A field survey of acoustic conditions in primary and kinder school canteens

Canteens usually have critical acoustic conditions resulting from the need to maximize the number of occupants while minimizing volume. Thus, in the absence of specific sound absorbing treatments, very high sound pressure levels are usually observed resulting in significant impairment of communication (with increased vocal effort of speakers and reduced speech intelligibility), and dangerously high exposure levels for workers. The present paper reports acoustic measurements carried out in a nursery school canteen having a volume of 211 m3 and seating about 50 children, and two primary school canteens having volumes of 650 m3 (seating 126 children) and 367 m3 (seating 107 children). Reverberation time was measured in each room as well as sound pressure levels during peak occupation (averaged over 15 minutes intervals), resulting in Leq, A spanning between 83 dB (in the nursery school) and 89 dB in the primary school with the smallest volume.