Acoustic Treatments Aiming to Achieve the Italian Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM) Standards in Large Reverberant Classrooms

Authors

  • Umberto Berardi Ryerson University http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0508-6195
  • Gino Iannace Università degli Studi della Campania « Luigi Vanvitelli », Borgo San Lorenzo Aversa (Ce)
  • Amelia Trematerra Università degli Studi della Campania « Luigi Vanvitelli », Borgo San Lorenzo Aversa (Ce)

Keywords:

classrooms, clarity, reverberation time, speech intelligibility, Italian Minimum Environmental Criteria.

Abstract

A recent Italian legislation has established the Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM) for any working environment. In regards to schools, adequate acoustic comfort targets are required in terms of noise control and acoustic quality. Schools must comply with the Italian technical standard UNI 11532 for their reverberation time (T), clarity (C50) and speech intelligibility (STI). In classrooms, the following values are required: T<0.7s, C50>0dB, and STI>0.6. In sports facilities such as gyms, the CAM requirements are T<1.5 s, C50> -2 dB, and STI> 0.5. To achieve these objectives, the insertion of acoustic treatments is often unavoidable. The new requests for classrooms are leading acousticians to propose sound correcting interventions in many educational buildings. Acousticians typically use the perfectly diffused theory to calculate the minimum amount of needed sound-absorbing material to comply with current legislation. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the optimal position in which to place the minimum amount of sound-absorbing treatments to reach the CAM in some university classrooms. These classrooms have a marble floor and plastered walls and, at 1.0 kHz, have T values between 2.5 s and 4.5 s, C50 between 3 dB and -0.5 dB, and STI between 0.34 and 0.47. Using an acoustic software, it was possible to estimate the minimum quantity and the optimal placement of the sound-absorbing panels to insert in each classroom to reach the CAM.

Author Biography

Umberto Berardi, Ryerson University

Dr. Berardi is an Associate Professor at Ryerson University, in Toronto (Ontario, Canada). His main research interests are related to the study of building systems that incorporate new materials for improved performance.  Dr. Berardi contributes to several academic and scientific communities. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal Canadian Acoustics, and he has been the editor of several special issues for journals such as Buildings, Sustainability, and Advances in Mechanical Engineering. 

Additional Files

Published

2019-04-26

How to Cite

1.
Berardi U, Iannace G, Trematerra A. Acoustic Treatments Aiming to Achieve the Italian Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM) Standards in Large Reverberant Classrooms. Canadian Acoustics [Internet]. 2019 Apr. 26 [cited 2024 Apr. 16];47(1):73-80. Available from: https://jcaa.caa-aca.ca/index.php/jcaa/article/view/3278

Issue

Vol. 47 No. 1 (2019)

Section

Murray's special issue

License

Author Licensing Addendum

This Licensing Addendum ("Addendum") is entered into between the undersigned Author(s) and Canadian Acoustics journal published by the Canadian Acoustical Association (hereinafter referred to as the "Publisher"). The Author(s) and the Publisher agree as follows:

  1. Retained Rights: The Author(s) retain(s) the following rights:

    • The right to reproduce, distribute, and publicly display the Work on the Author's personal website or the website of the Author's institution.
    • The right to use the Work in the Author's teaching activities and presentations.
    • The right to include the Work in a compilation for the Author's personal use, not for sale.

  2. Grant of License: The Author(s) grant(s) to the Publisher a worldwide exclusive license to publish, reproduce, distribute, and display the Work in Canadian Acoustics and any other formats and media deemed appropriate by the Publisher.

  3. Attribution: The Publisher agrees to include proper attribution to the Author(s) in all publications and reproductions of the Work.

  4. No Conflict: This Addendum is intended to be in harmony with, and not in conflict with, the terms and conditions of the original agreement entered into between the Author(s) and the Publisher.

  5. Copyright Clause: Copyright on articles is held by the Author(s). The corresponding Author has the right to grant on behalf of all Authors and does grant on behalf of all Authors, a worldwide exclusive license to the Publisher and its licensees in perpetuity, in all forms, formats, and media (whether known now or created in the future), including but not limited to the rights to publish, reproduce, distribute, display, store, translate, create adaptations, reprints, include within collections, and create summaries, extracts, and/or abstracts of the Contribution.