Goal: To provide a space where a variety of communications styles can be effectively used.
• Recommended Reverberation Time: 1 second
• - Limit the amount of reflections to keep speech intelligibility at a maximum.
• - Absorptive materials are needed to reduce the reverberation time.
• - Avoid reflective parallel surfaces.
• - Control exterior and background noise level.
• - Ensure flexibility for future multi-media advancements.
• - A sound system may be necessary.
• CORRIDORS
• Goal: To eliminate excessive traveling of noise which is common in hallways, particularly in
sensitive or confidential offices such as attorneys, psychiatrists, and personnel managers.
• Recommended Reverberation Time: 0.8 - 1.2 seconds.
• - Be cautious with curved surfaces as they lead to the undesirable acoustical condition known as
creep.
• - If surfaces are left untreated, a corridor can act as a megaphone, transmitting conversations
into nearby offices.
• - Surfaces should be absorptive to maintain a low reverberation time. Horizontal FABRI TRAK®
panels are an excellent solution for this application.
• HOME THEATERS
• Goal: To adapt an existing space in a typical home, to provide the best acoustical environment
possible for speech and music.
• Recommended Reverberation Time: 0.8 - 1.2 seconds
• - Verify that ratio of room dimensions will not cause unwanted reflections.
• - Surfaces should be absorptive to maintain a low reverberation time. FABRITRAK® works well
on both wall and ceiling surfaces.
• - Please see Checklist for Cinemas.
• LECTURE HALLS
• Goal: To allow all audience members to easily hear and understand the presenter.
• Recommended Reverberation Time: 1 Second
• - The front wall and ceilings can be reflective aiding sound in reaching everyone.
• - Absorptive material on the back and side walls will help reduce the reverberation time and
unwanted reflections. Absorptive FABRITRAK® can be used to visually match the reflective
FABRITRAK®.
• - Excessive background noise levels caused by HVAC systems can greatly degrade speech
intelligibility.
• - Splay the side walls to eliminate flutter echoes.
• LIBRARIES & MUSEUMS
• Goal: To limit noise levels, allowing users to read and contemplate without disturbances.
• Recommended Reverberation Time: 0.8 - 1 second
• - If domes or other concave surfaces are desired, they must be treated with absorptive material
to reduce unwanted reflections.
• - Absorptive materials are needed to reduce the reverberation time.
• - Books are not very absorptive.
• - If possible, place noisy equipment and activities in remote areas.
• OPEN OFFICE PLANS
• Goal: To Provide an environment free from distractions, by reducing noise levels and the
understanding of overheard, nearby conversations.
• Recommended Reverberation Time: 0.75 seconds
• - Avoid direct sound pathways between cubicles, by proper placement of wall partitions.
• - Without controlling reflections off the ceiling and perimeter walls, partitions can be ineffective.
• - Absorptive partitions, ceiling tile, and wall treatments will be necessary to control the
reverberation time. FABRITRAK® can be used on all three surfaces.
• - Reasonable precautions should be taken to insulate against noise from adjacent rooms,
machinery, ducts, and the outside.
• RECORDING STUDIOS
• Goal: To have complete control over all acoustical aspects of a given space.
• Recommended Reverberation Time: 0.5 second
• - Absorptive materials must be used to control the reverberation time over a wide range of
frequencies.
• - Sound must be both absorbed and diffused.
• - HVAC noise must be reduced to an absolute minimum.
• - An unusually high degree of isolation from extraneous noise vibrations is need.
• THEATERS
• Goal: To properly balance absorption and reflection to provide a favorable acoustical environment, similar to worship centers. One must address both
the need to hear and understand speech, and the desire to have a pleasant space for music.
• Recommended Reverberation Time: 1.0 - 1.3 seconds
• - Control the reverberation time in the room by adding absorptive material.
• - Control the reverberation time on the stage.
• - Splay or use irregular surfaces on the side walls to avoid flutter echoes.
• - Don't forget the ceiling. It should be faceted for better dispersion of sound.
• - Remember the space will be less absorptive when only half full, since the audience itself is absorptive. By using absorptive seating areas, the
reverberation time will remain consistent regardless of the audience size.
• - Be sure openings, such as doorways, are properly sealed.
• - The balcony should be no deeper than twice its height.
•  
•  
• WORSHIP CENTERS
• Goal: Consider and address both the need to hear and understand speech and the desire to have a pleasant space for music.
• Recommended Reverberation Time: 1.2 - 3.5 seconds
• - Address lower frequency or bass sound.
• - Background noise levels should be kept to a minimum. Two primary potential noise sources are mechanical equipment (HVAC) and outdoor noise.
• - Reflections should be carefully monitored, especially if domes or concave surfaces are incorporated in the design.
• - The seating area should be absorptive. This allows the acoustical environment to remain constant regardless of the number of attendees.
• - A sound-amplification system may be necessary.
• Ranges dramatically for different worship center projects. The recommendation will be influenced by the musical program type and if congregational
singing is desired. Highly reverberant spaces are desirable for some type of musical programs. However, reverberation time of 1.2 - 1.5 seconds is
appropriate for a number of worship centers. This allows an adequate enhancement of the music program, and can allow adequate understanding of
speech with an appropriate sound system.
• FABRITRAK® is an excellent solution, for all applications, when absorptive material is required.
Basics of Room Acoustics

