Architectural Surfaces need to be designed to their reflect sound, absorb sound or diffuse

sound. Each type of surface has its own specific criteria and applications for being incorporated
into a space.

1. REFLECTION-Reflective surfaces are considered to be essentially flat or slightly

shaped planes of hard building materials including gypsum board, wood, plywood,
plaster, heavy metal, glass, masonry and concrete.
-

Should be of sufficient mass, thickness and stiffness to avoid becoming absorbers of

low-frequency sound energy where this is not desired.

Should be of sufficient dimension to reflect all frequencies of interest. An 8-foot(2.4

m) surface width will reflect energy above 500 Hz, which is sufficient for most

speech and music applications since frequencies below 500 Hz omnidirectional in

nature
-Can create problems by being located and oriented such that sound generated a
certain distance away can reflect back to its point of origin delayed in time and thus
cause a discernible and troublesome echo.
- Can be thought of as sound bouncing off a material. The shape and the surface
texture greatly affect the sound reflection. In a polished smooth, dense surface, sound

strikes the surface with its angle of incidence, i and reflects off the surface by an equal
angle of reflection, r. This is referred to as pure specular reflection

If the surface is rough and dense, the incoming sound bounces off the irregular surface
with a multitude of specular and diffuse reflections as shown below:

Sound can be focused into a point by shaping the surface into a concave form as
shown below, or dispersed if striking a convex surface:

2. ABSORPTION- Defined as the materials ability to dissipate sound energy into heat

or mechanical energy (i.e., vibration). Generally, porous materials are more

absorptive than non-porous materials (i.e., carpeting versus sheet metal). The sound

to absorb

sound energy. Absorption can be thought of as friction that a sound wave must
overcome in order to pass through the material

Absorptive surfaces are primarily used for the following applications:

- Reverberation Control: reduction of reverberant sound energy to improve speech

intelligibility and source localization.
- Sound Level Control: reduction of sound or noise buildup in a room to maintain

appropriate listening levels and improve sound isolation to nearby spaces.

- Echo and Reflection Control: elimination of perceived single echoes multiple

flutters echoes, or unwanted sound reflections from room surfaces.

- Diffusion Enhancement: mixing of sound in a room by alternating sound

absorptive and sound reflective materials.

3. TRANSMISSION- The amount of sound that passes through a material that has not
been reflected or absorbed. The opposite of attenuation. Usually the amount of
sound energy transmitted through an object is small, comprising only about 1% of
the total energy (reflection & absorption account for the remainder). Transmitted
sound may be refracted, as shown below:

SOUND ABSORPTION PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS:

1. POROUS ABSORPTION- Entails the use of soft,

porous, fuzzy materials which include fibrous

materials, foam, and carpet, acoustic ceiling tile, and

draperies that convert sound energy into heat by
friction. The pressure fluctuations of a sound wave
in air cause the fibers of such materials to move and
the friction of the fibers dissipates the sound energy.

Example: fabric-covered 1 in. (2.5 cm) thick

fiberglass insulation panels mounted on a wall or
ceiling. Fig. 3 shows a graphical representation of

the above types of sound absorbing materials along

with typical levels of absorption versus frequency.
Absorbtive surfaces exhibit improved low-frequency

absorption with increasing airspace behind the materials.

They are most efficient when applied in smaller panels

distributed evenly on a rooms boundary surfaces versus

large panel areas concentrated on one or two surfaces.
Diffusive Surfaces are materials having a non-planer
shaping or random articulation that result in the

redirection and redistribution of sound energy impacting

their surfaces.

- Promote diffusion, or even distribution, of sound in a

room which creates in a listener the sense of being
enveloped in a sound generated within the room.

Are

typically

sound-reflective

surfaces

formed into convex, splayed or randomly

articulated shapes.

- Are not concave surfaces which can cause

uneven focusing of sound energy..
2. PANEL ABSORPTION-Involves installation of

thin lightweight panels like gypsum board,

glass and plywood. Sound waves cause panels
to

vibrate.Vibrating

reflective

materials

panels

rigidly

thin

or

sound-

resiliently

mounted over an airspace that dissipates sound

energy by converting it first to vibrational
energy. Example: a 1/4 in. (6 mm) plywood
sheet over an airspace (with or without
fibrous materials in the airspace).
3.

CAVITY

ABSOPTION-

Entails

the

movement of air pressure fluctuations across

the narrow neck of an enclosed air cavity,

such as a space behind a perforated panel or
a slotted concrete masonry unit, also called
Helmholtz

resonator.

Volume

resonators

materials containing openings leading to a

hollow cavity in which sound energy is

dissipated. Example: slotted concrete blocks

(with or without fibrous materials in the
cores)

Sound-Absorbing Coefficients For Various Materials

The sound-absorbing coefficients for a given material may vary depending on the thickness of
the material, how it is supported or mounted, the depth of the air space behind the material,

and the facing in front of the material. In general, thicker porous materials absorb more sound;
the air space behind a material will increase the absorption efficiency, especially at low
frequencies; and thin facings degrade high frequency absorption.

ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS

SPECIAL ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS

Acoustical Metal Deck - Similar

to ordinary corrugated metal deck, except there

is additional fibrous acoustical material placed
within the corrugations, as shown below.

Acoustical metal deck is VERY effective for

reducing noise and reverberation is roof

construction assemblies

Acoustical Tile- Widely used as a

material usually made of mineral or cellular fibers.

Sold in panels ranging from 12 x 12 up to 24 x
48.

