How to Reduce Reverberation in Commercial Applications

The advice provided in the article is suited to the following commercial applications (by no means conclusive):

• Auditoriums/concert halls and conference rooms
• Schools/classrooms and other learning centres/institutions
• Gyms/fitness centres and/or swimming pools
• Restaurants and other hospitality venues
• Veterinarians, kennels/catteries and council pounds/adoption centres

Before we launch too far ahead, let’s go over a little theory. It’s definitely sound! The first thing you need to know in dealing with the issue of reverberation is how it comes about it, ie. the definition of reverberation.

In a general sense, reverberation refers to a reflection of light or sound waves, or a wide-reaching impact of an action. The energy of sound typically bounces off its surrounding surfaces, such as ceilings, floors, furniture, and even humans located nearby. This reflected sound takes longer to reach the ear, alongside a loss of the sound’s original intensity as it gets absorbed by these various objects. These reflections of the original source of the sound (signals) mix together to form the experience of reverberation, which is perceived as a single sonic event for the listener.

But why is reverberation such a pain in the proverbial? While a small amount of reverberation can add a certain ambience, a welcoming amount of context and even a dramatic resonance (in the right application), the negative aspects of reverb come down to a decrease in sound clarity. Sound clarity is a term coined by acoustical engineers, which looks at the proportion of sound output that a listener can readily understand. In a large empty space, sound waves have far more propensity to bounce. This high level of reflected sound typically will compromise speech clarity for most audiences. These effects can occur even when reverberations are at sub-audible levels. You can just imagine how much reverberation could bother a teacher trying to impart a lesson or a musician trying to record a song in a sound studio!

What is the best soundproofing material?

At Soundproof Warehouse we have a number of soundproofing products that can help you handle the problem of reverberation. Whether the problem is inside or out, there’s an appropriate solution to suit any circumstance. It doesn’t matter if you own or operate a leisure facility, music studio, conference centre/rooms, auditorium/concert hall, school/learning centre or even veterinarian practice or kennel/cattery, we can help you create a more pleasant experience for you, your staff, your customers and the surrounding neighbourhood. Get Expert Advice Today

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VERY IMPORTANT: Acoustic panels of any type that are used in a public area must have compliance to the Building Code of Australia for Fire Hazard Safety (BCA C1.10). ASTM (American), BS (British) or any other country’s test results are not recognised. An appropriate classification to AS 3837, AS 1530.3 or AS/ISO 9705 is required.

The integrity of acoustic structures is very dependent on installation techniques. For example, a small crack between the top of a wall and a ceiling can reduce the effective sound transmission loss of a wall from Rw 50 to Rw 40. Therefore, the use of contractors that are experienced in acoustic construction is encouraged.

Furthermore, two insulation products may have the same thermal R rating but the sound absorption of one may be entirely deficient, therefore the use of materials and equipment that are supported by acoustic laboratory test data is encouraged.