Building acoustics - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 07:48, 1 October 2026

2026-10-01T07:48:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:48, 1 October 2026
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−	[[~~File:Royal-Albert-Hall2.jpg\|link=~~File:Royal-Albert-Hall2.jpg]]	+	[[File:Royal-Albert-Hall2.jpg]]

	= Introduction =		= Introduction =
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	Sound pitch is measured in Hertz (Hz), the standard unit for the measurement for frequency. The audible range of sound for humans is typically from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, although, through ageing and exposure to loud sounds the upper limit will generally decrease.		Sound pitch is measured in Hertz (Hz), the standard unit for the measurement for frequency. The audible range of sound for humans is typically from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, although, through ageing and exposure to loud sounds the upper limit will generally decrease.

−	As well as intensity and [[Audio_frequency\|frequency]], sound also transmits information. For example, music or speech, transmit information which people may perceive differently from other sounds.	+	As well as intensity and [https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Audio_frequency frequency], sound also transmits information. For example, music or speech, transmit information which people may perceive differently from other sounds.

	= Reverberation time =		= Reverberation time =

−	The ~~‘reverberation time’~~ of a space changes the way the space ~~‘sounds’~~ and can affect the intelligibility acoustic information. A high reverberation time can make a room sound muffled, loud and noisy. Rooms designed for speech typically have a low reverberation time, whereas a higher reverberation time can add depth, richness and warmth to music.	+	The 'reverberation time' of a space changes the way the space 'sounds' and can affect the intelligibility acoustic information. A high reverberation time can make a room sound muffled, loud and noisy. Rooms designed for speech typically have a low reverberation time, whereas a higher reverberation time can add depth, richness and warmth to music.

	The reverberation time of a room is defined as the time it takes for sound to decay by 60 dB after an abrupt termination. It is linked to the total quantity of soft treatments and the volume of the room.		The reverberation time of a room is defined as the time it takes for sound to decay by 60 dB after an abrupt termination. It is linked to the total quantity of soft treatments and the volume of the room.
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	* Single absorbers such as tables, chairs or other objects.		* Single absorbers such as tables, chairs or other objects.

−	See sound absorption for more information	+	See sound absorption for more information.

	= Sound insulation =		= Sound insulation =
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	If sound levels are increased in the source room however, to 75 dB (raised voice), sound levels within the adjacent room will also increase to around 30 dB (audible). Sound insulation therefore describes the level of sound lost across a partition and not the level of sound within an adjacent room.		If sound levels are increased in the source room however, to 75 dB (raised voice), sound levels within the adjacent room will also increase to around 30 dB (audible). Sound insulation therefore describes the level of sound lost across a partition and not the level of sound within an adjacent room.

−	Dw represents the sound insulation between rooms on-site. Rw represents the lab tested sound insulation of an element making up a partition wall/floor type. Standards achieved in labs may not be possible on site because of the quality of workmanship and due to sound ~~‘flanking’~~ acoustic elements, that is, travelling around them through an easier path, rather than only directly through them as under lab conditions.	+	Dw represents the sound insulation between rooms on-site. Rw represents the lab tested sound insulation of an element making up a partition wall/floor type. Standards achieved in labs may not be possible on site because of the quality of workmanship and due to sound 'flanking' acoustic elements, that is, travelling around them through an easier path, rather than only directly through them as under lab conditions.

−	The building regulations part E sets minimum standards for design and construction in relation to the resistance to the passage of sound.	+	The building regulations part E sets minimum standards for design and construction in relation to the resistance to the passage of sound. Approved Document E remains the 2015 edition, and continues to set these minimum standards.

	See Sound insulation for more information.		See Sound insulation for more information.
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	The Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE) defines noise pollution as:		The Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE) defines noise pollution as:

−	* Environmental noise – which includes noise from transportation sources.	+	* Environmental noise - which includes noise from transportation sources.
−	* Neighbour noise – which includes noise from inside and outside buildings.	+	* Neighbour noise - which includes noise from inside and outside buildings.
−	* Neighbourhood noise – which includes noise arising from industrial and entertainment premises, trade and businesses, construction sites and noise in the street.	+	* Neighbourhood noise - which includes noise arising from industrial and entertainment premises, trade and businesses, construction sites and noise in the street.

