Micro Acoustic Test Chamber

The micro acoustic test chamber is an educational resource, demonstration tool, and a conceptual testbed for design teams and students alike, to develop new and innovative mass timber acoustic assemblies, understand acoustic implications of material choices in composite form, and comparatively analyze the performance of acoustic detailing decisions at a small scale.

This chamber is far smaller than a typical laboratory acoustic floor/ceiling assembly test chamber. This means test samples can be cost and material efficient, allowing for more assembly iterations to be tested quickly and easily. Testing requires a 32-inch by 32-inch floor/ceiling assembly up to 12 inches thick.

Acoustic performance at very low frequencies is not able to be accurately measured at this scale, and requires large room-sized chambers for analysis of the longer wavelengths of lower-frequency sound. This standardized laboratory testing is required for some building types such as multifamily, where a performance threshold for airborne sound transmission and impact isolation must be met. Small-scale testing offers rapid conceptual and iterative testing capacity before a final full-scale assembly is selected for more rigorous testing.

If you’d like to learn more, or are interested in pursuing micro acoustic chamber testing, reach out to staff at the Institute for Health in the Built Environment.