Is noise from adjacent spaces adding decibels to the background noise levels?
Try this test with the HVAC off. If you can hear the choir practicing, the teacher in the next room giving instructions, or the toilets flushing in the bathroom down the hall, the walls or the openings in them may not be adequately protected against noise transmission. Excessive background noise forces speakers in the classroom to raise their voices and this adds even more volume. Try this test with all HVAC, lighting, and equipment operating in an occupied classroom. Find and stand in the noisiest spot in the room. Close your eyes (so you can’t lipread!) and listen to the teacher read a list of similar words [bat/pat; hip/hit; taste/race] at ordinary volume from a distance of 10 – 12 feet. If you don’t get all of the words right, the classroom probably needs acoustic remediation. You can also use a soundmeter to test for background noise; your school’s audiologist or speech therapist may have the necessary equipment. Make sure it’s a good quality (that is, not cheap) device that can g
