Planning errors in room acoustics: You can hear them immediately!

Who hasn’t experienced it? A modern, open-plan room – but as soon as several people talk at the same time, it gets loud. Very loud. Acoustic problems like these are often caused by avoidable planning errors in the room acoustics – especially in the early project phases.

At acp^® – apn^® concepts & projects, the planning office of apn^®, we support architecture firms, interior designers and space planners in the professional integration of acoustics into room planning. Here we show five typical pitfalls – and how they can be avoided.

1. acoustics come into play too late

A common mistake: the floor plan is in place, the materials are coordinated – and only then do you realize that the room acoustics have not been considered. The large conference area suddenly sounds like a gymnasium. The result: acoustic measures are added afterwards – usually cost-intensive and rarely effective.

2. use and acoustics contradict each other

Do you want a room to be used simultaneously for concentrated work, short meetings and telephone calls? Without acoustic zoning, this leads to overlapping – both acoustically and functionally. Thinking about room zones and usage requirements together at an early stage prevents conflicts of use later on.

3. no sound data

Technical principles such as reverberation time calculations or acoustic simulations are often lacking. Decisions are then made purely on the basis of feelings – which becomes problematic when it comes to user feedback at the latest. Acoustic planning needs a measurable basis.

4. products instead of planning

Instead of a needs analysis, acoustic panels or ceiling panels are selected immediately. The selection of acoustic solutions should always be based on product-neutral planning. Specific products should only be selected once the requirements are clear.

5. unclear responsibilities

Acoustic planning is teamwork. However, it often remains unclear who supplies which data or who is responsible for calculations. These interfaces must be defined at an early stage – otherwise there is a risk of planning chaos and a loss of quality.

Conclusion: Room and acoustics belong together

Planning errors in room acoustics can be avoided – if acoustics are not seen as an add-on, but as an integral part of room planning. This is precisely our approach at acp^®: manufacturer-independent, practical and tailored to the respective use.

Good room acoustics do not happen by chance. It is the result of well thought-out planning – right from the start.