Reducing reverberation noise for a better student and learning environment
Balanced acoustics are imperative to creating a comfortable learning environment.
A lively room with too much reverberation makes it difficult to have clear conversations and presentations, while a room overtreated with acoustic absorption becomes dull and lifeless.
Products utilized need to be durable to withstand day-to-day use and testing by younger students with curious minds. It is also important to have an aesthetically pleasing finish, to help inspire creativity and enthusiasm for education.
Megasorber’s range of acoustic panels has been used in education facilities throughout Australia, from childcare and kindergarten, through primary and secondary schools and some of our world-class Universities.
Superior speech intelligibility solutions
Megasorber sound-absorbing panels are designed to reduce the reverberation noise effectively and provide superior speech intelligibility.
Better speech intelligibility demonstration video
High-efficiency sound-absorbing material for reverberation noise reduction in a scout hall
1. Direct-fix acoustic panels for soffits and walls.
Megasorber acoustic panels FM, WFM and P range products are specifically designed for a direct-fix onto concrete soffits, insulated roof panels (such as Kingspan roofing panels) and walls with Megasorber A200 adhesive. Combined with an express finish, it is one of the most cost-effective solutions to reverberation control, especially for large spaces and halls.
Furthermore, Megasorber Wavebreaker is a compact product that provides superior acoustic performance with NRC up to 1.0 with a minimum thickness.
2. Acoustic backings for perforated/slotted panels and timber or aluminium battens.
Megasorber acoustic backing products add acoustic performance to the systems for decorative finishes, slotted panels, perforated panels, or any other decorative panels into acoustic panels. Typically backing materials are:
- Megasorber Soundmesh® G8 and G8A is a fabric that acoustically tunes for perforated/slotted panels and timber or aluminium battens. Combined with an air gap, the acoustic performance is up to NRC 0.80.
- Megasorber PN is a thin acoustic board that can be easily inserted or thatched onto the back of timber or aluminium battens. The acoustic performance is NRC up to 0.80 when combined with an air gap.
3. Acoustic wave banners or acoustic blades
Megasorber FM 25 and 50 with Soundmesh® G8 on both sides can be cut to waveform and vertically hung to form wave banners or acoustic blades.
Superior speech privacy solutions
Megasorber B8 and CM28 are designed to effectively reduce noise intrusion from the walls and ceiling and provide superior speech privacy.
The two key noise intrusion patterns
A schematic drawing on the left shows the noise intrusion through the partition wall and the ceiling cavity.
High Rw (STC) partition wall
A high Rw(STC) partition wall must have high mass and internal loss.
Megasorber B8 is designed to provide the high Rw (STC) for partition walls.
High CAC or Rw ceiling
The ceiling panel must have high CAC or Rw to attenuate the sound through the cavity.
Megasorber CM28 is designed to provide high STC as well as high NRC.
Increase Rw (STC) of partition walls with Megasorber B8
The addition of Megasorber B8, constrained with additional plasterboard, adding the mass as per Mass Law, and providing damping to address the critical frequency issue for the plasterboard. As a result, it has a much higher STC (or (Rw) rating.
A typical stud wall, comprising two sheets of 13mm plasterboard on a 90mm stud wall with no insulation, provides an STC rating of 35 to 40.
The STC jumps to 47 after adding Megasorber B8 and the second layer of 13mm plasterboard to one side of the wall.
Adding the same treatment to the other side of the wall provides an STC of 51.
Sound waves like to travel in the same media, i.e., the same material or homogeneous material. For example, the sound wave travels well with two layers of plasterboard. However, when a limp mass layer, such as Megasorber B8, with high internal loss, is sandwiched between the two layers of plasterboard, it causes the transmission pattern of the sound wave to breakdown completely, resulting in a much higher STC (or Rw) rating. As a result, for a thin 90mm stud wall, the STC (Rw) can be as high as 51.
Ceiling sound attenuation
Megasorber CM28 is designed to provide superior speech intelligibility and speech privacy. A schematic shows two offices with a common plenum below.
The top drawing: a ceiling material with low sound absorption NRC 0.10 and little or no sound insulation properties.
The bottom drawing: Megasorber CM28, with high sound absorption NRC 0.80 and a high sound blocking rating STC 24 (CAC 60).
the effect of high sound absorption NRC 0.80
The source room: reduces the sound pressure level by 5dB(A). This improves speech intelligibility.
The receiving room: reduces the sound pressure level by 11dB(A). This improves speech privacy.
the effect of high sound blocking STC 24 (CAC 60)
The receiving room: reduces the sound pressure level by a further 40dB(A), providing total speech privacy.
For more details, please click on this link: Soundproofing composite
A few examples from previously completed projects
Megasorber’s FM, WFM and P range of acoustic absorption panels perfectly suits education applications.
The lightweight design of Megasorber FM and WFM gives architects and designers the freedom to tailor the look of the finish while still being easy to install.
View our FM range of absorption products
