What is Reverberation?
Reverberation is the persistence of sound in a space after the original sound source has stopped. It happens as sound waves reflect off walls, ceilings, floors and other surfaces before gradually decaying.
This phenomenon influences how comfortable and functional a space feels. For example:
In classrooms and offices: too much reverberation can reduce speech clarity, making communication harder.
In theatres, auditoriums, or worship spaces: the right amount of reverberation adds warmth and richness to music and speech.
In healthcare or hospitality environments: poor reverberation control can create noisy and stressful spaces.
That’s why understanding and controlling reverberation is a critical part of acoustic design for architectural project.
Why Reverberation Control Matters
Reverberation time, often measured as RT60, describes how long it takes for sound to decay by 60 decibels.
The right RT60 depends on the purpose of the room:
- Classrooms: 0.4 – 0.6 seconds
- Offices and meeting rooms: 0.5 – 0.8 seconds
- Lecture halls or multipurpose spaces: 0.8 – 1.2 seconds
- Concert halls: 1.5 – 2.0+ seconds
Getting this balance right ensures speech is intelligible, music is full and vibrant and the overall experience is comfortable for visitors and occupants.
How Reverberation is Controlled
Reverberation can be reduced by increasing the sound absorption within a space. This can be achieved by:
- Wall and ceiling treatments: acoustic panels, beams or slats that absorb sound energy.
- Floor finishes: Carpets or rugs to absorb mid-to-high frequency reflections.
- Furniture and fittings: Soft furnishings help reduce excessive reflections.
- Material choice: Surfaces with higher absorption coefficients will shorten reverberation times.
SUPAWOOD’s acoustic solutions are designed to both control reverberation and enhance architectural design, ensuring your space is functional and visually striking.
Easily Calculate Reverberation Time for Your Project
To help designers, architects, and builders, SUPAWOOD provides a Reverberation Control Calculator.
This simple online tool allows you to:
- Input your room dimensions.
- Add surface materials and finishes.
- Instantly estimate the reverberation time.
- Compare results to recommended ranges for your specific type of project.
With this calculator, you can quickly determine whether your design meets acoustic performance requirements and, if not, where you may need to introduce additional absorption.
Before using the Calculator, you may like to watch this short instructional video by our CEO, Colin Beattie.
Reverberation control isn’t just about meeting acoustic codes it’s about creating spaces that feel comfortable, clear, and enjoyable. Whether you’re designing a classroom, workplace or performance space, SUPAWOOD’s Reverberation Control Calculator makes it simple to check performance early on in your design process.
For more information, or to answer any further questions, please reach out to SUPAWOOD’s Client Care Consultant, Helicia Coote.
helicia@supawood.com.au
+61 2 6333 8019