Furnishings — Acoustic Material Guide
Upholstered furnishings such as theatre seating, padded chairs, and sofas contribute meaningful mid-to-high frequency absorption in occupied spaces. Acoustic consultants must account for furnishing absorption when modelling rooms, particularly auditoriums and theatres where unoccupied seating must meet RT60 targets.
Products in This Category
| Material | NRC | αw | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Upholstered Seating | 0.55 | 0.50 | Movable |
Average Absorption Profile
Average absorption coefficients across all furnishings materials at each octave band frequency.
| Frequency (Hz) | 125 | 250 | 500 | 1000 | 2000 | 4000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg α | 0.15 | 0.30 | 0.50 | 0.65 | 0.70 | 0.65 |
Best Applications
Room types and environments that benefit most from furnishings materials:
Related Standards
International and national standards relevant to furnishings selection, testing, and specification:
Installation Notes
Furnishing absorption is modelled per item (sabins/unit) rather than per square metre. Unoccupied heavily-padded seats absorb nearly as much as occupied seats, while lightly-padded seats show a significant difference between occupied and unoccupied conditions.
Typical thickness: N/A (per-unit absorption)
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