Acoustical Ceiling Panels- the differences between a panel and a tile are the

method of support and the type of suspension system. Acoustical panels are used
with exposed suspension systems. Acoustical tiles are used with concealed or
semi-exposed suspension systems, stapling, or adhesive bonding. Although most
tiles are smaller than most panels, the size of the acoustical unit does not
determine the type.

Pattern designations .listed below are for use individually or in combination to

describe in broad terms the appearance of acoustical panels. Panel

manufacturers are wary of specifications using this method exclusively to select

and specify patterns because such classifications allow subjective interpretation
and cannot define subtle differences in appearance among various products.

These classifications can be used to specify products if the client prohibits the
naming of products or manufacturers, and to narrow down the choices available
for a given pattern (fig. 1).

Pattern

Pattern Description

Designation

Good sound absorbers are porous

and usually lightweight. A ceiling is

Perforated, regularly spaced large holes

Perforated, randomly spaced large holes

Perforated, small holes

Fissured

to other room surface proportions,

Lightly textured

absorptive acoustical ceilings may be

Heavily textured

supplemented with absorbers on

Smooth

walls and floors. For good noise

Printed

isolation, it is important not only to

Embossed

select barriers with rated sound-

Embossed-in-register

isolation properties but to install

Surface scored

them in a manner that does not

Random swirl

detract from their sound-insulating

Other patterns (describe in specifications)

often the largest and most expedient

surface for locating absorbers. If the
ceiling area is small in relationship

properties

Acoustical Foam Can

either be open-cell (air can be blown

into material) or closed-cell (air

tight), usually made of polyurethane.
The noise reduction coefficient ranges from about 0.25 ( thick)

up to 0.90 (2 thick). Typical uses include padding for theatre

seating, and other uses for reducing reverberation.

Carpet

Usually

made

of

synthetic

materials, but also made from wool, cotton or other fibers.

Absorptivity is good only in high frequencies, and is based
on the thickness. Carpet absorbs sound, but can also
attenuate impact sounds since it prevents hard contact with
floor surface

Curtains & Fabrics Curtains absorb sound

if fairly heavy, weighing at least 1 lb. per yd2 Depending

upon the weight, material used and method of draping.

Fiberglass is lightweight, easy to handle,

and resists damage from moisture. Densities range from an

acoustically absorptive panel with fair tackability to

acoustically reflective panels. Tackable, acoustic fiberglass is

a lighter, batt-like sheet that has a finish face of thin, rigid
fiberglass mesh. It heals well and is recommended for

tackable applications.Available in batts, rolls, blankets or

boards. Effective in absorption due to its very fine porosity.

Typically used in wall cavities and ceilings, but may also be
used as duct liners. Also serves as effective thermal insulation.

Laminated Glass Since there is an added air

space, laminated glass has much better sound attenuation

than an equal thickness of monolithic glass.

Lead Sheets Excellent sound attenuation

pcf). Also, lead is very soft and

malleable and can conform to a multitude of shapes.

Sealants These flexible adhered compounds are

used to stop sound leaks from under walls, wall openings, at

wall/ceiling interfaces, etc. Their acoustical effectiveness is based

on their ability to provide air tightness

ACOUSTICAL MYTHS/MISCONCEPTIONS

MYTH/MISCONCEPTION

REALITY

Fiberglass or foam placed on a wall

These materials only absorb sound and do not

will prevent sound from going through provide a barrier to it. Heavier building
the wall

materials

and

resilient

attachments

to

structure are the best methods for isolating

sound.

Carpet on floor will reduce sound Carpet is a sound absorbing material mainly
transmission to a room below

at high frequencies, and has very little

airborne sound isolation properties. Carpet

does, however, reduce the amount of impact

sound from footfall or things dropped
transmitting to the space below.

Carpet on floor will reduce the amount of Once again, because carpet absorbs mainly
street noise coming through a window.

high frequency sounds, it has negligible effect

at

the

mid-and

low-frequencies

which

constitute the vast majority of exterior sounds.

Paint on the walls affects the acoustics

Paint has no effect on the acoustics of a room,

except, perhaps, a psycho-acoustical effect
(e.g., a brightly-colored room often makes
people perceive the room as more acoustically
live).

Egg cartons on the wall improve the sound of While egg cartons do have some soundspace

absorbing and diffusing properties, they are

concentrated in a relatively narrow frequency
band and do not effect the quality of speech of

music to any significant degree. They also

have negligible sound isolation properties.

Adding insulation to a sheetrock wall will Insulation between stud cavities in a sheetrock
keep all sound from going through it.

partition does improve the sound isolation

value of a partition and should be used
whenever

however, is

possible.

The

improvement,

too small to bring about an appreciable

difference in the degree of isolation, and the
insulation should only be thought of as a

partial solution to upgrading the isolation of a

partition.
A sound attenuator in an air duct will Sound attenuators (also known as duct
eliminate all noise from HVAC system

silencers or sound-traps) are one of a

number of tools used for noise reduction in an

HVAC system. Depending on the distance of

the air-handling unit to the diffuser or grille
in

the

occupied

space,

the

ductwork

distribution and the sound levels produced by

the

equipment, additional

noise

control

measures, including internal duct lining and

acoustic plenums, may be required.

The colors in a room affect the acoustics of Once again, the only effect a color in a room
space

may have is a psycho-acoustical perceived

Wood is good

Wood is often considered the best material to

difference in the sound quality.

use in a music performance space. This is only

true depending on the application of the

wood. It must be of enough thickness to not

absorb low-frequency sound where this is not
desirable. It must also be appropriately
oriented and shaped to provide reflection and
diffusion to the right locations and to not
create late-arriving echoes back to the stage

and front-of-house areas. See the discussion

on Acoustics of Performance Spaces later in

this Section for more information.