	This can be an important consideration for the location, design and construction of new developments.		This can be an important consideration for the location, design and construction of new developments.
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	= Room acoustics =		= Room acoustics =

−	[https://www.breeam.com/discover/technical-standards/newconstruction/ BREEAM UK New Construction, Non-domestic Buildings (United Kingdom), Technical Manual, SD5078: BREEAM UK New Construction 2018 3.0], published by BRE Global Limited, defines room acoustics as: '...how sound behaves in an enclosed space in terms of the reverberation time (or degree of echo), overall noise levels and speech intelligibility. Room acoustics are influenced by room geometry and distribution of acoustic absorption either through the general room finishes or through the introduction of sound absorbing~~<br />~~	+	[https://www.breeam.com/discover/technical-standards/newconstruction/ BREEAM UK New Construction, Non-domestic Buildings (United Kingdom), Technical Manual, SD5078: BREEAM UK New Construction 2018 3.0], published by BRE Global Limited, defines room acoustics as: '...how sound behaves in an enclosed space in terms of the reverberation time (or degree of echo), overall noise levels and speech intelligibility. Room acoustics are influenced by room geometry and distribution of acoustic absorption either through the general room finishes or through the introduction of sound absorbing products.'
−	products.'	+

−	See [[Room_acoustics\|Room acoustics]] for more information.	+	See [https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Room_acoustics Room acoustics] for more information.

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings =
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	* Airborne sound.		* Airborne sound.
	* Approved Document E.		* Approved Document E.
−	* Ash deafening.
	* Audio frequency.		* Audio frequency.
	* BREEAM Acoustic performance.		* BREEAM Acoustic performance.
−	* Building Bulletin 93: acoustic design of schools.
	* Building regulations.		* Building regulations.
−	* Ceiling tiles.
	* Decibel.		* Decibel.
	* Flanking sound.		* Flanking sound.
	* Impact sound.		* Impact sound.
−	* Metamaterials.
	* Noise nuisance.		* Noise nuisance.
	* Pre-completion sound testing.		* Pre-completion sound testing.
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	* Sound absorption.		* Sound absorption.
	* Sound insulation.		* Sound insulation.
−	* Sound insulation in dwellings: Part 1: An introduction (GG 83-1).
	* Sound reduction index (SRI).		* Sound reduction index (SRI).
−	* Sound v noise.
	* Structure-borne sound.		* Structure-borne sound.
−	* Suitable insulation can help preserve the golden sound of silence.
	* Suitably Qualified Acoustician.		* Suitably Qualified Acoustician.
−	* Walt Disney Concert Hall.

	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Theory]] [[Category:Design]]		[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Theory]] [[Category:Design]]

Editor: Reverted edits by AtelierCrescendo (talk) to last revision by Designing Buildings

2026-03-23T17:30:44Z

Reverted edits by AtelierCrescendo (talk) to last revision by Designing Buildings

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:30, 23 March 2026
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	= Room acoustics =		= Room acoustics =

−	[https://www.breeam.com/discover/technical-standards/newconstruction/ BREEAM UK New Construction, Non-domestic Buildings (United Kingdom), Technical Manual, SD5078: BREEAM UK New Construction 2018 3.0], published by BRE Global Limited, defines room acoustics as: '...how sound behaves in an enclosed space in terms of the reverberation time (or degree of echo), overall noise levels and speech intelligibility~~. For optimal acoustics, employ an [https://ateliercrescendo.ac/atelier-crescendo-acoustic-consultancy/ acoustic designer] at the outset~~. Room acoustics are influenced by room geometry and distribution of acoustic absorption either through the general room finishes or through the introduction of sound absorbing<br />	+	[https://www.breeam.com/discover/technical-standards/newconstruction/ BREEAM UK New Construction, Non-domestic Buildings (United Kingdom), Technical Manual, SD5078: BREEAM UK New Construction 2018 3.0], published by BRE Global Limited, defines room acoustics as: '...how sound behaves in an enclosed space in terms of the reverberation time (or degree of echo), overall noise levels and speech intelligibility. Room acoustics are influenced by room geometry and distribution of acoustic absorption either through the general room finishes or through the introduction of sound absorbing<br />
	products.'		products.'

