Floor materials
125
Hz
250
Hz
500
Hz
1
kHz
2
kHz
4
kHz
carpet
0.01
0.02
0.06
0.15
0.25
0.45
Concrete (unpainted, rough finish)
0.01
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.1
Concrete (sealed or painted)
0.01
0.01
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
Marble or glazed tile
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.02
0.02
Vinyl tile or linoleum on concrete
0.02
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.02
Wood parquet on concrete
0.04
0.04
0.07
0.06
0.06
0.07
Wood flooring on joists
0.15
0.11
0.1
0.07
0.06
0.07
Seating materials
125
Hz
250
Hz
500
Hz
1
kHz
2
kHz
4
kHz
Benches (wooden, empty)
0.1
0.09
0.08
0.08
0.08
0.08
Benches (wooden, 2/3 occupied)
0.37
0.4
0.47
0.53
0.56
0.53
Benches (wooden, fully occupied)
0.5
0.56
0.66
0.76
0.8
0.76
Benches (cushioned seats and
backs, empty)
0.32
0.4
0.42
0.44
0.43
0.48
Benches (cushioned seats and
backs, 2/3 occupied)
0.44
0.56
0.65
0.72
0.72
0.67
Benches (cushioned seats and
backs, fully occupied)
0.5
0.64
0.76
0.86
0.86
0.76
Theater seats (wood, empty)
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.07
0.08
0.08
Theater seats (wood, 2/3
occupied)
0.34
0.21
0.28
0.53
0.56
0.53
Theater seats (wood, fully
occupied)
0.5
0.3
0.4
0.76
0.8
0.76
Seats (fabric-upholsterd, empty)
0.49
0.66
0.8
0.88
0.82
0.7
Seats (fabric-upholsterd, fully
occupied)
0.6
0.74
0.88
0.96
0.93
0.85
Reflective wall materials
125
Hz
250
Hz
500
Hz
1
kHz
2
kHz
4
kHz
Brick (natural)
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.07
Brick (painted)
0.01
0.01
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.03
Concrete block (coarse)
0.36
0.44
0.31
0.29
0.39
0.25
Concrete block (painted)
0.1
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.09
0.08
Concrete (poured, rough finish,
unpainted)
0.01
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.1
Doors (solid wood panels)
0.1
0.07
0.05
0.04
0.04
0.04
Glass (1/4" plate, large pane)
0.18
0.06
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.02
Glass (small pane)
0.04
0.04
0.03
0.03
0.02
0.02
Plasterboard (12mm (1/2")
paneling on studs)
0.29
0.1
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.04
Plaster (gypsum or lime, on
masonry)
0.01
0.02
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
Plaster (gypsum or lime, on wood
lath)
0.14
0.1
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.04
Plywood (3mm(1/8") paneling
over 31.7mm(1-1/4") airspace)
0.15
0.25
0.12
0.08
0.08
0.08
Plywood (3mm(1/8") paneling
over 57.1mm( 2-1/4") airspace)
0.28
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.08
0.08
Plywood (5mm(3/16") paneling
over 50mm(2") airspace)
0.38
0.24
0.17
0.1
0.08
0.05
Plywood (5mm(3/16") panel,
25mm(1") fiberglass in 50mm(2")
airspace)
0.42
0.36
0.19
0.1
0.08
0.05
Plywood (6mm(1/4") paneling,
airspace, light bracing)
0.3
0.25
0.15
0.1
0.1
0.1
Plywood (10mm(3/8") paneling,
airspace, light bracing)
0.28
0.22
0.17
0.09
0.1
0.11
Plywood (19mm(3/4") paneling,
airspace, light bracing)
0.2
0.18
0.15
0.12
0.1
0.1
Absorptive wall materials
125
Hz
250
Hz
500
Hz
1
kHz
2
kHz
4
kHz
Drapery (10 oz/yd2, 340 g/m2,
flat against wall)
0.04
0.05
0.11
0.18
0.3
0.35
Drapery (14 oz/yd2, 476 g/m2,
flat against wall)
0.05
0.07
0.13
0.22
0.32
0.35
Drapery (18 oz/yd2, 612 g/m2,
0.05
0.12
0.35
0.48
0.38
0.36
flat against wall)
Drapery (14 oz/yd2, 476 g/m2,
pleated 50%)
0.07
0.31
0.49
0.75
0.7
0.6
Drapery (18 oz/yd2, 612 g/m2,
pleated 50%)
0.14
0.35
0.53
0.75
0.7
0.6
Fiberglass board (25mm(1") thick)
0.06
0.2
0.65
0.9
0.95
0.98
Fiberglass board (50mm(2") thick)
0.18
0.76
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
Fiberglass board (75mm(3") thick)
0.53
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
Fiberglass board (100mm(4")
thick)
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.97
Open brick pattern over
75mm(3") fiberglass
0.4
0.65
0.85
0.75
0.65
0.6
Pageboard over 25mm(1")
fiberglass board
0.08
0.32
0.99
0.76
0.34
0.12
Pageboard over 50mm(2")
fiberglass board
0.26
0.97
0.99
0.66
0.34
0.14
Pageboard over 75mm(3")
fiberglass board
0.49
0.99
0.99
0.69
0.37
0.15
Performated metal (13% open,
over 50mm(2") fiberglass)
0.25
0.64
0.99
0.97
0.88
0.92
Ceiling material
125
Hz
250
Hz
500
Hz
1
kHz
2
kHz
4
kHz
Plasterboard (12mm(1/2") in
suspended ceiling grid)
0.15
0.11
0.04
0.04
0.07
0.08
Underlay in perforated metal
panels (25mm(1") batts)
0.51
0.78
0.57
0.77
0.9
0.79
Metal deck (perforated
channels,25mm(1") batts)
0.19
0.69
0.99
0.88
0.52
0.27
Metal deck (perforated channels,
75mm(3") batts)
0.73
0.99
0.99
0.89
0.52
0.31
Plaster (gypsum or lime, on
masonary)
0.01
0.02
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
Plaster (gypsum or lime, rough
finish or timber lath)
0.14
0.1
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.04
Sprayed cellulose fiber
0.05
0.16
0.44
0.79
0.9
0.91
(16mm(5/8") on solid backing)
Sprayed cellulose fiber (25mm(1")
on solid backing)
0.08
0.29
0.75
0.98
0.93
0.76
Sprayed cellulose fiber (25mm(1")
on timber lath)
0.47
0.9
1.1
1.03
1.05
1.03
Sprayed cellulose fiber (32mm(11/4") on solid backing)
0.1
0.3
0.73
0.92
0.98
0.98
Sprayed cellulose fiber (75mm(3")
on solid backing)
0.7
0.95
0.85
0.85
0.9
Wood tongue-and-groove roof
decking
0.24
0.19
0.14
0.08
0.13
0.1
Miscellaneous surface material
125
Hz
250
Hz
500
Hz
1
kHz
2
kHz
4
kHz
People-adults (per 1/10 person)
0.25
0.35
0.42
0.46
0.5
0.5
People-high school students (per
1/10 person)
0.22
0.3
0.38
0.42
0.45
0.45
People-elementary students (per
1/10 person)
0.18
0.23
0.28
0.32
0.35
0.35
Ventilating grilles
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.4
Water or ice surface
0.008
0.008
0.013
0.015
0.02
0.025
RT60 relates to intelligibility. Diffractors reduce pronounced reflection by breaking up
the sound wave before reflecting it back. This does not reduce reverberant energy,
but does reduce echo spikes that may otherwise exceed -60db of direct, thus
lowering RT60 and improving intelligibilty, but not necessarily improving the
listening environment for music.