What is reverberation time and how to improve it?

Reverberation time (often written RT or RT60) is the time it takes for sound to decrease by 60 decibels after the sound source has stopped. It is a standard room-acoustic parameter defined in international measurement standards such as ISO 3382. 

When reverberation time is too long, a room can feel loud or echoey, making speech harder to understand and reducing acoustic comfort. 

Reverberation time is improved by adding materials with a high sound absorption class to large, reflective surfaces in a space, such as acoustic ceiling tiles or wall panels. These materials absorb sound energy and reduce the amount of sound that continues to reflect within the room. 

To calculate reverberation times or for help choosing the best acoustic solutions, contact us for project-specific advice.