Mosque Acoustic Design
From Mihrab to Minaret
Solve dome focusing, marble reflections, and PA system conflicts. Sabine calculation with faith-specific presets and ISO 3382 compliance.
Design Your Mosque — Free →The Acoustic Challenge
Mosque geometry is acoustically hostile. Domes focus, marble reflects, and competing use-cases demand different RT60 targets in the same volume.
Dome Focusing Effects
Dome geometry creates focusing effects — sound converges at focal points, creating hot spots and dead zones across the musalla.
Marble & Stone Surfaces
Marble and stone surfaces (α ≈ 0.01–0.03 at mid-frequencies) are extremely reflective, driving RT60 well beyond speech-intelligible ranges.
Tajweed vs Khutbah
Tajweed recitation requires RT60 ≤ 1.5s for syllabic clarity, while khutbah speech needs RT60 ≤ 1.0s — competing requirements in one room.
PA System Interference
PA systems in domed spaces create comb filtering and flutter echo, making amplified speech less intelligible than unaided voice.
Uniform Sound Distribution
The musalla (prayer hall) must have uniform sound distribution so every worshipper hears the imam equally, regardless of position.
Flanking Noise Paths
Wudu areas and courtyards create flanking noise paths that raise background noise levels in the prayer hall during services.
Standards & Guidelines
| Parameter | Target | Note |
|---|---|---|
| RT60 — Khutbah-focused | 1.0–1.5 s | Speech clarity priority |
| RT60 — Quran recitation | 1.5–2.5 s | Musical warmth for tajweed |
| STI — Speech | ≥ 0.55 | IEC 60268-16 'fair' minimum |
| STI — Recitation | ≥ 0.45 | Allows reverberant enhancement |
| Background noise — Prayer hall | NC ≤ 30 | Near-silent baseline |
| Background noise — Ablution areas | NC ≤ 40 | Water noise controlled |
Targets based on ISO 3382-2:2008, IEC 60268-16:2020, and published mosque acoustic research. All results are advisory and require professional verification.
Interactive 3D Room Preview
See the acoustic challenge. Red surfaces are highly reflective — marble floors and concrete domes drive RT60 well above speech-intelligible ranges.
Loading 3D room preview...
Interactive 3D heatmap — red surfaces are highly reflective. Drag to rotate, scroll to zoom.
Worked Example
A 6,000 m³ dome mosque — from unintelligible to clear.
Room Specification
Before Treatment
RT60 = 0.161 × 6000 / 230
RT60 = 4.2 s
After Treatment
RT60 = 0.161 × 6000 / 690
RT60 = 1.4 s
Treatment Applied
- ✓Acoustic plaster on dome intrados (α = 0.65 at 1 kHz) — addresses dome focusing and ceiling reflection
- ✓Carpet tile on musalla floor (α = 0.35) — replaces marble floor reflection in prayer area
- ✓Geometric wood diffusers on qibla wall (α = 0.50) — scatters imam's voice evenly across hall
Recommended Materials
Acoustic plaster
NRC 0.65Dome intrados
Spray-applied, visually identical to lime plaster. Absorbs dome reflections without altering appearance.
Carpet tile
NRC 0.35Musalla area
Reduces floor reflection from α 0.01 (marble) to α 0.35. Essential for prayer hall treatment.
Geometric wood diffusers
NRC 0.50Qibla wall
Scatters sound from the imam's position, improving distribution without deadening the space.
Perforated MDF panels
NRC 0.70Side walls (above dado)
High-absorption panels with air cavity. Hidden behind decorative mashrabiya screens.
Fabric-wrapped absorbers
NRC 0.85Rear wall
Maximum absorption where reflections from the rear wall would cause echo at the imam's position.
Micro-perforated metal ceiling
NRC 0.60Non-domed areas
Broad-spectrum absorption for flat-ceiling corridors and mezzanine areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What RT60 is best for a mosque?
How do you treat a dome without changing its appearance?
Can a PA system compensate for poor acoustics?
Does carpet in the musalla area help?
Design Your Mosque Acoustics — Free
Faith-specific presets, Sabine & Eyring calculation, ISO 3382 compliance. No specialist training needed.
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