Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Flooring's Affect on Noise Levels

  • By Bob Bethel
  • 04/01/17

When it comes to improving in-class student learning and teacher instruction, multiple factors must be considered. One important factor that should not be overlooked is acoustics.

A number of studies show there is a direct correlation between acoustics and improved student performance. In fact, research shows products with high Noise Reduction Coefficients (NRC) and Impact Insulation Classifications (IIC) promote better voice recognition. Inappropriate levels of background noise and reverberations can hinder reading ability, affect behavior and attention, and affect concentration and academic performance.

Laboratories typically use two tests to measure the acoustic properties of interior surfaces and finishes: airborne noise reduction and structure-borne noise reduction.

The airborne noise reduction test, ASTM C423-02a, measures a surface’s ability to absorb airborne sounds, which contribute to ambient (background) noise. These sounds can range from a human voice to mechanical systems. A floor covering’s measure of effectiveness in absorbing airborne sound is expressed as a Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC). The greater the NRC, the better that product is at absorbing airborne sounds.

The structure-borne noise reduction test most used for flooring is ASTM E492-09. This test measures the material’s ability to reduce impact sound transmission into the space below. Footsteps and objects dropping on the floor are examples of impact noises. Flooring products undergoing this test are expressed as a whole number, the Impact Insulation Class (IIC). The higher the rating the greater the sound insulation.

Soft floor covering materials are excellent solutions for reducing both airborne and structureborne noise. They have the ability to absorb more sound and transmit less sound than other types of surfaces. This contributes to a quieter and more conducive learning environment.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Bob Bethel is the director of Business Development, Education, for J+J Flooring Group. J+J offers an online calculator, floorlifecost.com. Bob can be reached at [email protected] or 800/241-4586.

Featured

  • restroom sinks

    CSU Dominguez Hills Standardizes Plumbing to Improve Restroom Maintenance and Efficiency

    At California State University, Dominguez Hills, facilities leaders have taken steps to standardize restroom fixtures as part of a broader effort to improve maintenance efficiency and control long-term costs.

  • Northeastern University Breaks Ground on New Housing Community

    Northeastern University recently announced the groundbreaking of a new student housing community on its campus in Boston, Mass., according to a news release. The university is partnering with American Campus Communities (ACC) for development of the project, which will have the capacity for 1,200 students and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • Geometric abstract school illustration

    How Design Shapes Learning and Success

    Can the color of a wall, the curve of a chair, or the hum of fluorescent lights really affect how a student learns? More schools are beginning to think so.

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.