Where to begin!
As we know, school, college, tuition classes and university classrooms are breeding grounds for future physicians, entrepreneurs, teachers, and a slew of other professionals, it is important for students to hear properly in order to understand their lecturers . Poor acoustic performance in schools has shown negative impact in learning. Today, where any educational environment requires an effective learning, good room acoustics is necessary.
How are learning environments affected by noise?
It is important to recognize that the problem is not only for the students but also for a teacher. “When noise levels are high, tutors are less inclined to talk with students or will talk with them for shorter durations.” Teachers’ voices can grow weary when they have to raise their voices to drown out background noise. Working in this setting on a regular basis can lead to irritation and even burnout among teachers.
The three crucial sources of noise that we need to look upon are- reverberation, airborne sound sources and impact sound sources.
Reverberation is a typical issue that has a substantial effect on the learning environment. Challenges such as participatory learning where students need to discuss amongst each other, means that reverberation and ambient noise levels will rise drastically within a classroom, or in the adjacent classes and if the space is not handled, the noise levels will impede focus and learning abilities.
Airborne sound sources have an impact on educational spaces where sound travels between rooms inside a structure, notably via separating walls or floors. This is especially true when a classroom is adjacent to a music room or a library, both of which are adjacent to a busy corridor.
Impact sound sources, such as footsteps, are sudden noises that travel through a floor structure. To ensure that pupils’ movements in the classroom above are not heard below, impact noise must be considered.
Now you know how important classroom acoustics is!
Timber Acoustics suggests that every classroom or a space in a school should be designed in such a way that a certain level of acoustic performance is maintained.
What can be done for noise reduction?
You may eliminate noise and enhance the sound quality by adding tried-and-tested acoustic materials in the classrooms or activity halls like a gymnasium.
By adding sound absorbing materials, you’ll accomplish two goals:
Reduce echo and reverb. Reverb is the rapid accumulation of multiple reflected sounds into one muddled mess. School dining areas and school assemblies are generally challenging for teachers to communicate effectively and for students to concentrate due to high reverberation noise levels.
Whereas echo is the single reflected sound we hear when it bounces off a surface which is often found in large spaces such as a gymnasium or an multi-purpose hall in a school. Install sound absorbing panels like Timber Acoustics Absorption Panels which are filled up with dense rockwool insulation to eliminate echo and reverb.
Reduce overall noise level. A classrooms total noise level can be reduced by up to 10 dB, that’s a 50% reduction in perceived noise! Only when fully treated with appropriate acoustic products. Consider Timber Acoustics Ceiling panels as well as acoustic wall panels.
To reduce reverberation and noise levels Timber Acoustics has developed just the right sound absorption materials that would ensure appropriate sound treatment in a school. These absorber panels are both water and fire resistant, reduces Flutter Echo and Sound Bouncing off the walls. The top of the class Roxul Rockwool insulation & New Zealand Pinewood frame makes sure no slagging & slumping is there within the frame. Roxul rockwool provides excellent rigidity and excellent acoustical dampening properties with moisture resistance.
Acoustic wall treatment options:
Sound treatment of the walls is important and should always be considered, especially if the walls are parallel. Wall treatments come in a variety of sizes that can be used to create a more aesthetically pleasing pattern.
Timber Acoustics easy to install Absorption Panels and X14 Control Panels would be a great choice to go for. Not only do these offer a perfect acoustic solution but also provide aesthetically-pleasing acoustic treatment in any facility and are available in black, grey, cherry red, blue or beige colours.
The best solution for classroom acoustics / school acoustic solution is to intelligibly use high quality acoustic materials. We at Timber Acoustics are here for any such challenges and help you with the correct solution. Contact our acoustic experts today for acoustic consultation and understand how exactly sound treatment for your space can be done or for a free quote to get started on noise reduction in your school.
