London Branch LSBU IOA Diploma student projects & AGM

Abstracts

There will be three short presentations.

Impact of reverberation time and indoor ambient noise levels on acoustic comfort in school dining halls

Caroline Alison Mckinlay

While classroom acoustics are widely studied, dining halls—key for social interaction and often used as multipurpose spaces—receive less attention. This project explores how acoustic conditions in school dining spaces affect pupils’ comfort and communication. Measurements of reverberation time and ambient noise were taken in five schools and compared with pupil surveys on perceived loudness, annoyance, and ease of conversation. Results show a strong link between longer reverberation times and negative experiences, including discomfort and difficulty communicating, whereas ambient noise levels were generally well controlled. Recommendations include revising reverberation time targets and considering acoustic capacity to create more comfortable school environments.

Acoustic Treatment Solutions for a Home Studio within a London Flat

Jason Corr

Achieving acoustic performance comparable to a professional music studio can be difficult within domestic living spaces due to spatial limitations, non-ideal room geometries, high background noise and poor sound insulation. This study assesses the acoustic viability of a home music studio within the living room of a London flat and evaluates the effectiveness of cost and space efficient acoustic treatment solutions in improving its suitability for music production. The findings show that acoustic treatment can bring the acoustic performance of a non-ideal home studio closer to a professional environment. Future work should validate the modelling results with in-situ measurements and assess other unique domestic environments to find similar cost and space effective solutions.

Acoustic performance of sustainable materials

Jake Tomlinson

This proof-of-concept work explores the feasibility of integrating acoustic performance, embodied carbon, and cost into a single early-stage decision-making framework, addressing a clear gap in current practice. A structured database of absorptive acoustic materials was developed, comparing conventional products with recycled and bio-based alternatives using manufacturer data, laboratory testing, and indicative sustainability metrics. Absorption performance was verified using impedance tube and velocity probe measurements, while reverberation time predictions were tested through a classroom case study using hand calculations and in-situ measurements. The results indicate that sustainable materials, such as recycled PET and wood-wool panels, can achieve acoustic performance comparable to traditional polymer and mineral wool products in speech-critical environments.

The presentations will be followed by a short Q&A session.

Details

We will also be holding our AGM immediately prior to the talks.

As usual, we will be heading to the pub after the talk to catch up and continue the conversation. It would be great to see as many people in person as possible.

Those planning to attend in person MUST register for security access. The link to register for in person attendance can be found below:

https://www.cpdtag.com/app.php?event=4133F4BD615368FE8A7B3B0938BD381

Registration for in person attendance closes on Monday 9^th February at 17:00.

Please arrive at 5.45pm for prompt 6pm start. The nearest Tube station is Elephant & Castle.