Performance and design considerations for modular panel systems used for studios and acoustic test chambers

Abstract

Modular panel construction is used to produce a variety of rooms including studios, medical rooms, hemi- and full-anechoic chambers, and reverberation chambers. Prefabricated panels provide many advantages over conventional construction, including the ability to relocate chambers, minimize on-site construction time, and maintain panel-to-panel performance through tight quality control, while maintaining the ability to customize an enclosure for a particular need. The design and performance of the panel systems will be discussed as they relate to their intended applications. The performance of each panel system was evaluated for both normal incidence and random incidence sound absorption in accordance with ASTM E1050 and C423, respectively. The panel’s sound transmission loss was tested in a reverberation chamber suite in accordance with ASTM E90. Fully functioning systems were tested by ASTM E596 noise reduction of an isolating enclosure in one reverberation chamber. The performance of the modular panel systems will also be compared to conventional construction methods.