Classrooms
Most classrooms are rectangular and employ concrete block wall construction interspersed hard surfaces such as blackboards and windows. This provides the ideal ‘spawning pond’ for echo and excessive reverberation. As the reflected sound increases, intelligibility decreases to the point where hearing becomes strained and learning difficult.
The solution is easy: add Broadway acoustic panels to the walls wherever possible. This will attenuate the reflections and improve intelligibility.
To determine the coverage, we have created a series of easy-to-use tables that enable you to choose between various degrees of treatment depending on the available budget and the desired outcome. Most teachers find that a ‘light’ level of treatment provides sufficient sound abatement while keeping the budget in check. If budgets are tight, start with minimal treatment and then add more panels as funds become available.
Greater number of panels are used to control excessive echo caused by hard surfaces like mirrors.
Placing panels so that each parallel surface has some treatment will help reduce flutter echo.
Choosing the type of panel is determined by the type of sound you are trying to control and the available space. Because classrooms are typified by sound in the voice range, 1" thick Broadway panels are usually selected as these provide excellent absorption in the mid range while being more affordable and less obtrusive than the thicker 2" type. These are interspersed throughout the classroom with a greater density of panels positioned across from highly reflective surfaces like windows to reduce chatter echo.
Since most rooms are rectangular, if at all possible, mount the acoustic panels on opposing parallel wall surfaces in such a way that the echo will not sustain itself. This is done by simply drawing a vector across the room and treating one end. The more panels you put up, the quieter and more controlled the room will be.
Greater number of panels are used to control excessive echo causeby hard surfaces like windows.
Placing panels so that each parallel surface has some treatment will help reduce flutter echo.
Adding acoustic treatment will not only reduce ear fatigue for those that are teaching, but will improve communication between those that are in the room and make it easier to learn.
For more details, we recommend that you read the Classroom Acoustics reports written by the Architectural Acoustics of the Acoustical Society of America. Download Report (PDF 680k)
Determining Coverage
To determine the coverage, we have created a series of easy-to-use tables that enable you to choose between various degrees of treatment depending on your budget and the desired outcome. Most facilities find that a ‘light’ level of treatment provides sufficient sound abatement while keeping the budget in check. If budgets are tight, start with minimal treatment and then add more panels as funds become available.
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