Worked Example: Home Office — BS 8233 Video Call Optimised
20 m³ home office with fabric panel, bookshelf, carpet, and plasterboard walls
A 20 m³ residential living designed to BS-8233 requires RT60 ≤ 0.4s. With Painted plaster on the ceiling and Fabric-wrapped panel 50mm on walls, the calculated RT60 is 0.38s — PASS.
Room Setup
Total surface area: 44.6 m². Calculation method: Sabine equation (ISO 3382-2:2008 Annex A).
Surface Materials
| Surface | Material | Area (m²) | NRC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceiling | Painted plaster | 10.0 | 0.04 |
| Floor | Heavy carpet | 10.0 | 0.29 |
| Walls — plasterboard | Plasterboard on studs | 16.0 | 0.07 |
| Wall — fabric panel | Fabric-wrapped panel 50mm | 3.0 | 0.78 |
| Bookshelf (books) | Curtains (medium weight) | 2.0 | 0.56 |
| Window | Double glazing 6mm | 2.0 | 0.03 |
| Door | Solid timber door | 1.6 | 0.09 |
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 = 4 × 2.5 × 2 = 20 m³
- 2
Total Surface Area
Stotal = 10.0 + 10.0 + 16.0 + 3.0 + 2.0 + 2.0 + 1.6 = 44.6 m²
- 3
Absorption per Surface at 500 Hz
Ceiling: 10.0 m² × 0.04 = 0.40 Sabins
Floor: 10.0 m² × 0.14 = 1.40 Sabins
Walls — plasterboard: 16.0 m² × 0.05 = 0.80 Sabins
Wall — fabric panel: 3.0 m² × 0.78 = 2.34 Sabins
Bookshelf (books): 2.0 m² × 0.49 = 0.98 Sabins
Window: 2.0 m² × 0.04 = 0.08 Sabins
Door: 1.6 m² × 0.08 = 0.13 Sabins
- 4
Total Absorption at 500 Hz
Atotal = 0.40 + 1.40 + 0.80 + 2.34 + 0.98 + 0.08 + 0.13 = 6.13 Sabins
- 5
Sabine RT60 at 500 Hz
RT60 = 0.161 × V / A = 0.161 × 20 / 6.13 = 0.53s
- 6
Compare to Target
Mid-frequency RT60 (avg of 500, 1k, 2k Hz) = 0.38s. Target: 0.2--0.4s per BS-8233. Verdict: PASS
Octave Band Results
| Frequency | 125Hz | 250Hz | 500Hz | 1kHz | 2kHz | 4kHz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Absorption (Sabins) | 6.0 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 9.1 | 11.9 | 12.4 |
| RT60 (s) | 0.53 | 0.63 | 0.53 | 0.35 | 0.27 | 0.26 |
| Target (s) | — | — | 0.40 | 0.40 | 0.40 | — |
| Verdict | — | — | FAIL | PASS | PASS | — |
Compliance Verdict
Reference:
Open the AcousPlan calculator pre-loaded with the exact room dimensions (4m × 2.5m × 2m) and RT60 target (0.4s).
Open CalculatorField Story
A remote worker in Cambridge converted the box bedroom into a permanent home office after the pandemic made remote work standard. The 4 m by 2.5 m room produces echo on video calls — colleagues complain about the "bathroom sound" from webcam microphone room reflections. A single 3 m² fabric-wrapped panel mounted behind the monitor eliminates the primary reflection path. The bookshelf filled with books provides diffusion and absorption similar to curtain material. Heavy carpet and plasterboard walls on timber studs contribute baseline absorption. BS 8233 does not specifically address home offices, but the 0.4 s target aligns with open-plan office guidance. This demonstrates that a single acoustic panel plus typical bedroom furnishings can transform video call audio quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What RT60 does a Home Office — BS 8233 Video Call Optimised achieve?
With the specified materials and dimensions (4m x 2.5m x 2m, volume 20m3), the calculated mid-frequency RT60 is 0.38s using the Sabine equation. The target under BS-8233 is 0.2--0.4s. The result is a PASS.
What materials are used in this residential acoustic example?
This example uses Painted plaster on the Ceiling (NRC 0.04), Heavy carpet on the Floor (NRC 0.29), Plasterboard on studs on the Walls — plasterboard (NRC 0.07), Fabric-wrapped panel 50mm on the Wall — fabric panel (NRC 0.78), Curtains (medium weight) on the Bookshelf (books) (NRC 0.56), Double glazing 6mm on the Window (NRC 0.03), Solid timber door on the Door (NRC 0.09). The total absorption at 500 Hz is 6.1 Sabins.
How much does acoustic treatment cost for this room?
Cost data is not available for this example. Use the AcousPlan calculator to estimate treatment costs for your specific room configuration.
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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.