A survey of acoustic conditions in semi-open plan classrooms in the United Kingdom

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a large scale, detailed acoustic survey of 42 open plan classrooms of varying design in the UK each of which contained between 2 and 14 teaching areas or classbases. The objective survey procedure, which was designed specifically for use in open plan classrooms, is described. The acoustic measurements relating to speech intelligibility within a classbase, including ambient noise level, intrusive noise level, speech to noise ratio, speech transmission index, and reverberation time, are presented. The effects on speech intelligibility of critical physical design variables, such as the number of classbases within an open plan unit and the selection of acoustic finishes for control of reverberation, are examined. This analysis enables limitations of open plan classrooms to be discussed and acoustic design guidelines to be developed to ensure good listening conditions. The types of teaching activity to provide adequate acoustic conditions, plus the speech intelligibility requirements of younger children, are also discussed.

A survey of acoustic conditions and noise levels in secondary school classrooms in England

“…IV C) were significantly correlated with UANL in open plan rooms (r ¼ 0.350, p < 0.05) but not in enclosed classrooms. It is well known that intrusive noise can cause problems for both teachers and pupils in open plan rooms, 32,33 and this result probably reflects this fact as the measured UANL would have included contributions from other areas in the school as the schools were occupied at the times of measurement. However, unlike a previous study of secondary school classrooms, 19 no significant relationships were found between reverberation times and speech to noise ratios.…”

“…TABLE VI 32 Despite low reverberation times in such spaces, speech intelligibility during lessons is often compromised by intrusive noise from adjacent spaces. 33 Table VIII shows that background noise levels, as indicated by L A90 , are between 30 and 35 dBA with enclosed classrooms having the lowest average level of 30.5 dB L A90 . The values of STI and C50 are consistent with the reverberation time and noise measurements and confirm that, in general, gymnasia and sports halls do not have good conditions for speaking and listening.…”

“…Some older schools, dating from the 1990s, have semi-open plan classrooms, that is, single rooms without doors leading off a common space, with volumes of around 200 m 3 . 32,33 This paper presents results of a study that has recently been undertaken to provide information on acoustic conditions and pupils' and teachers' attitudes toward their acoustic environment in secondary schools of different ages in England. The study has comprised questionnaire surveys of students and teachers, 34 cognitive testing of students in different levels of noise, noise and acoustic surveys of many spaces typical of secondary schools, plus monitoring of environmental conditions in classrooms.…”

A Influência do ruído na habilidade auditiva de ordenação temporal para sons verbais

“…The same problem was observed in national 8,27 and international 14,28,29 studies, which noted that, even during school recess, the classrooms failed to meet the requirements established by the regulations 17,28,29 . Equivalent sound pressure levels were elevated even in unoccupied classrooms.…”

“…There is a body of evidence demonstrating the interference of noise in students' auditory skills, which are necessary to effective comprehension of curricular content 11,13 . It has also been demonstrated that adequate acoustics is lacking in schools 14 .…”