Acoustics in school buildings

Ideally, acoustics should be part of the blueprints for a new school from day one, but this is not always the case. It would be even better to future-proof schools, and to adapt the acoustics to the multi-purpose use of classrooms and school facilities. Unfortunately, this happens in a minority of cases.

However, this does not mean that it is not possible – with the help of experts – to provide acoustic solutions (e.g. ACaaS) that do not necessarily require structural adjustments. 

Improving room acoustics

Which areas in the school buildings does this apply to? For example:

• Classrooms
• Canteens
• Sport halls
• Auditoriums
• Corridors

Mainly hard materials are used in all these spaces, which promotes reverberation. This can cause the following problems: 

• Poor speech intelligibility 
• Reduced concentration
• Negative impact on productivity
• Health issues and stress

Room acoustics can be improved by, among other things, the following sound absorption solutions. Moreover, these solutions are not only efficient in terms of acoustics; they are also aesthetically pleasing and budget-friendly.  

• Plano-S panels 
• Cubes
• Stereo ceiling islands
• Balance ceiling islands
• D-Sound ceiling & wall panels

Incidentally, optimising the acoustics within the spaces is not enough. It is also important to protect the adjacent rooms from noise nuisance! Sound transmission should therefore also be reckoned with. 

Improving building acoustics

When considering the adjacent rooms, building acoustics are important. This is a matter of sound insulation rather than absorption. The following solutions are very useful especially when buildings are repurposed as classrooms or as part of a renovation project (as well as for an entirely new school): 

• Acoustic Pipe Insulation & Cavity Insulation
• Decoupling Systems
• Heavy-duty plastic sheeting
• Soundproof doors

This is where the services of DOX Soundproofing certainly come in handy.

You, too, can discover our suite of ACaaS (Acoustics as a Service) services, expressly tailored to your school and budget

Our ACaaS services are the perfect option when facing changing circumstances. These are customised reusable acoustic solutions that do not require structural adjustments. The benefits: 

• The staggered investment improves cashflow;
• Not a one-off investment but a running cost: lower impact on your budget;
• ACaaS is entirely modular;
• The contract can be revised every year;
• ACaaS is ideal for environments that need to be flexible;
• ACaaS is the most sustainable solution.

Nowadays, alternative financing options are also available for school construction. The aim is to encourage flexible, energy-neutral solutions. Watch here how this new approach works.

Want to know more about the possibilities for schools? 

Would you like more information on the possibilities and products offered by DOX Acoustics and DOX Soundproofing? Don’t hesitate to contact us!