Sound Transmission Suite & Reverberation Room Laboratory Setup
We provide specialized sound transmission suite and reverberation room laboratory setup engineering services for acoustic research institutes, materials manufacturers, and testing laboratories. Our custom laboratory setups enable precise, repeatable laboratory Sound Insulation Testing and Sound Absorption Testing to quantify the acoustic performance of building elements, acoustic treatments, and architectural products.
To ensure full compliance with international standards, every sound transmission suite and reverberation room we design is optimized to achieve high sound reverberant build-up and a uniform, diffuse sound field. We engineer facility geometries with room volumes of at least $200 m^3 to ensure valid spatial sound distribution, and all detailed room design parameters are fully documented for inclusion in final test reports.
Testing Capabilities: Sound Insulation vs. Sound Absorption
A complete acoustic laboratory setup supports two fundamental material characterization methodologies:
| Testing Domain | Primary Objective | Standard Metrics Reported | Facility Type & Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sound Insulation Testing |
Measures the resistance of building elements (separating walls, windows, doors, floors, partitions) against acoustic transmission between spaces. |
Weighted Sound Reduction Index ($R_w$), Sound Transmission Loss (STL), Sound Transmission Class (STC) |
Sound Transmission Suite
(Dual-chamber facility with isolated source and receiving rooms) |
|
Sound Absorption Testing |
Measures sound energy absorption of acoustic materials/treatments to reduce echo, shorten reverberation time, and improve speech intelligibility. |
Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC), Sound Absorption Average (SAA), Sound Absorption Coefficient ($\alpha_s$), Equivalent Absorption Area |
Reverberation Room(Single high-volume, highly reverberant room greater or equals to 200 m^3) |
Sound Insulation Testing Details: Test elements are mounted in a specialized aperture between the source and receiving rooms of the transmission suite. Airborne and impact sound transmission loss are quantified across fractional-octave bands to verify building code compliance.
Sound Absorption Testing Details: Absorbing specimens are positioned inside the reverberation chamber. ASTM C423 standards report NRC and SAA for extended plane surfaces, while ISO 354 reports sound absorption coefficients ($\alpha_s$) for plane absorbers and equivalent sound absorption area per object for discrete items.
To compare laboratory test metrics with on-site post-construction performance, integrate your laboratory capabilities with our Field Airborne Sound Insulation Assessment Services and Field Impact Sound Insulation Assessment Services.
Governing Standards for Laboratory Sound Transmission & Absorption
Our sound transmission suite and reverberation room setup projects strictly adhere to ISO and ASTM laboratory testing codes:
1. Laboratory Sound Insulation Standards (ISO 10140 & ASTM E90)
ISO 10140-5:2021: Requirements for test facilities and equipment in laboratory sound insulation testing.
ISO 10140-4:2021: Measurement procedures and operational requirements.
ISO 10140-3:2021: Laboratory measurement of impact sound insulation of floor assemblies.
ISO 10140-2:2021: Laboratory measurement of airborne sound insulation of building elements.
ISO 10140-1:2021: Application rules for specific products and test specimens.
ASTM E90-09(2016): Standard test method for laboratory measurement of airborne sound transmission loss of building partitions.
2. Laboratory Sound Absorption Standards (ISO 354 & ASTM C423)
ISO 354:2003: Measurement of sound absorption in a reverberation room.
ASTM C423: Standard test method for sound absorption and sound absorption coefficients by the reverberation room method.
ISO 11654:1997: Sound absorbers for use in buildings — Rating of sound absorption.
