School Gymnasium Acoustics - Part 3

Stage 2: Test Installation

The solution was to glue acoustic panels to the upper walls of the Gymnasium and hence absorb the reflected sound. Acoustic panels are often fixed to the ceiling in Gymnasiums and classrooms simply to maximise wall space. However in this case the ceiling was 11 metres high and gas heating panels were fixed to the ceiling.

It was therefore decided to fix acoustic panels to the upper walls and to make them from light-weight 50mm thick Polyester spun fibre board which is completely fire-proof, has no known health issues and eco-friendly (Made from post-consumer plastic bottles). The panels were designed to be 1200x600mm so that if a panel were damaged by a flying basketball it could easily and inexpensively be replaced by school staff with no specialised assistance. The panels also had to be black so that they did not show marks or dirt and extremely durable to repel student missiles.

Note in the above photo that a 50x50mm wooden board has been placed at bottom of each section of panels to protect the panels from student missiles. The results of the test while not dramatic were definitely noticeable.

Conversing in the Gym was definitely easier for both teachers and students. When re-tested the reverberation time had reduced from 3.8 seconds to 3.0 seconds as shown below