Worked Example: University Tutorial Room — WELL F74 Compliance
RT60 calculation for a small university tutorial room targeting WELL v2 Feature 74 sound compliance. The intimate 81 m³ space achieves excellent speech clarity through premium ceiling tiles and targeted wall absorption.
A 81 m³ meeting room designed to WELL-F74 requires RT60 ≤ 0.6s. With Ecophon Focus E on the ceiling and Fabric-wrapped panel 50mm on walls, the calculated RT60 is 0.24s — PASS.
Room Setup
Total surface area: 125.2 m². Calculation method: Sabine equation (ISO 3382-2:2008 Annex A).
Surface Materials
| Surface | Material | Area (m²) | NRC |
|---|---|---|---|
| ceiling | Ecophon Focus E | 30.0 | 0.90 |
| walls-main | Plasterboard on studs | 43.4 | 0.07 |
| walls-treatment | Fabric-wrapped panel 50mm | 16.0 | 0.80 |
| floor | Carpet (heavy) | 30.0 | 0.30 |
| windows | Double glazing 6mm | 4.0 | 0.04 |
| door | Solid timber door | 1.8 | 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 = 6 × 5 × 2.7 = 81 m³
- 2
Total Surface Area
Stotal = 30.0 + 43.4 + 16.0 + 30.0 + 4.0 + 1.8 = 125.2 m²
- 3
Absorption per Surface at 500 Hz
ceiling: 30.0 m² × 0.90 = 27.00 Sabins
walls-main: 43.4 m² × 0.05 = 2.17 Sabins
walls-treatment: 16.0 m² × 0.78 = 12.48 Sabins
floor: 30.0 m² × 0.14 = 4.20 Sabins
windows: 4.0 m² × 0.04 = 0.16 Sabins
door: 1.8 m² × 0.08 = 0.14 Sabins
- 4
Total Absorption at 500 Hz
Atotal = 27.00 + 2.17 + 12.48 + 4.20 + 0.16 + 0.14 = 46.15 Sabins
- 5
Sabine RT60 at 500 Hz
RT60 = 0.161 × V / A = 0.161 × 81 / 46.15 = 0.28s
- 6
Compare to Target
Mid-frequency RT60 (avg of 500, 1k, 2k Hz) = 0.24s. Target: ≤ 0.6s per WELL-F74. Verdict: PASS
Octave Band Results
| Frequency | 125Hz | 250Hz | 500Hz | 1kHz | 2kHz | 4kHz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Absorption (Sabins) | 26.9 | 37.1 | 46.1 | 55.2 | 62.7 | 62.7 |
| RT60 (s) | 0.48 | 0.35 | 0.28 | 0.24 | 0.21 | 0.21 |
| Target (s) | — | — | 0.60 | 0.60 | 0.60 | — |
| Verdict | — | — | PASS | PASS | PASS | — |
Compliance Verdict
Reference: WELL v2 Feature 74, L07
WELL v2 Feature 74 requires RT60 ≤ 0.6s for enclosed offices and small meeting rooms. This tutorial room easily achieves the target, also supporting WELL certification for the university's new campus building.
STI result: 0.78 (per IEC 60268-16:2020)
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 (6m × 5m × 2.7m) and RT60 target (0.6s).
Open CalculatorField Story
A new university campus in London is pursuing WELL Building Standard certification as part of its sustainability commitment. The tutorial rooms — small 6-person spaces used for seminars and one-to-one supervision — must meet Feature 74 acoustic requirements. The architect initially proposed an exposed concrete soffit for the industrial aesthetic. The WELL consultant demonstrates that this would produce an RT60 of 1.2 seconds in such a small room, making conversation fatiguing. A suspended Ecophon ceiling is specified, maintaining the industrial look on the walls while creating a comfortable acoustic environment for intensive academic discussion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What RT60 does a University Tutorial Room — WELL F74 Compliance achieve?
With the specified materials and dimensions (6m x 5m x 2.7m, volume 81m3), the calculated mid-frequency RT60 is 0.24s using the Sabine equation. The target under WELL-F74 is 0.6s or less. The result is a PASS.
What materials are used in this education acoustic example?
This example uses Ecophon Focus E on the ceiling (NRC 0.9), Plasterboard on studs on the walls-main (NRC 0.07), Fabric-wrapped panel 50mm on the walls-treatment (NRC 0.8), 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 46.1 Sabins.
How much does acoustic treatment cost for this room?
The estimated treatment cost is £4,408 for 76 m2 of absorptive material at approximately £58/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.