Reverberation Time Measurement (RT60)
Absolute Laboratories provides on-site reverberation time measurements to assess the acoustic quality of a room. RT60 is the time required for sound to decay by 60 dB after the source stops. This measurement is fundamental to evaluating speech intelligibility, music quality, and overall acoustic comfort in a space.
What This Measurement Tells You
- Speech intelligibility — longer RT60 = more reverberant = harder to understand speech
- Music quality — performance spaces require specific RT60 ranges depending on use
- Room acoustic comfort — whether the space feels acoustically comfortable or excessively live/dead
- Compliance — whether the room meets design targets or building specification requirements
Typical RT60 Targets by Space
- Boardrooms and meeting rooms — 0.4 – 0.6 seconds
- Open-plan offices — 0.4 – 0.8 seconds
- Classrooms — 0.4 – 0.8 seconds (shorter for hearing-impaired users)
- Lecture theatres — 0.8 – 1.2 seconds
- Concert halls and performance spaces — 1.5 – 2.5 seconds depending on type
- Worship spaces — varies widely by size and liturgical use
Testing Standard
- ISO 3382-2 — Measurement of Room Acoustic Parameters — Reverberation Time in Ordinary Rooms
How the Measurement Works
- A calibrated high-performance sound source emits a burst of broadband noise into the room
- The sound level is measured over time as it decays
- The decay curve is analysed to extract RT60 (and T20, T30 intermediate values) across multiple octave bands
- Measurements are taken at multiple source and receiver positions for statistical reliability
- Results are compared against design targets or reference standards
Typical Applications
- Meeting rooms and boardrooms
- Classrooms and lecture theatres
- Auditoriums and performance spaces
- Worship spaces and chapels
- Recording studios and broadcast rooms
- Open-plan offices with acoustic treatment
- Libraries and reading rooms
Who Needs This Measurement?
- Architects and acoustic consultants — verify that acoustic treatment achieves design RT60 targets
- Interior designers — confirm that selected finishes, furniture, and acoustic panels deliver the intended acoustic environment
- Main contractors — sign-off on acoustic performance at project handover
- Educational facilities — ensure classrooms and lecture theatres support effective learning
- Healthcare facilities — verify acoustics in patient areas and consultation rooms
- Hospitality — assess dining areas, function rooms, and entertainment spaces
- Building owners — investigate poor speech intelligibility or echo complaints
Why Choose Absolute Laboratories?
- ISO 3382-2 compliant methodology
- High-performance dodecahedral sound source for omnidirectional excitation
- Calibrated sound and vibration analysers for accurate octave-band measurements
- Comprehensive technical reports including RT60 decay curves by octave band
- Practical interpretation of results against design targets
- Fast turnaround to support project delivery
Get in Touch
Contact our team for a quotation or to discuss your project requirements.
- Email: klenplir@alab.com.sg
- Phone: (65) 6296 8012 Ext 30 | DID: (65) 6544 8594
- Mobile: (65) 9754 6848