A support method for the initial acoustical assessment of shopping spaces in building design

The acoustic quality of shopping spaces is often a problem confronting the designers. Ensuring adequate speech reception in relation to sound alarm systems in such spaces is one of the key factors determining the acoustic quality of a space. The aim of this paper is to present a tool support for initial method of the assessment of the acoustic quality of shopping spaces during the design process. Analyses were focussed on reverberation time and related speech intelligibility as a quality determination parameters. There is a separate selection of main architectural and acoustical parameters having influence on the acoustical climate of the shopping buildings. The presented method is expected to provide an easy-to-use assessment of a shopping spaces designed in terms of speech intelligibility, to applicable standards. The method is a practical tool for design and decision-making community: architects and designers. By applying this method, it is possible to increase the safety of shopping spaces' occupants and reduce or avoid costs associated with improving the acoustic conditions of ready-to-use this kind of buildings.