A beginners guide to NRC ratings

Jul 20, 2023

A noise reduction coefficient (NRC) is measured and given to each product.

Acoustic solutions
The importance of acoustics in our everyday lives cannot be understated. Some form of acoustics will be used in most spaces you enter, helping to reduce the amount of noise occupants have to deal with. These features can be used in subtle ways, seamlessly blending into your environment or as a bold feature piece used as a focal point of a space. To effectively select the right acoustic solutions when designing, a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) is measured and given to each product.
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So, what is an NRC rating?

  • NRC stands for noise reduction coefficient
  • This is an average rating on how much sound an acoustic product can absorb
  • Like a sponge absorbs water, acoustic products absorb sound
  • An NRC rating will tell you how much sound an acoustic product can absorb

For example, if you have an NRC rating of zero, then that acoustic solution will not absorb any sound. An NRC rating of one will mean that the product absorbs all sound. The higher you have an NRC rating, the more sound that will be absorbed by that product.

How are NRC ratings calculated?

There is quite a lot of work behind each NRC rating. A simplified version of this process is:

  1. A sound testing lab specifically designed for measuring sound absorption, is required to ensure accurate testing can be achieved.
     

  2. This lab is equipped with microphones and machines that emit sound frequencies at 250, 500, 1000, and 2000Hz.

  3. The first step is to take an initial measurement by transmitting noise into the room and measuring how much sound is absorbed.

  4. When this is done the product can then be placed in the lab with the sound absorption measured against the four previously mentioned frequencies.

  5. The results are then gathered with the NRC rating being created by averaging the four measurements and rounding this number to the nearest 0.05.

Do your products have NRC ratings?

All of our acoustic products have a corresponding NRC rating. Some are higher than others and therefore are designed for spaces where acoustics are a higher priority. 

What acoustic solutions do you have with high NRC ratings?

Our solutions with the highest NRC rating are Quietspace® Panel and Lanes™. Both of these are high-performing products with NRC ratings of 0.80 or above. However, Lanes achieves this in a different way to Quietspace panels. 

Lanes™

This powerful acoustic system is made from our Cube™ acoustic panels in a battened style, forming a unique and visually engaging interior feature. How does this achieve such a high NRC rating?

The acoustic capabilities of this product are down to the air gap behind each lane. Having this space increases the amount of sound that can be absorbed while creating elegantly folded joins. Lanes is available in three styles, Peak, Plane, and Sawtooth. There is something here for every project.

Learn more about our Lanes range here.

 

 
Jul 20, 2023