Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Controlling Noise In Classrooms

Acoustical performance is vital ceiling selection criteria for classrooms. The reason: students must be able to hear and understand their teacher if they are to learn.

In the past, acoustical ceilings offered either good sound absorption to decrease unwanted sound levels in a classroom, or good ceiling attenuation to block unwanted sound intrusion from adjacent classrooms or corridors, but not both absorption and blocking in the same ceiling.

Now, the science behind the ceiling is able to offer a new generation of acoustical ceiling panels that provide an ideal combination of sound absorption as denoted by their Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) and sound blocking as denoted by their Ceiling Attenuation Class (CAC) in the same panel.

The NRC indicates the ability of a ceiling to absorb sound. It is expressed as a number between 0.00 and 1.00, and indicates the percentage of sound it absorbs. An NRC of 0.60 means a ceiling absorbs 60 percent of the sound that strikes it. A ceiling with an NRC less than 0.60 is considered low-performance, one with an NRC of 0.70 or greater, high-performance.

The CAC indicates the ability of a ceiling to block sound in one space from passing up into the plenum and transmitting back down into an adjacent space that shares the same plenum. The higher the number, the better the ceiling acts as a sound barrier.

A ceiling with a CAC less than 25 is considered low-performance, one with a CAC of 35 or greater, high-performance.

Regardless of whether it’s new construction or renovation, the best solution for both reducing the level of sound in a classroom and limiting sound intrusion into it is an acoustical ceiling panel that combines an NRC of 0.70 or greater and a CAC of 35 or greater.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Sean Browne is principal scientist - Global Acoustics for Armstrong Ceilings.

Featured

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.

  • UNH Marks Construction Milestone on Oceanic Exploration Facility

    The University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., recently celebrated a major construction milestone with a beam-signing ceremony for the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping, according to a news release. The facility’s ultimate goal is to support research, training and technical assistance in ocean mapping.

  • University of Rochester to Break Ground on New Student Life Center

    The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently began construction on a new Student Life building, according to a news release. The first floor will contain campus-wide gathering, program, and rehearsal space; the second floor will play home to the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life.

  • Minnesota District Converts Middle School into Community Hub

    White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the end of a major renovation project that converted a former middle school into a new centralized district and community hub, according to a news release.