Worked Example: Co-working Space — Industrial Conversion Acoustics
RT60 calculation for a co-working space in a converted industrial building with exposed brick and high ceilings. Hanging acoustic baffles and a living green wall combine design flair with acoustic performance.
A 672 m³ open plan office designed to ISO-3382 requires RT60 ≤ 0.6s. With Acoustic baffle (hanging) on the ceiling and Green wall / living wall on walls, the calculated RT60 is 0.55s — PASS.
Room Setup
Total surface area: 505.2 m². Calculation method: Sabine equation (ISO 3382-2:2008 Annex A).
Surface Materials
| Surface | Material | Area (m²) | NRC |
|---|---|---|---|
| ceiling | Acoustic baffle (hanging) | 96.0 | 0.90 |
| walls-main | Brick (unglazed) | 126.0 | 0.04 |
| walls-treatment | Green wall / living wall | 56.0 | 0.55 |
| floor | Carpet (heavy) | 192.0 | 0.30 |
| windows | Double glazing 6mm | 28.0 | 0.04 |
| door | Solid timber door | 7.2 | 0.08 |
Absorption coefficients sourced from manufacturer datasheets and ISO 354 test reports. Browse the full acoustic materials database.
Step-by-Step Calculation
- 1
Room Volume
V = L × W × H = 16 × 12 × 3.5 = 672 m³
- 2
Total Surface Area
Stotal = 96.0 + 126.0 + 56.0 + 192.0 + 28.0 + 7.2 = 505.2 m²
- 3
Absorption per Surface at 500 Hz
ceiling: 96.0 m² × 0.95 = 91.20 Sabins
walls-main: 126.0 m² × 0.03 = 3.78 Sabins
walls-treatment: 56.0 m² × 0.60 = 33.60 Sabins
floor: 192.0 m² × 0.14 = 26.88 Sabins
windows: 28.0 m² × 0.04 = 1.12 Sabins
door: 7.2 m² × 0.08 = 0.58 Sabins
- 4
Total Absorption at 500 Hz
Atotal = 91.20 + 3.78 + 33.60 + 26.88 + 1.12 + 0.58 = 157.16 Sabins
- 5
Sabine RT60 at 500 Hz
RT60 = 0.161 × V / A = 0.161 × 672 / 157.16 = 0.69s
- 6
Compare to Target
Mid-frequency RT60 (avg of 500, 1k, 2k Hz) = 0.55s. Target: ≤ 0.6s per ISO-3382. Verdict: PASS
Octave Band Results
| Frequency | 125Hz | 250Hz | 500Hz | 1kHz | 2kHz | 4kHz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Absorption (Sabins) | 47.2 | 111.0 | 157.2 | 212.7 | 247.4 | 249.2 |
| RT60 (s) | 2.29 | 0.97 | 0.69 | 0.51 | 0.44 | 0.43 |
| Target (s) | — | — | 0.60 | 0.60 | 0.60 | — |
| Verdict | — | — | FAIL | PASS | PASS | — |
Compliance Verdict
Reference: ISO 3382-3:2012 §4
ISO 3382-3 provides open plan office acoustic parameters. The combination of hanging baffles (covering 50% of ceiling area) and living wall creates a design-forward space that also performs acoustically.
Cost Estimate
Costs are indicative and vary by region, supplier, and installation complexity. For a detailed cost breakdown, use the AcousPlan calculator.
Open the AcousPlan calculator pre-loaded with the exact room dimensions (16m × 12m × 3.5m) and RT60 target (0.6s).
Open CalculatorField Story
A co-working operator leases a former textile warehouse in Manchester with beautiful exposed brick walls and original cast-iron columns. The industrial aesthetic is the brand's selling point, so covering the brick with acoustic panels is unacceptable. With 3.5-metre ceilings and hard surfaces everywhere, the empty space rings like a cathedral. The acoustic designer specifies a grid of coloured felt baffles suspended from the ceiling structure — visible, on-brand, and highly absorptive — plus a living plant wall on the largest interior surface. The combination of baffles, green wall, and carpet creates a vibrant workspace where phone calls are possible without retreating to a booth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What RT60 does a Co-working Space — Industrial Conversion Acoustics achieve?
With the specified materials and dimensions (16m x 12m x 3.5m, volume 672m3), the calculated mid-frequency RT60 is 0.55s using the Sabine equation. The target under ISO-3382 is 0.6s or less. The result is a PASS.
What materials are used in this office acoustic example?
This example uses Acoustic baffle (hanging) on the ceiling (NRC 0.9), Brick (unglazed) on the walls-main (NRC 0.04), Green wall / living wall on the walls-treatment (NRC 0.55), Carpet (heavy) on the floor (NRC 0.3), Double glazing 6mm on the windows (NRC 0.04), Solid timber door on the door (NRC 0.08). The total absorption at 500 Hz is 157.2 Sabins.
How much does acoustic treatment cost for this room?
The estimated treatment cost is £32,680 for 344 m2 of absorptive material at approximately £95/m2. Actual costs vary by region, supplier, and installation complexity.
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All calculations are advisory and based on the Sabine equation (ISO 3382-2:2008 Annex A). Results require professional verification for compliance submissions. Absorption coefficients are sourced from manufacturer datasheets and ISO 354 test reports.