In order to determine the types and amounts of acoustical treatments required, the problems need to be analyzed with consideration given to the function and activities of the space, type of surfaces, its volume and type of sound. It is difficult to solve the speech clarity problem in a space with Electro-acoustic products if the room does not first have the appropriate acoustic design or acoustical treatments. A sound re-enforcement system without proper acoustic treatment is of little value, as it will not work effectively regardless of the value or quantity of the products that are installed in the facility.

Large facilities may contain many hard interior surfaces, required for durability and maintenance. These surfaces most often reflect 95% of the sound waves. Sound travelling outward from the source is reflected outward from the source is reflected when it strikes an untreated surface, causing the sound to be amplified. The persistence of the sound within an enclosure results in reverberation. The amount of time it takes the reverberation to stop determines the amount of acoustical treatment required to bring the reverberation to an acceptable level. The larger the untreated area, the more sound is reflected and the greater the reverberation problem. These products need to be breathable and have the appropriate density and thickness to absorb the majority of the sound wave lengths at different frequencies.

What are Acoustics?
Acoustics is the science of sound involving the laws of physics, which determine how the sound waves act and behave at different frequencies. The acoustics of a room is a complex subject, affected by many factors, such as the size, shape, and volume of a space, the finishes used on the surfaces, and the intended use and condition of the area. Room has good acoustics when people can hear the direct sound without unwanted reverberation.

What is Reverberation?
Reverberation is the persistence of a sound in an enclosed or partially enclosed space. It affects how well speech and music heard. If the sound reverberation of a room is too high, it will be difficult to understand speech. The longer the sound persists in the room, the higher the reverberation. The faster the sound diminishes, the less reverberation.

To reduce the reverberation time of a space, sound absorbing material, like panels or baffles are installed on the ceiling and/or walls at the right locations in the appropriate amounts.

What is Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC)?
It is an averaged single number rating derived from measured values of sound absorption at four mid range frequencies (250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz). It provides an estimate of the sound absorption properties of acoustical materials and how they will help reduce unwanted reverberation within a space.

When to Consider Acoustic.
The acoustic design of each space needs to be considered individually as the requirements of good acoustics vary with the circumstances. Factors such as the usage of the area, size and shape of the room, types of surfaces, and location to other areas will need to be considered when developing the acoustic design. These elements will determine how sound waves are diffused, reflected, and absorbed, and determine the quantity and type of the sound absorbing material required to be used.

Proper acoustic treatment of an interior space is becoming more crucial as we are using more sophisticated sound equipment. Interior spaces need to be treated acoustically in order for the sound systems to be able to work at their optimum.