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Good Acoustics for Every Space: The Acoustics Store’s Reverberation Time Guide


At The Acoustics Store, we understand how important good acoustics are in creating comfortable and usable spaces for people and activity taking place. Whether you’re working on an office, a school classroom, a restaurant, or even a gym, controlling the reverberation time is key to enhancing the overall sound quality. To help you achieve the best results, we’ve developed a new Acoustic Calculator and guide that recommends the ideal reverberation times (RT60) for different environments.

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Why Reverberation Time Matters

Reverberation time, or RT60, refers to how long it takes for sound to decay by 60 dB in a space. A well-controlled reverberation time ensures that speech remains clear, music sounds balanced, and background noise is reduced. Too much reverberation leads to echo and noise build-up, while too little can make a space sound unnaturally “dead.”

Introducing Our Reverberation Calculator and Guide Table

Our Acoustic Calculator and Guide Table is designed to guide you through finding the most suitable reverberation time for various environments, making it easier to plan acoustic treatments for your space. Here’s how it works:

  • 1. Select Your Environment: Choose from a list of environments in the table such as offices, classrooms, restaurants, gyms, and more.
  • 2. Input Room Details on the Calculator: Provide basic room dimensions, and the calculator will give information on the reverberation time before and after treatment.
  • 3. Receive Acoustic Treatment Recommendations: Based on the space and reverberation time, you can get recommendations on acoustic products to meet those needs.
Acoustic Reverberation Calculator

Example Reverberation Times for Different Spaces

  • Offices: For a productive office environment, the ideal reverberation time is typically between 0.4 to 0.6 seconds. This helps reduce noise without making the space too “flat” or quiet.
  • School Classrooms: According to BB93 (more on this below), classrooms should aim for a reverberation time of 0.6 seconds or lower for clear communication and minimal noise distraction.
  • Restaurants: To create an inviting yet manageable sound environment, a restaurant should aim for 0.7 to 1.0 seconds. This helps maintain a lively atmosphere while keeping conversations clear.
  • Gyms: Due to the nature of physical activity and music in gyms, a slightly higher reverberation time of 1.5 to 2.0 seconds is often suitable to keep energy levels high without creating excessive echo.

See more examples in our table of recommendations

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Acoustic Legislation for Schools – BB93

When it comes to school environments, the Building Bulletin 93 (BB93) sets out specific acoustic performance standards for educational spaces in the UK. Good acoustics are essential in schools to ensure that teachers can communicate effectively, and students can hear and concentrate.

BB93 Requirements:

  • Classrooms and General Teaching Spaces: The reverberation time must not exceed 0.6 seconds in new buildings and should be as close as possible to this in refurbished spaces. This ensures that speech clarity is maintained and background noise is kept to a minimum.
  • Specialist Teaching Spaces (such as music rooms): These spaces may have slightly different requirements depending on their use, but BB93 typically advises a reverberation time of between 0.6 and 1.0 seconds, depending on the type of activity.

Ensuring compliance with BB93 is not just a matter of acoustic comfort, but also a legal requirement in educational environments. If you’re working on acoustic solutions for schools, our Acoustic Calculator can help you stay within these guidelines.

Start Optimising Your Space Today

By understanding and controlling the reverberation time, you can transform any space into an environment that supports clarity, comfort, and well-being. Visit The Acoustics Store’s Acoustic Calculator today to get started on your next project!

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