how to reduce sound reverberations in your space
before we look at how to tackle sound reverberations, what exactly are they and why are they such a problem?
Sound reverberations are the echoes you hear ‘bouncing’ around a room after a sound is made. If you’ve ever clapped your hands in a large empty hall, you might have heard it repeating around the space. This is because the sound waves are caroming off the walls, floors and other hard surfaces until they fade away. In many settings such as classrooms, offices and restaurants, this can create unpleasant environments.
Why are echoes such a problem? Because they make speech harder to understand and lower sound quality. In a classroom for example, there could be a reverberation time of 3+ seconds. If the teacher was to say the word ‘dog’, the word would bounce around the room for 3 seconds, until it decayed by 60 decibels. Within those 3 seconds, the teacher continues talking and says another 8-10 more words. All these words are bouncing around the room and hitting the students from all angles making it extremely difficult to understand what’s being said. This forces the teacher to raise their voice to try and be heard. Combine this with the background noise of the class and it soon creates a sonic battleground.
In other words, there’s a sound overload—we’re getting too many versions of the same sound at slightly different times, so they come across as muffled or blurred. The atmosphere in such a space is likely to feel chaotic and unpleasant.
Sound reverberations are particularly bad for places where a crystal-clear sound is crucial. For instance, in theatres, offices, conference rooms and classrooms.
Here at Oscar Acoustics we can help you solve this issue without having to add sound-absorbing materials like carpets or curtains. We offer seamless acoustic sprays and plasters that absorb sound waves before they get a chance to bounce all over the place.
acoustic sprays: a convenient solution
Oscar Acoustics has been offering expert acoustic solutions for over 45 years. Our SonaSpray range of acoustic sprays are a fantastic alternative to rigid acoustic panels, tiles or baffles (sound absorbing panels). They’re uniquely convenient, effective and won’t affect the interior design of your space.
Here are just a few of the benefits they offer as acoustic solutions:
they’re suitable for all types of spaces
SonaSpray acoustic sprays can either be virtually invisible, applied behind suspended mesh and timber ceilings or enhance the appearance of your room. While panels and tiles are effective, they can disrupt the look of a space and often appear as an afterthought.
Our sprays, on the other hand, are applied directly to ceilings or walls and blend in seamlessly with any space. They follow the lines of whatever is underneath allowing designers to achieve perfect, sweeping curves and shapes which is why they’re often used in luxury offices, galleries and auditoriums. You won’t have to sacrifice style for sound quality.
acoustic sprays are highly adaptable
You can use SonaSpray to acoustically treat and decorate complex architectural elements such as barrel vaults, domes and corrugated decks. These are often much trickier and time consuming to address with panels or tiles. They can also be spray applied to most substrates including concrete, steel, plasterboard, glass and expanded polystyrene.
If you have an older building with a unique design, our sprays mean you’ll enjoy reliable noise control without having to sacrifice any original features.
a quick, efficient application process
When time is of the essence, acoustic sprays win hands down. Acoustic panels require precise installation, often involving mounts or adhesives that can take weeks to complete. With sprays, it’s as simple as, well, spraying. Our specialist trained in-house professionals can cover large areas in a shorter time, meaning less downtime for your space. This efficiency can make a big difference, especially in busy commercial or public spaces that can’t afford prolonged disruptions.
high performance acoustic solutions
Our acoustic sprays pack a punch in terms of sound absorption. They’re particularly effective in large, echo-prone spaces like warehouses, studios, school sports halls, and open-plan offices.
They work by absorbing sound waves instead of reflecting them, significantly reducing reverberation levels. The result? A quieter, more comfortable environment. While panels and other options can be effective, they often require more materials and need to be carefully placed to reach the same level of sound control.
stylish and eco-friendly sprays
Our sprays are recycled, fire-rated, and decorative. Designers can therefore use them to create tranquil and inviting spaces that sound as good as they look. SonaSpray acoustic sprays contribute towards many sustainable design and health certification systems including BREEAM, SKA, Living Building Challenge and LEED. Made of fire-treated, recycled paper and other rapidly renewable natural resources, SonaSpray can effectively lower the carbon footprint of the building project by sequestering rich stores of carbon for the life of the structure or application.
introducing Oscar Elite acoustic plaster
Oscar Acoustics also offers an exceptionally smooth acoustic plaster. Oscar Elite is A2-s1, d0 and Class 0 fire-rated to BS476 and also achieves M1 certification for Building Materials emissions. Like our acoustic sprays, acoustic plaster offers a highly effective way to control sound. However, it brings additional benefits that make it ideal for particular settings. For historical or buildings with minimalist architecture, acoustic plaster is particularly valuable since it integrates well with intricate designs while still maintaining a room’s original character.
If you want to know more about how our products reduce sound reverberations, Oscar Acoustics is always happy to offer more information.
Find out more about our acoustic solutions. Or don’t hesitate to contact our team for more information.