Sound - Room Absorption Characteristics
Mean absorption coefficients and reverberation times in typical rooms.
The table below indicates mean sound absorption coefficient - αm - and reverberation time - Ta - for some typical rooms.
| Room Characteristics | Very Soft | Soft | Normal | Hard | Very Hard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reverberation time - Ta - |
0.2 < Ta < 0.25 | 0.4 < Ta < 0.5 | 0.9 < Ta < 1.1 | 1.8 < Ta < 2.2 | 2.5 < Ta < 4.5 |
| Typical Room | Radio and TV studio | Restaurant Theater Lecture hall |
Office Library Flat |
Hospital Church |
Large church Factory |
| Mean sound absorption coefficient - αm - |
0.40 | 0.25 | 0.15 | 0.10 | 0.05 |
The mean sound absorption coefficient should be calculated when more accurate values are needed.
The diagram below can be used to determine the sound absorption in rooms of different sizes and with different accoustic characteristics.
