ISSN: 2577-2953
Authors: Summan A*
This study investigated the acoustical quality of seven classrooms and learning spaces at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah. The physical characteristics of sounds measured in these classrooms included Background Noise Levels (BNLs - dBA) and Reverberation Times (RTs - seconds). Measurements were conducted in unoccupied conditions. In addition, information about rooms' sizes, design, components and building materials were collected. Results of BNLs and RTs indicated poor acoustical condition in the new classrooms, while old classrooms provided fair or acceptable acoustical quality for learning and teaching based on their RTs. BNLs in the new classrooms ranged from 42 to 71 dBA, and RTs ranged from 1 to 1.4 seconds, which all were higher than the allowable BNL (35 dBA) and RT (0.6 seconds) (ANSI 12.60.2010) according to their rooms sizes. This poor acoustical condition were found to be associated with ventilation noise, reflective surfaces, and classroom design. In conclusion, recommendations to improve the acoustical quality for better learning and teaching in the investigated new classrooms were highlighted in this paper.
Keywords: Noise; Time; Verberations; Classroom Design
