REVERBERATION TIME

COMPUTATION ALLOWABLE
FOR SPEECH AND MUSIC
WEEK 5 – BUILDING UTILITIES 3
REVERBERATION
Reverberation is the persistence of
sound after the cause of sound has
stopped— a result of repeated
reflections.

WALLACE CLEMENT SABINE

REVERBERATION TIME (TR)
Reverberation time ) describes the period required for the sound level to
decrease 60 dB after the sound source has stopped producing sound.

Note:
In acoustics, reverberation time (RT60)
is a measure of how long it takes for
sound to decay by 60 decibels (dB)
after the sound source has stopped. It
is an important parameter in the
design and analysis of architectural
spaces, such as concert halls,
auditoriums, and recording studios.
DESIRABLE REVERBERATION TIME?
The optimum reverberation time for an
auditorium or room of course depends upon its
intended use.

• Medium sized general purpose auditorium for

both speech and music = around 2 secs
• Classroom= <1sec (0.60 sec)
• Restaurants = 1 sec
• Multi Purpose = 1.2 secs
DESIRABLE REVERBERATION TIME?
The optimum reverberation time for an
auditorium or room of course depends upon its
intended use.

• Medium sized general purpose auditorium for

both speech and music = around 2 secs
• Classroom= <1sec (0.60 sec)
• Restaurants = 1 sec
• Multi Purpose = 1.2 secs
SABINE’S FORMULA
For most rooms, the reverberation time are specific frequency may be found
by the formula:

Sec

Where K = a constant, equal to 0.049 when V is in cubic feet and 0.16

when V is cubic meters
V = room volume,
= total absorption, sabins at the frequency
SAMPLE PROBLEM
Compute for the reverberation time of the room given below.
Step 1. Know what formula to use.
(Gypsum)
Sec
10’
Sec

Step 2. Determine the material used.

10’
(Wood)
(Marble) Step 3. Get the VOLUME of the room
10’ V=LxWxH
V = 10’ x 10’ x 10’
V = 1000’
SAMPLE PROBLEM
Compute for the reverberation time of the room given below.
Step 4. Get the total surface per material
Wood Gypsum Marble
10’ S1= 10’*10’ S1= 10’ x 10’ Ts= 100’ x 1 side
= 100 ‘ = 100’ Ts = 100’
10’ Ts= 100’ x 4 Sides Ts= 100’ x 1 side
Ts = 400’ Ts = 100’

10’ Step 4 multiply the NRC (refer to table) to the total

surfaces per material
Wood Gypsum Marble
Wood = 0.10
Gypsum = 0.05
Marble = 0.00
SAMPLE PROBLEM
Compute for the reverberation time of the room given below.
Step 4. Get the total surface per material
Wood Gypsum Marble
10’ S1= 10’*10’ S1= 10’ x 10’ Ts= 100’ x 1 side
= 100 ‘ = 100’ Ts = 100’
10’ Ts= 100’ x 4 Sides Ts= 100’ x 1 side
Ts = 400’ Ts = 100’

10’ Step 5. Multiply the NRC (refer to table) to the total

surfaces per material
Wood Gypsum Marble
=400’ x 0.10 =100’ x 0.05 =100’ x 0.00
=40’ =5’ =0’
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
Compute for the reverberation time of the room given below.
Step 6. :Laid them all in the formula
Sec
10’
Sec

10’ Sec

10’ 1.088 / 1.09 secs

GROUP RECIT
Compute for the reverberation time of the room given below.

5m Same materials

FIRST GROUP TO ANSWER:

5m PLUS (3) MIDTERM EXAMINATION
EXEMPTED (QUIZ1)
5m
GIVE ASSIGNMENT
5m
5m