AtelierCrescendo at 15:15, 23 March 2026

2026-03-23T15:15:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:15, 23 March 2026
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	= Room acoustics =		= Room acoustics =

−	[https://www.breeam.com/discover/technical-standards/newconstruction/ BREEAM UK New Construction, Non-domestic Buildings (United Kingdom), Technical Manual, SD5078: BREEAM UK New Construction 2018 3.0], published by BRE Global Limited, defines room acoustics as: '...how sound behaves in an enclosed space in terms of the reverberation time (or degree of echo), overall noise levels and speech intelligibility. Room acoustics are influenced by room geometry and distribution of acoustic absorption either through the general room finishes or through the introduction of sound absorbing<br />	+	[https://www.breeam.com/discover/technical-standards/newconstruction/ BREEAM UK New Construction, Non-domestic Buildings (United Kingdom), Technical Manual, SD5078: BREEAM UK New Construction 2018 3.0], published by BRE Global Limited, defines room acoustics as: '...how sound behaves in an enclosed space in terms of the reverberation time (or degree of echo), overall noise levels and speech intelligibility. For optimal acoustics, employ an [https://ateliercrescendo.ac/atelier-crescendo-acoustic-consultancy/ acoustic designer] at the outset. Room acoustics are influenced by room geometry and distribution of acoustic absorption either through the general room finishes or through the introduction of sound absorbing<br />
	products.'		products.'

Designing Buildings: Reverted edits by 136.158.101.200 (talk) to last revision by Editor

2021-11-21T14:26:02Z

Reverted edits by 136.158.101.200 (talk) to last revision by Editor

Can't load revision 218686

at 12:00, 21 November 2021

2021-11-21T12:00:20Z

Can't load revision 218684

Editor at 16:38, 27 October 2021

2021-10-27T16:38:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:38, 27 October 2021
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	See [[Room_acoustics\|Room acoustics]] for more information.		See [[Room_acoustics\|Room acoustics]] for more information.

−	= Related articles on Designing Buildings ~~Wiki~~ =	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

	* Acoustic consultant.		* Acoustic consultant.
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	* Flanking sound.		* Flanking sound.
	* Impact sound.		* Impact sound.
		+	* Metamaterials.
	* Noise nuisance.		* Noise nuisance.
	* Pre-completion sound testing.		* Pre-completion sound testing.

Editor at 19:15, 22 April 2021

2021-04-22T19:15:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:15, 22 April 2021
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	* Building Bulletin 93: acoustic design of schools.		* Building Bulletin 93: acoustic design of schools.
	* Building regulations.		* Building regulations.
		+	* Ceiling tiles.
	* Decibel.		* Decibel.
	* Flanking sound.		* Flanking sound.

Editor at 11:58, 12 March 2021

2021-03-12T11:58:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:58, 12 March 2021
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	* Sound v noise.		* Sound v noise.
	* Structure-borne sound.		* Structure-borne sound.
		+	* Suitable insulation can help preserve the golden sound of silence.
	* Suitably Qualified Acoustician.		* Suitably Qualified Acoustician.
	* Walt Disney Concert Hall.		* Walt Disney Concert Hall.

	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Theory]] [[Category:Design]]		[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Theory]] [[Category:Design]]

Designing Buildings at 10:17, 2 September 2020

2020-09-02T10:17:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:17, 2 September 2020
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	* Walt Disney Concert Hall.		* Walt Disney Concert Hall.

−	[[Category:Theory]] [[Category:Design]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Theory]] [[Category:Design]]

Editor at 14:10, 20 May 2020

2020-05-20T14:10:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:10, 20 May 2020
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	* Acoustic consultant.		* Acoustic consultant.
	* Acoustic design for health and wellbeing.		* Acoustic design for health and wellbeing.
−	* Acoustics of rooms.
	* Airborne sound.		* Airborne sound.
	* Approved Document E.		* Approved Document E.
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	* Reverberation.		* Reverberation.
	* Robust details certification scheme.		* Robust details certification scheme.
		+	* Room acoustics.
	* Sound absorption.		* Sound absorption.
	* Sound insulation.		* Sound insulation.