Acoustic conditioning for schools and classrooms
Acoustic comfort in educational centers is a fundamental requirement to ensure effective learning in a healthy environment and to foster positive coexistence.
At Decustik, we have been working for years on projects for schools, secondary schools, and universities, and we have seen how a well-designed acoustic intervention can completely transform the educational experience.
In this guide, you will find the essential principles of acoustic conditioning in schools, with examples, measurable benefits, and solutions especially suited to each type of space.
Why acoustics are essential in an educational center
The sound quality of a classroom directly affects:
Students’ concentration.
Teachers’ vocal fatigue and effort.
Stress levels.
Speech clarity (intelligibility).
Overall coexistence.
Various international studies highlight the importance of good classroom acoustics, as:
*The World Health Organization (WHO) considers high reverberation a risk to learning and well-being and, in its guidelines, specifically recommends for classrooms that background noise should be ≤ 35 dB(A) and reverberation time ≤ 0.6 s.
A classroom with excessive reverberation forces teachers to raise their voices, makes it harder to maintain attention, and hinders oral comprehension. Proper acoustic treatment creates a more effective and healthier environment.
Most common acoustic problems and how to solve them
1. Excessively high reverberation times
Problem
Classrooms often have hard surfaces (tiles, concrete, glass) that reflect sound and generate reverberation. Reverberation is the result of sound reflecting and bouncing off different surfaces without fully dissipating. This effect is perceived as an annoying and persistent background noise that prevents intelligibility.
Solution
Install sound-absorbing panels on walls or ceilings, such as perforated, slotted, or microperforated wooden panels, with acoustic absorption performance tested and validated by certified measurements.
These solutions reduce reverberation time (RT60) and significantly improve intelligibility without the need for major renovations.
2. Noise coming from corridors, playgrounds, and dining halls
Problem: Common areas concentrate high noise levels that can filter into classrooms.
Solution: Apply acoustic absorption in corridors, lobbies, and circulation areas.
Slotted or slatted panels reduce sound energy at the source, preventing noise from reaching classrooms, although they do not replace the need for an acoustic insulation system in classroom partitions and doors.
3. Sound reflections in large dining halls, gyms, and multipurpose rooms
Problem: Large volumes and reflective surfaces make noise control difficult.
Solution: Install perforated or slotted wooden acoustic panels on walls and ceilings.
Combined with an air cavity or mineral wool, they help control multiple reflections and reduce the overall sound level.
Benefits of acoustic treatment in schools, secondary schools, and universities
Proper acoustic design provides:
Greater speech intelligibility.
Reduced acoustic stress for students and teachers.
Improved performance and attention.
More positive coexistence in common areas.
More balanced and healthier environments.
More inclusive classrooms for students with ADHD, auditory sensitivities, or special educational needs.
Reference standards:
There is no harmonized European standard that establishes acoustic requirements for educational centers; design criteria and limit values are defined at the national level, based on European measurement standards and technical guidelines. Below are some examples.
- Spain → Technical Building Code (CTE) DB-HR Basic Document HR – Protection against noise (mandatory)
- France → Arrêté du 25 avril 2003 relatif à la limitation du bruit dans les établissements d’enseignement (mandatory)
- United Kingdom → BB93: Acoustic design of schools – performance standards (mandatory for schools)
- Germany → DIN 18041 Acoustic quality in rooms – Specifications and instructions for room acoustic design (technical recommendation)
- Italy → DPCM 5 dicembre 1997 – Determinazione dei requisiti acustici passivi degli edifici
- United States → ANSI/ASA S12.60 Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools
It is necessary, for each country, to be familiar with the applicable standards and recommendations.
Applications of acoustic conditioning within an educational center
Classrooms
The central learning space. Priority: controlling reverberation. Perforated or microperforated panels reduce reverberation while maintaining aesthetics and durability.
Corridors and circulation areas
Critical noise points. Slotted or slatted panels reduce sound propagation and improve coexistence.
School dining halls
High occupancy and hard surfaces. Sound-absorbing acoustic panels on walls or ceilings significantly improve comfort and reduce acoustic stress.
Multipurpose rooms and multi-use spaces
They require good absorption in the vocal frequency range and integrated decorative solutions.
Music or theater rooms
They require a balance between absorption, diffusion, and sound control. Wood is ideal due to its natural acoustic response.
Libraries
Silent spaces where it is essential to avoid reflections and structural noise.
Real-life example of acoustic improvement
In a group of classrooms with an initial RT60 of 1.3 s, the installation of microperforated and slatted panels reduced reverberation to 0.55 s, complying with DB-HR requirements and immediately improving intelligibility.
Decustik solutions for educational spaces
Poor acoustic design in classrooms prevents students from hearing clearly, increases teachers’ vocal fatigue and effort, and raises stress levels in the classroom, which slows down learning and compromises the performance of the educational space.
At Decustik, we design acoustic panels specifically conceived for the intensive use typical of educational centers.
- Perforated panels → ideal for classrooms and medium-sized rooms
- Slotted panels → common areas, corridors, and dining halls
- Microperforated panels → maximum discretion and high performance
- Slatted systems → contemporary design + absorption
- Custom solutions → special geometries, integration with lighting or furniture
We manufacture using high-quality technical wood, available with FSC or PEFC certification.
If you are considering improving the acoustics of your educational center, we will be happy to advise you from the initial concept through to final installation.
*Berglund, Birgitta, Lindvall, Thomas, Schwela, Dietrich H & World Health Organization. Occupational and Environmental Health Team (1999). Guidelines for community noise. World Health Organization. World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/66217
