A simple guide to NRC ratings

Jun 29, 2023

Acoustics are a crucial part of our everyday experiences.

Acoustic solutions
 Whether you're in a restaurant, theatre, classroom, or office, you will have experienced some form of acoustic engineering. All of these spaces will be engineered in a way to reduce the amount of noise and reverberated noise occupants have to deal with. To make sure that the correct acoustic products are used when designing, a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) is measured and given to each product.
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So, what is an NRC rating?

  • NRC stands for noise reduction coefficient
  • This is an average rating on how much sound an acoustic product can absorb
  • Like a sponge absorbs water, acoustic products absorb sound
  • An NRC rating will tell you how much sound an acoustic product can absorb

For example, if you have an NRC rating of zero, then that acoustic solution will not absorb any sound. An NRC rating of one means that the product absorbs all sound. The higher you have an NRC rating, the more sound that will be absorbed by that product.

How are NRC ratings calculated?

There is quite a lot of work behind each NRC rating. A simplified version of this process is:

  1. To ensure accurate testing, a sound testing lab specifically designed for measuring sound absorption is required.
     

  2. This lab is equipped with microphones and machines that emit sound frequencies at 250, 500, 1000, and 2000Hz.

  3. The first step is to take an initial measurement by transmitting noise into the room and measuring how much sound is absorbed.

  4. When this is done, the product can then be placed in the lab with the sound absorption measured against the four previously mentioned frequencies.

  5. The results are then gathered with the NRC rating being created by averaging the four measurements and rounding this number to the nearest 0.05.

Do your products have NRC ratings?

All of our acoustic products have a corresponding NRC rating. Some are higher than others and, therefore, are designed for spaces where acoustics are a higher priority. 

What acoustic solutions do you have with high NRC ratings?

Those two solutions would be our Quietspace® Panel and Lanes™. Both solutions are high-performing, with NRC ratings of 0.80 or above. However, Lanes achieve this differently from standard acoustic panels.
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Lanes™

Lanes is a battened style acoustic system made from Cube™, helping you add a memorable feature to any space. 

How does it achieve its high NRC rating?

This is a result of the air gap designed behind each lane. Having this air gap allows for enhanced low-frequency absorption, all while creating eye-catching interior displays. Available in three styles, Peak, Plane, and Sawtooth, there is something perfectly suited to every project.

Learn more about our Lanes range here.

 

 
Jun 29, 2023