Towards green building acoustics: Evaluation of acoustic comfort in engineering education laboratories

Conducive learning environment in engineering education laboratories is important in ensuring effective teaching and learning for engineering students and having acoustic comfort is one of the factors that contribute to the conduciveness of a learning environment. This paper presents results from an evaluation study on the acoustic comfort of engineering education laboratories (EEL) in higher education institutions in Malaysia. Six typical EEL in one higher learning institution were selected for the study to represent laboratories that are "quiet to moderately noisy", "moderately noisy to loud", and "extremely noisy". Data on acoustic comfort were gathered using objective measurement (Sound Pressure Level; SPL Meter); and subjective measurement (questionnaires survey on students' perceived acoustic comfort through acoustic sensation votes) respectively. Results of the objective measurements show that the mean SPL recorded in these laboratories is quite consistent. However, maximum recorded sound pressure levels were slightly higher than the recommended limit suggested. The results from the subjective measurements show that acoustic sensations vote among 80 percent of the respondents were consistent and within acceptable acoustic condition. It can be concluded that further improvement can be made for the acoustic comfort of EEL in higher institutions. Implications for the design of future green building acoustics are raised and the need for further research is identified.