Controlling Noise in Classrooms

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

In the past, acoustical ceilings offered either good sound absorption to decrease unwanted sound levels, 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

  • Tufts University Breaks Ground on Two New Residence Halls

    Tufts University in Medford, Mass., recently broke ground on two new residence halls with a total capacity of 664 beds, according to local news. The project’s ultimate goal is to expand on-campus housing and reduce pressure on the local housing market.

  • Extron, CENTEGIX Partner for Comprehensive School Security Solution

    Professional audiovisual solutions provider Extron recently announced a partnership with CENTEGIX, which provides rapid incident response technology, to integrate two of their top products in the name of school safety.

  • Spaces4Learning Announces Winners of 2025 Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2025 Product Awards! The award program recognizes innovation and excellence in products that enhance learning environments in K–12 schools and institutions of higher education.

  • New eBook Shares Guidelines on Building CTE Centers

    Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum and resources provider iCEV recently announced the publication of a new eBook sharing guidance and insights on building new CTE facilities, according to a news release.

Digital Edition