Overhead view of students sitting at round tables with laptops and notebooks Overhead view of students sitting at round tables with laptops and notebooks

Acoustics in Education

Acoustics Has a Direct Link to Engagement and Learning

Poor acoustics negatively contribute to higher strain on cognitive performance loads and compromised attention in the classroom. It is also the #1 concern in multiple survey formats around student experience for all stakeholders, but especially those who are neurodivergent.

Research indicates that nearly 1 in 3 students in today's classroom is struggling to understand their teacher due to poor acoustics. US classrooms currently have speech intelligibility ratings of 75% or less - where 95% is the recommended recognition level, according to the Acoustical Society of America. Additionally, noise pollution in student housing has been linked to poor quality of sleep, which directly impacts learning, and can result in early lease cancellations.

Because of these many factors, education stakeholders have, and will continue to vocalize their opinions about acoustics and its impact on student engagement and performance.

Infographic showing decibel noise levels, the recommended noise level for learning environments is 35 dB

What Role Does Flooring Play in Acoustics?

Acoustically engineered floor covering significantly reduces the amount of sound being generated and reverberated within educational spaces. It can benefit learning environments by significantly reducing airborne noise (NRC) by as much as 100% and structure-borne (IIC) by 126% vs polished concrete.  

Mindful flooring choices have a significant impact on the end-result of an education environment’s acoustic performance. Tarkett’s portfolio of acoustically superior floorcoverings produce quiet and comfortable spaces. These products include: Powerbond Hybrid Resilient flooring, Rubber Flooring, Carpet Tile, Flexaire Carpet Tile and Even Plane LVT. 

 View our brochure on Acoustic Benefits of Closed-Cell Cushion.

Education Stakeholders Realize the Benefits Flooring Plays in Acoustics and Student Engagement

Recommended Products for Acoustical Comfort

Learn more about the many Tarkett products that reduce noise pollution in education environments.

School corridor with blue and gray patterned carpet, gray and yellow soft seating and white tables scattered. Glass door to two classrooms on right, double wood doors straight ahead School corridor with blue and gray patterned carpet, gray and yellow soft seating and white tables scattered. Glass door to two classrooms on right, double wood doors straight ahead

Powerbond® - Carpet/Resilient Hybrid

A Hybrid Resilient floorcovering, Powerbond, has all the benefits of a carpet surface with all the performance benefits of a welded sheet resilient. Powerbond comes with a closed cell cushion that is comfortable and quiet, reducing foot fall impact and airborne reverberation rates significantly. It is the industry's best high performance acoustical floorcovering for education environments.
Large open room with LVT flooring, upholstered arm chairs and couches, built-in cupboards and countertop at back of room, large windows to the right Large open room with LVT flooring, upholstered arm chairs and couches, built-in cupboards and countertop at back of room, large windows to the right

Even Plane

Testing shows new Even Plane LVT absorbs the sound of nearby foot traffic 30% better than building code requires on footfall structure-borne impact noise.
Large open atrium in school with extra wide staircase made for seating, full of students Large open atrium in school with extra wide staircase made for seating, full of students

Carpet Tile and Flexaire

Carpet Tile has a valuable reduction in both structure-borne footfall and air-borne reverberation. FlexAire, a closed cell cushion carpet tile, is comfortable and quiet, reducing foot fall impact and reverberation rates significantly. It is the industry's best acoustical carpet tile for education environments.
Open school corridor with gray patterned flooring and yellow and white walls. Glass doors to classrooms along left side, stairs up to next level to right Open school corridor with gray patterned flooring and yellow and white walls. Glass doors to classrooms along left side, stairs up to next level to right

Rubber Flooring

Rubber flooring absorbs footfall structure-borne impact noise and is a positive contributor for education environments.

Research About Acoustics in Education

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