Classification of sound absorbers into Sound Absorption Classes A-E, according to EN ISO 11654, including frequencies 200-5000 Hz.

The study of sound. In everyday language also refers to how sound is perceived in particular premises.

A classification of suspended ceilings according to their ability to contribute to the acoustic privacy between work stations. AC is calculated from the Interzone Attenuation according to ASTM E-1110.

One method of objectively measuring speech intelligibility is Articulation Loss of CONSonants (%-Alcons), showing the number of consonants being missed as a percentage. Consonants play a much more significant role in speech intelligibility than vowels. If the consonants are heard clearly, the speech can be understood more easily.

For example, speech, scraping chairs, humming ventilation, traffic, machinery and equipment, sound from corridors, adjoining rooms, playgrounds.

Single value for the laboratory sound attenuation of a suspended ceiling between two rooms according to ASTM E 1414. This measurement takes only into account the sound transmission through the suspended ceiling.

Single value, according to EN ISO 717-1, for the laboratory sound insulation of a suspended ceiling between two rooms, measured according to ISO 140-9. This measurement takes only into account the sound transmission through the suspended ceiling.

Occurs when noise bounces between parallel surfaces in a room.

Stated in Hz (hertz). The higher the value, the lighter the tone (bass - treble). The frequency of speech lies primarily between 125 and 8000 Hz, while audible sound lies between 20 and 20 000 Hz.

Unwanted sound. Noise can often be the individual perception of a particular sound, e.g. a background noise.

Single value for sound absorption according to ASTM C 423, derived as the mean value of 4 frequencies in the range 250-2000 Hz.

Acoustic privacy between working places in open plan offices is expressed with the Articulation Class (AC).   

RASTI is an objective way of measuring speech intelligibility. It is measured at two frequencies, 500 and 2000 Hz, by placing a loudspeaker, which transmits sound from the location of the person speaking, and a microphone where the listeners are situated. (See also STI).

The time it takes for the sound pressure level to fall by 60 dB after the sound has been turned off. Measuring the reverberation time allows us to calculate the total sound absorption. The reverberation time varies according to the frequency.

The physicist Wallace Clement Sabine (1869-1919) created in Riverbank, west of Chicago, the well known Sabine formula (T=0,16V/A), showing the relationship between reverberation time (T s), room volume (V m³) and the amount of absorption (A m²).

(image): (Sabine's formula)

Materials and structures with the ability to take up sound energy and convert it into other forms of energy. They improve room acoustics by removing sound reflections, thus reducing the noise and the reverberation time.

Means that sound energy is converted into mechanical vibration energy and/or heat energy. Sound absorption is expressed as the sound absorption coefficient α or the sound absorption class (A-E) according to EN ISO 11654 or NRC/SAA according to ASTM C 423.

Single value for the sound absorption according to ASTM C 423, including the third octaves in the frequency range 200-2500 Hz.

Classification of sound absorbers into Sound Absorption Classes A-E, according to EN ISO 11654, including frequencies 200-5000 Hz.

The ability of a building element or building structure to reduce the sound transmission through it. The sound insulation is measured at different frequencies, normally 100-3150 Hz. Airborne sound insulation is expressed by a single value, Dn,c,w , Rw or R'w. Impact sound insulation is expressed by a single value Ln,w or L' n,w .

The pressure variations caused by sound waves in air are called sound pressure. The lowest sound pressure level which can be heard is 0 dB, known as the hearing threshold. The highest level which can be tolerated is called the pain threshold and is around 120 dB.

Measured in dB (deciBel). dB is measured at different frequencies.

dB(A) (or LpA) is a single-figure value used to describe the total sound strength for all frequencies in a way similar to the sensitivity of the ear.

dB(C) (or LpC) particularly focuses on low frequencies and better reflects how a sound is perceived by people with impaired hearing.

Speech intelligibility is directly dependent on the level of background noise, reverberation time and the shape of the room. Different methods are used to evaluate speech intelligibility, the most common ones are RASTI, STI and %-Alcons.

Similar to the RASTI method but a more complete form of measuring speech intelligibility by measuring all octave bands in the frequency range 125-8000 Hz.