Architectural Case Studies
Project 1 Christian Life Center
- CLC Dayton, OH was in the process of demolition and enlargement of their existing Sanctuary and wanted to convert their existing Multipurpose Room into a temporary worship space. Acoustical Systems, Inc. (ASI) was hired to measure the existing Reverberation Time (rt60) and design a noise control solution for the existing space. The testing involved energizing the space with pink noise, shutting off the source, and measuring the subsequent sound decay.
- ASI then used the rt60 industry standard guidelines to identify the target rt60 for the space based on the physical volume of the room and the intended use of the space.
- Determine the quantity and placement of acoustical treatment needed to create the target acoustical environment in the space.
The average measured rt60 value before acoustical treatment for this gymnasium was 2.1 seconds. The rt60 design goal was identified to be between 1.4 to 1.6 seconds. The resulting recommendation was to add 2,300 Sabin’s to the Multipurpose Room. The predicted and actual results of the acoustical treatment was a reverberation time of 1.5 seconds.
Test condition | 250 Hz | 500 Hz | 1000 Hz | 2000 Hz | 4000 Hz |
Before treatment | 1.66 | 1.88 | 2.39 | 2.64 | 1.87 |
After treatment | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.5 |
- CLC Dayton, OH staff
- Acoustical Systems, Inc.: Sound testing; Acoustical Engineering & Design; Turnkey service provider
- Architect: Hi-Five Development
- MBI Products: Acoustical material supplier
Acoustical Systems is not a material manufacturer or manufacturer’s representative. We use and recommend acoustical material based on each specific application. Each material manufacturer has unique products and not all products fit every application. For this specific project we used MBI Colorsonics Wall Panels and Cloud-Lite Acoustical Baffles.
Project 1 Tecumseh High School
- Measure Reverberation Time (rt60) in the Gymnasium to determine the existing condition in the space. The testing involved energizing the space with pink noise, shutting off the source, and measuring the subsequent sound decay.
- Use the rt60 industry standard guidelines to identify the target rt60 for the space based on the physical volume of the room and the intended use of the space.
- Determine the quantity and placement of acoustical treatment needed to create the target acoustical environment in the space.
The average measured rt60 value before acoustical treatment for this gymnasium was 3.03 seconds. The rt60 design goal was identified to be between 1.3 to 1.8 seconds. The resulting recommendation was to add 4,168 Sabin’s to the Gym. Due to cost restraints, available space, sprinkler locations, etc. 3,482 Sabin’s were actually installed. The predicted and actual results of the acoustical treatment was a reverberation time of 1.8 seconds.
| Test condition | 250 Hz | 500 Hz | 1000 Hz | 2000 Hz | 4000 Hz |
| Before treatment | 3.00 | 3.04 | 3.61 | 3.47 | 2.06 |
| After treatment | 1.86 | 1.89 | 1.91 | 1.71 | 1.60 |
- Tecumseh High School superintendent: Project manager/owner
- Acoustical Systems, Inc. : Sound testing; Acoustical Engineering & Design; Turnkey service provider
- MBI: Acoustical material supplier
Acoustical Systems is not a material manufacturer or manufacturer’s representative. We use and recommend acoustical material based on each specifice application. Each material manufacturer has unique products and not all products fit every application. For this specific project we used MBI Colorsonics Wall Panels and Cloud-Lite Acoustical Baffles.
Project 2 Fairfield County Dog Shelter
- ASI was hired to do a workplace noise assessment of Fairfield County Dog Shelter.
- The design goal of this project was to implement a noise control system that would reduce the workplace noise exposure to the lowest feasible level.
- Determine the quantity and placement of acoustical treatment needed to create the target acoustical environment.
The treatment plan undertaken by ASI in this project was to attenuate the reverberation noise (RT60 = 4.9 seconds) through implementation of sound absorptive baffles in the ceiling areas of the kennel space. Ceiling suspended 2′ by 4′ absorption baffles were applied to each space. The quantity and placement of the panels was designed to maximize the reduction in reverberation in each space. The absorption system is illustrated in the drawings and photographs below.
- Fairfield County Dog Shelter: Project manager
- Acoustical Systems, Inc.: Sound testing; Acoustical Engineering & Design; Turnkey service provider
- MBI: Acoustical material supplier
Acoustical Systems is not a material manufacturer or manufactures’s representative. We use and recommend acoustical material based on each specific application. Each material manufacturer has unique products and not all products fit every application. For this specific project we used MBI Cloud-Lite Acoustical Baffles.