ABSTRACT
Probably no aspect of acoustical engineering touches the lives of more people than sound control in buildings. The practice of sound control in buildings began in the early 1900s with the concern for good listening conditions in churches, theaters, concert halls, auditoriums, etc. Further, additional impetus was added with emphasis on privacy and quiet conditions for apartments, offices, restaurants, commercial buildings, etc. Concurrently, the rapid growth of air conditioning added additional problems, and the public's awareness of noise followed naturally. Acoustical correction deals with the shaping of spaces and control of reverberation for the best possible listening conditions. The primary objective is to provide an acoustical environment that assures hearing sound uniformly and favorably reproduced throughout the space. Such spaces include auditoriums, concert halls, classrooms, meeting rooms, offices, etc. Mechanical equipment associated with air conditioning, cooling, heating, etc., can produce excessive airborne as well as structure-borne noise.
