Hush Acoustics has provided an effective solution to reduce reverberation and echo inside a south London primary school classroom to create an environment suitable for an SEN student.

When it was announced that two primary schools in south London were to merge to respond to changing demand for places, the decision was made to retain and upgrade one of the schools to facilitate the combined 380+ students in the 3-11 age range. This resulted in the formation of Bird in Bush Primary School and now teaching its first academic year, Southwark’s newest school has been adapted to accommodate an increased number of children to ensure their needs are met, and that the learning environment is inclusive for all.

One of the ways the school was adapted prior to opening was to create the right acoustic conditions inside one of the classrooms for a student with special educational needs (SEN). The child’s condition meant that they were more susceptible to the adverse effects of noise resulting from reverberation and echo, which could potentially have an impact on their learning outcomes.

An acoustic survey was carried out to assess the levels of reverberation affecting the Year 6 classroom and provide the necessary data for the acoustic calculations. The aim was to calculate the current reverberation time (RT), the time taken for the sound pressure level from the original sound to drop by 60dB after it stops, and work out how much absorption would be needed to bring this in line with the requirements of BB93.

On the back of this, Hush Acoustics were able to provide their recommendations in terms of the number of sound absorber panels required and where they would need to be installed.

The solution provided by Hush involved the manufacture and installation of 40x Hush Absorber 50 panels, which were sized 1200 x 600 x 50mm and covered in a fabric coloured in a neutral tone to blend seamlessly with the classroom’s main colour. These were fitted onto the soffit of the classroom’s sloping ceiling which was important to ensure the walls could continue to be used for notice boards and other displays.

Prior to their installation, the RT was measured at 3.8s and following the upgrade the reduction in reverberation is evident in the fact that this figure is now 0.8s. This was the lowest figure possible given the available space for the sound absorber panels on the soffit.

Disruption to teaching was completely avoided because the Hush Absorber 50 panels were fitted in just one day during the summer holiday closure of the school. This ensured they were in place for the beginning of the new term and the school’s new era as Bird in Bush Primary School.

Find out more about Hush Acoustics’ range of sound absorber panels to reduce reverberation and echo in all kinds of internal environments at www.hushacoustics.co.uk.