Optimum Reverberation Time of Classrooms for Incomplete Hearing People Using Speech Intelligibility Tests | Chapter 8 | Theory and Applications of Engineering Research Vol. 7

 Because speech recognition performance is significantly lower at the age of nine or younger, and age over 65. The acoustic performance standards of classrooms for these people, incomplete hearing people, should be investigated separately. This study derives the appropriate reverberation time of classrooms for both lower-grade elementary school pupils and elderly in Korea. A virtual sound field was created by computer modeling using normalized classrooms of Korean elementary schools. A total of five classrooms with reverberation times from 0.6 s to 1.2 s were produced by varying the sound absorption coefficient of the ceiling. Auralized sounds were produced by synthesizing anechoic sounds of words in a virtual sound field. Speech intelligibility tests were undertaken with 20 young pupils and 50 elderly people. As a result, it was concluded that the reverberation time suitable for lower-grade classrooms of elementary schools should be below 0.6 s because test scores were significantly lower when RT was longer than this value. Also reverberation time below 0.8s was suggested for the learning space for elderly people.

Author(s) Details:

Chan-Hoon Haan,
Department of Architectural Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea.

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Reaction of Clients and Fitness Instructors to Noise in Fitness Centers | Chapter 6 | Issues and Development in Health Research Vol. 1

 In Brazil, noise is becoming increasingly associated with leisure activities, such as working out in fitness centres, where thousands of instructors and clients are exposed to high sound pressure levels for several hours each day without any protection. This is concerning for their emotional and physical well-being. This study looked at the effects of noise on instructors and clients in fitness centres using measurements of sound pressure levels – equivalent sound levels (Leq), minimum (Lmin), and maximum (Lmax) levels, as well as simulations of acoustic parameters (reverberation time – RT and speech transmission index – STI). The information was gathered Odeon Room Acoustics v. 9.2 Combined software was used to run computer simulations. Based on their responses to a questionnaire, the impacts of noise on instructors and clients at fitness centres were found. The data were statistically analysed using R version 2.11.1 software, with a level of significance of 5% (p 0.05). The results showed that sound pressure levels (Leq) ranged from 82 to 100 decibels (A), with a maximum level (Lmax) of 117.2 decibels (A), exceeding the legally mandated noise limitations. It was discovered that changes made in fitness facilities reduced reverberation time and changed the rating of the voice transmission index from poor to average. Tiredness and vocal exhaustion were regular complaints from clients and instructors. By the end of the day, fitness instructors allegedly experienced a variety of voice changes, the most common of which was hoarseness. It was concluded that, contrary to expectations, fitness centre environments where people seek to improve their health and engage in leisure activities have high sound pressure levels similar to those found in industrial environments, posing a serious threat to the health of their clients and, in particular, their working fitness instructors. The findings of this study clearly show the necessity for methods to reduce and regulate the negative impacts of noise in the fitness industry. centres. This can be accomplished by limiting the amount of noise that exercise instructors and clients are exposed to, such as installing noise absorption materials on the ceilings and walls of fitness centres. Eliminate the volume of music played during workout sessions as another strategy to reduce noise.

Author (s) Details

Paulo Henrique Trombetta Zannin
Laboratory of Environmental and Industrial Acoustics and Acoustic Comfort, Federal University of Paraná – UFPR, PR, Brazil.

Karyn Lia Hamad Anjelo
Laboratory of Environmental and Industrial Acoustics and Acoustic Comfort, Federal University of Paraná – UFPR, PR, Brazil.

Andrei Rei Rodrigues Silveira
Laboratory of Environmental and Industrial Acoustics and Acoustic Comfort, Federal University of Paraná – UFPR, PR, Brazil.

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