Classroom Soundfield Systems

Research over the last thirty years has categorically demonstrated that the acoustic properties of the classroom in which students are taught can directly influence their academic performance and the development of both their language and social skills.

Until recently there were no enforceable standards for the requirement of classroom acoustics although Building Bulletin 87 provided advisory guidelines. The recent publication of Building Bulletin 93 provides mandatory requirements for “new” school designs demonstrating that older buildings require other methods of improving acoustic conditions.

Many schools in the UK were built in Victorian times and have high ceilings and reverberant walls. Later buildings, for example those constructed during the 1960’s, often have much lower ceilings but are square and feature a lot of glass. Additionally, partly for longevity and ease of cleaning, the floors are often acoustically reflective and generate noise from, for example, moving chairs and shuffling feet.

Some classrooms can be acoustically improved by the use of carpeting, curtains and soft furnishings but this can be expensive and time consuming.

Classrooms are also vulnerable to environmental noise from sources such as road traffic, aeroplanes and noise from neighbouring corridors, as well as internal noise from computer fans, air conditioners and heaters and more general noise generated by the children in the classroom.

Why not visit the pages on Distance, Noise and Reverberation to discover the real impact of being educated in a poor listening environment?

For further information or a free on-site demonstration More...