Absorption coefficients of common building materials and finishes
Floor materials | 125 Hz | 250 Hz | 500 Hz | 1 kHz | 2 kHz | 4 kHz |
Carpet | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.06 | 0.15 | 0.25 | 0.45 |
Concrete (unpainted, rough finish) | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.04 | 0.06 | 0.08 | 0.1 |
Concrete (sealed or painted) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
Marble or glazed tile | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
Vinyl tile or linoleum on concrete | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.02 |
Wood parquet on concrete | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.07 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.07 |
Wood flooring on joists | 0.15 | 0.11 | 0.1 | 0.07 | 0.06 | 0.07 |
Seating Materials | 125 Hz | 250 Hz | 500 Hz | 1 kHz | 2 kHz | 4 kHz |
Benches (wooden, empty) | 0.1 | 0.09 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.08 |
Benches (wooden, 2/3 occupied) | 0.37 | 0.4 | 0.47 | 0.53 | 0.56 | 0.53 |
Benches (wooden, fully occupied) | 0.5 | 0.56 | 0.66 | 0.76 | 0.8 | 0.76 |
Benches (cushioned seats and backs, empty) | 0.32 | 0.4 | 0.42 | 0.44 | 0.43 | 0.48 |
Benches (cushioned seats and backs, 2/3 occupied) | 0.44 | 0.56 | 0.65 | 0.72 | 0.72 | 0.67 |
Benches (cushioned seats and backs, fully occupied) | 0.5 | 0.64 | 0.76 | 0.86 | 0.86 | 0.76 |
Theater seats (wood, empty) | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.08 |
Theater seats (wood, 2/3 occupied) | 0.34 | 0.21 | 0.28 | 0.53 | 0.56 | 0.53 |
Theater seats (wood, fully occupied) | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.76 | 0.8 | 0.76 |
Seats (fabric-upholsterd, empty) | 0.49 | 0.66 | 0.8 | 0.88 | 0.82 | 0.7 |
Seats (fabric-upholsterd, fully occupied) | 0.6 | 0.74 | 0.88 | 0.96 | 0.93 | 0.85 |
Reflective wall materials | 125 Hz | 250 Hz | 500 Hz | 1 kHz | 2 kHz | 4 kHz |
Brick (natural) | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.07 |
Brick (painted) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.03 |
Concrete block (coarse) | 0.36 | 0.44 | 0.31 | 0.29 | 0.39 | 0.25 |
Concrete block (painted) | 0.1 | 0.05 | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.09 | 0.08 |
Concrete (poured, rough finish, unpainted) | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.04 | 0.06 | 0.08 | 0.1 |
Doors (solid wood panels) | 0.1 | 0.07 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 |
Glass (1/4″ plate, large pane) | 0.18 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
Glass (small pane) | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
Plasterboard (12mm (1/2″) paneling on studs) | 0.29 | 0.1 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.04 |
Plaster (gypsum or lime, on masonry) | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.05 |
Plaster (gypsum or lime, on wood lath) | 0.14 | 0.1 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.04 |
Plywood (3mm(1/8″) paneling over 31.7mm(1-1/4″) airspace) | 0.15 | 0.25 | 0.12 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.08 |
Plywood (3mm(1/8″) paneling over 57.1mm( 2-1/4″) airspace) | 0.28 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.08 | 0.08 |
Plywood (5mm(3/16″) paneling over 50mm(2″) airspace) | 0.38 | 0.24 | 0.17 | 0.1 | 0.08 | 0.05 |
Plywood (5mm(3/16″) panel, 25mm(1″) fiberglass in 50mm(2″) airspace) | 0.42 | 0.36 | 0.19 | 0.1 | 0.08 | 0.05 |
Plywood (6mm(1/4″) paneling, airspace, light bracing) | 0.3 | 0.25 | 0.15 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Plywood (10mm(3/8″) paneling, airspace, light bracing) | 0.28 | 0.22 | 0.17 | 0.09 | 0.1 | 0.11 |
