Acoustics are a fundamental aspect of everyday life. The way we experience sound in an indoor space can influence our health, comfort and wellbeing. It is particularly significant in spaces such as offices, classrooms, and shared communal areas where the quality of sound is critical to the functionality of the space.

Over the years there has been an overwhelming amount of research highlighting the negative impacts of poor acoustic environments. These impacts range from physical and mental health effects and extended recovery periods in hospitals, to reduced productivity in workplaces and poor academic performance.

Creating indoor environments with outstanding acoustic performance begins early in the project cycle, during the design and planning phase.The goal is to bring the acoustical properties of the space in line with its intended use. A solid grasp of acoustic design and methods for noise control is critical for delivering the right combination of acoustic solutions for any given space.

In this whitepaper we take a look at how we perceive sound, and the various rating options we use to define acoustic performance. We also consider common types of sound absorption and how they influence the acoustics of a space.