SerenityLite Panels in various fabric colours can reduce background noise and add vibrancy to an interior space like a classroom

Reducing background noise in classrooms can reduce teacher stress

Reducing background noise in classrooms can tangible benefits for both teachers and pupils.  Minimising reflected sound or reverberation can direct result in improved speech clarity and better understanding by pupils, while teachers have less need to shout or strain to be heard.  Hard surfaces like glass or masonry are usually the culprits, and need to be covered with a sound absorbing lining to minimise reflections and echo.

A recent noisy classroom project at Marian College, Sunshine West, in  Victoria  involved acoustic consultant Mr David Dolly, from Acoustic Consulting Australia. He calculated the reverberation time and found it was outside the international guidelines for classrooms ( Education Regulations 1999, SI 1999 No. 2 and Requirement E4/Part E/Schedule 1, 1 of the Building Regulations 2000) so a significant amount of sound absorbing materials needed to be introduced into the classroom to make it usable. However, due to windows, services, doors, etc., the only area available for acoustic treatment was on the ceiling.

SerenityLite Acoustic Panels

The desired outcome was achieved using SerenityLite Acoustic Panels on the ceilings and in some small wall areas. The SerenityLite Acoustic  Ceiling Panels selected were 25mm thick as they performed best at frequencies of 750Khz and above. Covered in porous, decorative fabric in multiple colours a vibrant, exciting ceiling was created. Acoustically, the result was a very usable classroom with improved teaching conditions due to the significant reduction in the reverberation time.

If you have a similar problem please contact Sontext at sales@sontext.com.au

Sonofonic Lightweight Acoustic Panels installed in a Teaching Kitchen to minimise background noise

Classroom Noise a Problem for Teachers and Pupils – Lightweight acoustic Panels

by Gerald Hynes

Background noise in classrooms can be a major problem, but it is not always recognised. It can result in speech recognition problems and hearing difficulties for students, and increased stress on teaching staff.

Reverberation and other unwanted noise can be amplified by hard floor and wall surfaces  such as concrete and glass. This reflected sound makes clear communication difficult for teachers and students alike. Sound and speech quality can be a particular problem in active practical classrooms like the teaching kitchen pictured here, where tools, implements, cross-talk, etc., all contribute to the background noise. Often, an unpleasant outcome of situations like this is that sound levels go up – as teachers and students tend to shout to make themselves heard.

Lightweight Acoustic Panels Provide a Simple Solution

A simple way to improve this situation is to  install Acoustic Panels in the room. Lightweight Sonofonic Acoustic Panels finished with a porous washable paint system. They are easily retrofitted under an existing ceiling using ‘Spiramount’ spiral fixings available from Sontext.  Information on this panel fixing system can be obtained from Sontext via the e-mail link below.In the case pictured here, 50mm thick Sonofonic sound absorbing panels were suspended horizontally under the concrete slab ceiling at Riverside High School, Tasmania. Sontext have completed  a number of similar school projects recently – in laboratories, music rooms and craft rooms. Teaching staff report that the reduction in noise levels was noticeable immediately.

If you require a solution to classroom noise please contact Sontext on sales@sontext.com.au

The Serenity Acoustic Panels were installed in corridors to reduce the noise levels but with the addition of the L32 impact resistant membrane the Acoustic panels have increased impact resistance. The school are extremely happy as not only do they have less noise problems but have installed Acoustic panels in classrooms, reception areas, corridors and in the multi purpose hall.

Serenity Fabric covered acoustic panels are designed in accordance strict acoustic performance requirements set out by the Acoustic consultant. The insulation used in this project is 50mm thick because of the extra requirement of low frequency absorption and are covered in Rim Trilogy 1 fabric. The fabric chosen is a totally breathable fabric which allows the unwanted noise to penetrate the sound absorbing membranes in the panel.

Sontext have distributors in Kuwait, UAE, Qatar and Jordan. To find out more information please contact us via email on sales@sontext.com.au.