Plywood (19mm(3/4″) paneling, airspace, light bracing) | 0.2 | 0.18 | 0.15 | 0.12 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Absorptive wall materials | 125 Hz | 250 Hz | 500 Hz | 1 kHz | 2 kHz | 4 kHz |
Drapery (10 oz/yd2, 340 g/m2, flat against wall) | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.11 | 0.18 | 0.3 | 0.35 |
Drapery (14 oz/yd2, 476 g/m2, flat against wall) | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.13 | 0.22 | 0.32 | 0.35 |
Drapery (18 oz/yd2, 612 g/m2, flat against wall) | 0.05 | 0.12 | 0.35 | 0.48 | 0.38 | 0.36 |
Drapery (14 oz/yd2, 476 g/m2, pleated 50%) | 0.07 | 0.31 | 0.49 | 0.75 | 0.7 | 0.6 |
Drapery (18 oz/yd2, 612 g/m2, pleated 50%) | 0.14 | 0.35 | 0.53 | 0.75 | 0.7 | 0.6 |
Fiberglass board (25mm(1″) thick) | 0.06 | 0.2 | 0.65 | 0.9 | 0.95 | 0.98 |
Fiberglass board (50mm(2″) thick) | 0.18 | 0.76 | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.99 |
Fiberglass board (75mm(3″) thick) | 0.53 | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.99 |
Fiberglass board (100mm(4″) thick) | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.97 |
Open brick pattern over 75mm(3″) fiberglass | 0.4 | 0.65 | 0.85 | 0.75 | 0.65 | 0.6 |
Pageboard over 25mm(1″) fiberglass board | 0.08 | 0.32 | 0.99 | 0.76 | 0.34 | 0.12 |
Pageboard over 50mm(2″) fiberglass board | 0.26 | 0.97 | 0.99 | 0.66 | 0.34 | 0.14 |
Pageboard over 75mm(3″) fiberglass board | 0.49 | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.69 | 0.37 | 0.15 |
Performated metal (13% open, over 50mm(2″) fiberglass) | 0.25 | 0.64 | 0.99 | 0.97 | 0.88 | 0.92 |
Ceiling Maeterial | 125 Hz | 250 Hz | 500 Hz | 1 kHz | 2 kHz | 4 kHz |
Plasterboard (12mm(1/2″) in suspended ceiling grid) | 0.15 | 0.11 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.07 | 0.08 |
Underlay in perforated metal panels (25mm(1″) batts) | 0.51 | 0.78 | 0.57 | 0.77 | 0.9 | 0.79 |
Metal deck (perforated channels,25mm(1″) batts) | 0.19 | 0.69 | 0.99 | 0.88 | 0.52 | 0.27 |
Metal deck (perforated channels, 75mm(3″) batts) | 0.73 | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.89 | 0.52 | 0.31 |
Plaster (gypsum or lime, on masonary) | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.05 |
Plaster (gypsum or lime, rough finish or timber lath) | 0.14 | 0.1 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.04 |
Sprayed cellulose fiber (16mm(5/8″) on solid backing) | 0.05 | 0.16 | 0.44 | 0.79 | 0.9 | 0.91 |
Sprayed cellulose fiber (25mm(1″) on solid backing) | 0.08 | 0.29 | 0.75 | 0.98 | 0.93 | 0.76 |
Sprayed cellulose fiber (25mm(1″) on timber lath) | 0.47 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.03 | 1.05 | 1.03 |
Sprayed cellulose fiber (32mm(1-1/4″) on solid backing) | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.73 | 0.92 | 0.98 | 0.98 |
Sprayed cellulose fiber (75mm(3″) on solid backing) | 0.7 | 0.95 | 1 | 0.85 | 0.85 | 0.9 |
Wood tongue-and-groove roof decking | 0.24 | 0.19 | 0.14 | 0.08 | 0.13 | 0.1 |
Miscellaneous surface material | 125 Hz | 250 Hz | 500 Hz | 1 kHz | 2 kHz | 4 kHz |
People-adults (per 1/10 person) | 0.25 | 0.35 | 0.42 | 0.46 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
People-high school students (per 1/10 person | 0.22 | 0.3 | 0.38 | 0.42 | 0.45 | 0.45 |
People-elementary students (per 1/10 person) | 0.18 | 0.23 | 0.28 | 0.32 | 0.35 | 0.35 |
Ventilating grilles | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
Water or ice surface | 0.008 | 0.008 | 0.013 | 0.015 | 0.02 | 0.025 |