The reverberation time (RT) of an auditorium is the time it takes for the sound to decay

by 60 dB after the source has stopped emitting sound. It is an important factor in

determining the acoustic quality of a space, and it is particularly important for auditoria,
where speech intelligibility and musical performance are paramount.

The RT of an auditorium can be calculated using the following formula:

RT = 0.161 * V / A

where:

 V is the volume of the auditorium in cubic meters

 A is the total sound absorption in sabins

The sound absorption of a surface is determined by its absorption coefficient, which is a

measure of how much sound energy is absorbed by the surface. The absorption
coefficient of a material ranges from 0 to 1, with 0 being perfectly reflective and 1 being
perfectly absorptive.

In the case of your auditorium, the volume is 30 m * 15 m * 10 m = 4500 cubic meters.

The total sound absorption is the product of the absorption coefficient and the total
surface area of the auditorium. Since the auditorium is heavily provided with an
absorption material with an absorption coefficient of 0.45, we can assume that the total
sound absorption is close to the total surface area of the auditorium.

The total surface area of the auditorium is 2 * (30 m * 15 m + 15 m * 10 m + 10 m * 30

m) = 1350 square meters. Therefore, the total sound absorption is approximately 1350
square meters * 0.45 = 607.5 sabins.

Plugging these values into the reverberation time formula, we get:

RT = 0.161 * 4500 cubic meters / 607.5 sabins = 644.0 seconds

Therefore, the reverberation time of your auditorium is 644 seconds.

Acoustic efficiency

The reverberation time of an auditorium should be appropriate for the intended use of
the space. For example, a concert hall needs a longer reverberation time than a lecture
hall, because the longer reverberation time helps to enhance the sound of the music.
The optimal reverberation time for an auditorium is typically between 1.5 and 2.5
seconds. A reverberation time that is too short can make the sound seem too dry, while
a reverberation time that is too long can make the sound muddy and difficult to
understand.

In the case of your auditorium, the reverberation time of 644 seconds is much too long.
This means that the sound will linger in the auditorium for a long time after the source
has stopped emitting sound, making it difficult to understand speech and music.

To improve the acoustic efficiency of your auditorium, you can add more sound
absorption materials to the walls and ceiling. You can also use acoustic curtains or
other movable sound absorption devices.

Here are some additional tips for improving the acoustic efficiency of an auditorium:

 Avoid using hard, reflective surfaces, such as concrete and glass.

 Use soft, absorptive materials, such as carpet, curtains, and acoustic panels.
 Make sure that the sound system is properly designed and installed.
 Consider using sound reinforcement to help distribute the sound evenly
throughout the auditorium.