FIELD EXPERIMENT ON THE METHODS FOR IMPROVING SOUND ENVIRONMENT

– The effect of sound absorbing materials and management efforts –

Abstract

A field study to improve sound environment was conducted in a nursery facility that worked on the reduction of its high sound level. First, sound absorbing materials onto the walls and ceilings, which shortened the reverberation time by half, was installed. Second, management efforts aiming for children to lower the loudness of their voices was conducted. These were performed with a demonstration of proper voice levels with animals of different scales and the generation of a music box sound during lunch. The effects of these trials were physically analyzed by sound recordings and subjectively evaluated by nurses.