What is acoustic conditioning? Acoustic conditioning is achieved by using materials and techniques aimed at partially absorbing and partially evenly distributing the sound coming from a sound source to achieve an ideal sound field. The key to good acoustic conditioning is to perform the appropriate technical treatments to achieve optimum reverberation time depending on the room to be conditioned. We achieve this thanks to the use of sound absorbent wood in wood interiors, interior coverings, and walls and wood ceilings.   Is it the same as acoustic insulation? Soundproofing of premises is not the same as acoustic conditioning. Sound insulation is a combination of materials and techniques developed to block or attenuate the noise level in a given space in order to prevent sound from getting in or coming out. To achieve good soundproofing both insulating materials and absorbent materials, such as sound-absorbing wood, are used. The simplest example is that of a building that has to be soundproofed and protected from the noise produced by road or air traffic.   Acoustic conditioning helps control reverberation but, what is reverberation? Reverberation is the permanence of sound beyond the time required to properly hear and understand a message. Explained in a more technical manner, “reverberation time ” is the time it takes for the sound to decay by 60 dB as received stood the sound emission source stops. In short, it is an annoying acoustic effect, even more so in rooms intended for listening to music or speeches: theatres, meeting rooms, auditoriums, halls, recording studios, offices, etc.   Where are these acoustic conditioning applications carried out? The acoustic conditioning is common practice in concert rooms, auditoriums, theatres, convention centres, public buildings, etc., and also in boardrooms and offices where excellent sonority is required. Because of this, sound conditioning such premises is achieved using acoustic material, such as sound-absorbent wood panels, and acoustic ceilings and acoustic panels.   How is acoustic conditioning carried out in a room? The acoustic conditioning of a room can be carried out by installing sound-absorbent wood acoustic panels that would limit the reverberation time and therefore improve interior acoustics. These wood panels have grooves and circular holes in different densities, shapes and sizes, and they determine the degree of absorption of each of the existing models of acoustic panels.   What details do we need to ascertain before undertaking acoustic conditioning in a room? When undertaking the acoustic conditioning of buildings and premises you must first know two details: the room’s reverberation prior to carrying out any work and the reverberation time it should have depending on its characteristics and the use that will be made of the space. The difference will be the degree of acoustic reverberation that must be corrected by including acoustic absorbent materials such as the Spigoacoustic or Spigotec wood acoustic panels manufactured by Spigogroup.   Is there any tool that can help us? To perform all these calculations Spigogroup has developed an Online Calculator, the Optimum Reverberation Time (ORT) Simulator, which you can use t any time. With this useful tool you only have to enter the dimensions of the room, the type of material used in the walls, ceiling and floor and the furniture present in the room, and the simulator gives you all the necessary data you need to determine its reverberation and what the optimal reverberation should be. Once you have entered the actual data of the room, the calculator allows you to go and see how the reverberation of the room would be improved if you include different types of acoustic sound-absorbent panels in different zones helping you to find the ideal product to obtain the optimum degree of reverberation.   GO TO SIMULATOR   . I know of an office that would need good acoustic conditioning. What can happen if we do not carry it out? These are some of the consequences of not carrying out a proper acoustic conditioning in an office: Uncontrolled reverberation hampers the intelligibility of messages and conversations which take place in an office, logically resulting in a long series of mistakes, errors and misunderstandings. Difficulty in understanding someone who speaks to us makes us raise the volume of our conversation, because, unconsciously, we think that this way it will be easier to understand each other. In fact we only produce more noise and hamper the intelligibility of messages even more. This situation increases the levels of stress in the office and is detrimental to efficiency and quality work.   What acoustic solutions does Spigogroup offer me for the acoustic conditioning of a room? These are the acoustic solutions in wood offered by Spigogroup for the design and development of architectural and interior design projects: Spigotec false wood ceilings and acoustic inner linings Spigoacustic wood acoustic panels and ceiling tiles. Spigoart acoustic pictures and decorative acoustic panels Spigoline acoustic ceilings made with wood slats. Spigodoor acoustic doors   Do we have to carry out messy works to undertake the acoustic conditioning of a bar or restaurant? No. Spigogroup has developed a very useful new product for quick, easy acoustic conditioning of bars and restaurants that are already in operation. It is the new hanging print acoustic panels. It is a simple, flexible, effective solution to the need of premises with acoustic conditioning while concealing or integrating (as the case may be) the new wood panelling as part of the décor to be finished with a photograph, an illustration or a painting. SEE SPIGOART     I want to know more about acoustic conditioning, where can I get more information? These are the 4 acoustic conditioning websites that you should visit: 1.- The Spigogroup blog post that explains the differences between soundproofing and acoustic conditioning. Read Post: “what is soundproofing? what is acoustic conditioning? is it the same?” 2.- … and the ‘acoustic conditioning’ label of the Spigogroup blog with dozens of articles on acoustic conditioning. See all the posts. 3.- The page on Spigotec wood false ceilings for acoustic conditioning with explanations about their use, project photos, model sheets, finishes and the possibility of downloading a complete catalogue. See Spigotec. 4.- The page on Spigoacustic acoustic panels also with photos of projects , model sheets, finishes and the possibility of downloading a complete catalogue. See Spigoacustic.     If you liked this post about acoustic conditioning FAQs, you may also be interested in: - Acoustic conditioning of buildings and premises: How would you calculate your Optimum Reverberation Time? - Acoustic panels in the auditorium of the Qatari Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning - 5 Magnificent examples of decorative inner linings in French schools - Using absorbent acoustic panels can improve the look of your Project