The acoustical assessment of the commercial spaces and buildings

Abstract The acoustic quality of commercial spaces is often a problem confronting the designers. Ensuring adequate speech reception in relation to sound alarm systems in such spaces is one of the key factors determining the acoustic quality of a space. The aim of this paper is to present an initial, index-based method for the assessment of the acoustic quality of commercial spaces and buildings during the design process, taking into account selected architectural and acoustic parameters. The development of the method is based on acoustical computer models, literature and analyses of building types. The acoustic quality of commercial spaces and buildings is determined by speech intelligibility, which is mainly influenced by reverberation time within an enclosure. This is why analyses were focussed on reverberation time and other parameters related to speech intelligibility. Analyses concerning three types of commercial spaces: shops, corridors/shopping streets and atriums. For each type of the space there is a separate selection of main architectural and acoustical parameters having influence on the acoustical climate of the commercial enclosures and buildings. The presented method, separate for each commercial type, is expected to provide an easy-to-use assessment of a commercial space designed in terms of speech intelligibility, as required for sound alarm systems, conforming among other things, to applicable standards. The method is a practical tool for design and decision-making community: architects and designers. By applying this method, it is possible to increase the safety of commercial spaces and buildings occupants and reduce or avoid costs associated with improving the acoustic conditions of ready-to-use commercial spaces and buildings.