When you step into a boardroom for a meeting or a video conference, you expect to hear and be heard clearly. But have you ever thought about what makes the sound in the room good or bad? Three key factors play a big role in how sound behaves in a room: Noise Floor, NC Rating, and RT60. Let’s break these down and see how they impact both the people in the room (near end) and those on the other side of the video call (far end).
Noise Floor: The Background Buzz
The Noise Floor is the level of background noise in a room when everything is quiet. Imagine you’re sitting in an empty boardroom. Even though no one is talking, you might hear the hum of the air conditioner, the buzz of lights, or distant traffic. This is the noise floor.
Impact on Acoustics: If the noise floor is too high, it can make it hard to hear people clearly, especially during quiet parts of a conversation. For the far end (people on the video call), a high noise floor can be transmitted through the microphones, making it difficult for them to hear what’s being said.
Target: For an ideal conference room, the noise floor should be below 35 dBA.
NC Rating: Keeping it Quiet
NC (Noise Criteria) Rating is a way to measure and rate the background noise in a room. It’s like a report card for how quiet a room is. The lower the NC rating, the quieter the room.
Impact on Acoustics: For a boardroom, an NC rating of around 25 to 30 is usually good. This means the room is quiet enough that conversations can be easily heard without the background noise becoming distracting. For both near and far ends, a low NC rating helps everyone focus on the conversation instead of the background hum.
Target: An NC rating between 25 and 30 is ideal for a conference room.
RT60: The Echo Effect
RT60 stands for Reverberation Time 60. It’s a measure of how long it takes for sound to fade away in a room. Imagine clapping your hands in an empty room and hearing the echo bounce around before it dies down. That’s what RT60 measures.
Impact on Acoustics: If the RT60 is too long, sound bounces around the room too much, causing echoes. This makes speech sound muddy and hard to understand. For the near end, this means people in the room might struggle to hear each other clearly. For the far end, those echoes can be picked up by microphones and make it even harder for them to hear the conversation.
Target: An RT60 between 0.4 and 0.6 seconds is considered ideal for a conference room.
How to Test Your Room’s Suitability
You don’t need specialized equipment to get a basic idea of your room’s acoustics. Here are a few simple tests you can do:
1. Clap Test for RT60: Stand in the middle of the room and clap your hands loudly. Listen to how long it takes for the sound to fade away. If you hear a lot of echoing or the sound lingers for more than a second, your RT60 might be too high.
2. Background Noise Test for Noise Floor: Sit in the room when it’s empty and quiet. Close your eyes and listen carefully. If you can easily hear hums, buzzes, or other noises, the noise floor might be too high. You can also use a smartphone app that measures decibels (dB) to see if the noise level is above 35 dBA.
3. Quiet Conversation Test for NC Rating: Have a conversation in a normal speaking voice with someone else in the room. If you find yourselves raising your voices to be heard over background noise, your room’s NC rating might be too high. Again, a smartphone app that measures NC rating or decibel levels can help provide a more precise measurement.
How Can you Fix It?
Now that we understand these acoustic factors, how can we improve them? This is where Sapphire works with trusted manufacturers like Primacoustic. They offer different solutions to make your boardroom sound better, whether you’re in the room or on a call.
Acoustic Ceiling Tiles: These tiles can be installed in the ceiling to absorb sound. They help reduce the RT60 by soaking up some of the sound energy, which means less echo and clearer speech.
Designer Panels: If you want something that looks good and works well, Sapphire can offer high-end designer panels. These panels not only help control the noise floor and RT60 by absorbing sound, but they also add a stylish look to the room.
Wall-Mounted Panels: For rooms where ceiling tiles might not be enough, wall-mounted panels can add extra sound absorption. This helps keep the NC rating low by reducing the overall noise in the room.
Custom Fit Solutions: If the design allows, custom wall and track paneling can be installed to give the acoustic treatment a seamless look.
Good acoustics are essential for a productive boardroom. By understanding and controlling factors like Noise Floor, NC Rating, and RT60, you can create a space where conversations are clear and everyone can focus on the meeting.
Sapphire partners with companies like Primacoustic to provide a range of solutions, from simple ceiling tiles to stylish wall panels, to help achieve the best possible sound environment for your boardroom. Simple tests can help you identify issues, and with the right acoustic treatments, you can ensure your boardroom is a space where everyone can communicate effectively, whether they’re in the room or on a call.
Have questions about how to best outfit your space? Contact Sapphire today to discuss with one of our experts!