- We know that sound from a point source moves in concentric circles in the outdoors almost
without obstruction.

- In the indoors, it will be received my many surrounding surfaces that will change it’s level,
intensity, loudness either to the better ( have more louder sound or more clearer) or to the
worse ( have more echoes and less clarity).

- To better understand the behaviour of sound in interiors of buildings we can learn what are
the responses of sound waves in buildings.

- For simplicity we can assume that sound moves in straight rays, perpendicular to the
wave front, therefore we can apply the principles of light on sound waves.

Sound Reflection:

- The quality of Sound Reflection depends greatly on it’s wave length and the dimensions
of the receiving surface.

- If the receiving surface dimensions are greater than sound wavelength then the
reflection follows light reflection principles.
- That is angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection.
- The angle of incidence, angle of reflection and the normal on the point of reflection are all
on the same plane.
Sound Absorption:

- It is the property of some materials and masses to absorb sound. Or it is the

reduction of sound level as a result of contacting/passing on a surface.

Absorption Co-efficient:

- It is that portion of incident sound that the receiving surface hasn’t reflected.

- It depends on sound frequencies, type of materials receiving sound and their

construction.

- Sound absorption is different from sound Isolation, many sound absorbing

surfaces have poor sound isolation properties.

- Sound absorbing materials can reduce noise levels by 10 db. (they are
relatively expensive).

Fibrous Absorbers:

- Fibrous materials are good for general sound absorption, they can be made from
metallic fibres and tissues.
Fibrous Absorbers:

- Fibrous materials are good for general sound absorption, they can be made from
metallic fibres and tissues.

- Their ability for absorption depends on material thickness and sound frequency.

- With more thickness there would be more absorption especially in low

frequencies.

- Thickness can be increased by increasing the gap between absorbing surface

and the fixing Wall/ceiling.

- With high frequencies absorption the properties of the surface finish and
composition of the materials are the most important factors.
Membrane Absorbers:

- These are panels or sheets that vibrate according to sound and some of the
sound transfer with the material and the rest turns into heat.

- The main difference between Fibrous and Membrane surfaces is that the later is
better in absorbing low Frequencies.

Sound Echo's and Sound death:

- In any room it is important to finish it surfaces with the right absorbing

materials.

- Too little absorption can lead to more sound Echoes.

- Too high absorption can lead to sound Death.

- In both cases there would not be optimum clarity for sound in the space.
- Total Absorption:
- Is the total summation for all the absorption occurring in a room.

- Calculated by multiplying the surface area of the absorbing surface with it’s
absorption co-efficient. Then making the total summation for this.

- Audience and furniture absorption is estimated per person/unit.

-Reverberation:

- Is sound multiple reflections (i.e., thousands) in a single second .

- Affects sound clarity and should be reduced to a minimum.

-Reverberation Time:

- Time needed for sound to be reduced by 6o dbs.

- Depends on Room total Absorption and Room Volume.

Sabine Formula:

Actual Reverberation time (T) in Seconds = 0.16V / A

V= Room Volume.
A= Total Absorption in m2
- Optimum Reverberation Time:

- The required reverberation time can be determined by hall dimensions and

use.

- The optimum reverberation time can be arrived at from subjective experiments

to a given space.

- Stephens and Bates, have developed a formula for optimum reverberation time.
it’s an approximation that is best suited to frequencies of 500Hz.

t  r (0.0123 v  0.1070)
T = Optimum reverberation time in Seconds.
V =Volume of hall in m3.
R = 4, for Speech halls
= 5, for Orchestra Music
= 6, for Coral Music.

It is recommended to add 40% to the resulting T from this equation in low frequencies.