This is a legacy version of the WELL Building Standard. Please check the latest version here.

Reverberation time

In spaces with high reverberation times, the sound of voices and footsteps take longer to dissipate, contributing to higher levels of ambient noise. This reverberation can cause additional stress, as well as reduced focus and attention.

This feature seeks to establish lower reverberation time to help maintain comfortable sound levels. This performance specification can be met through the use of sound-absorbing materials on various surface and design elements.

Part 2: Reverberation Time for Learning Spaces

Reverberation time measurements for learning spaces meet the following criteria:

a.133 Spaces less than or equal to 3,000 m_ [10,000 ft²]: less than 0.6 seconds.
b.133 Spaces greater than 3,000 m_ [10,000 ft²] and equal to or less than 6,000 m_ [20,000 ft²] : less than 0.7 seconds.
Part 6: Noise Criteria in Schools

Each regularly occupied space must meet the following noise criteria while unoccupied, as measured in the geometric center of the room:

a.125 Classrooms: less than 35.
Endocrine
Cardiovascular
Nervous

Applicability Matrix

Core & Shell Tenant Improvement New Construction
Part 2: Reverberation Time for Learning Spaces - - -
Part 6: Noise Criteria in Schools - - -
Commercial Kitchen Schools Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
Part 2: Reverberation Time for Learning Spaces - O - - -
Part 6: Noise Criteria in Schools - P - - -

Verification Methods Matrix

Letters of Assurance Annotated Documents On-Site Checks
PART 2 (Performance)
Reverberation Time for Learning Spaces
Performance Test
PART 6 (Performance)
Noise Criteria in Schools
Performance Test
90

U.S. General Services Administration Center for Workplace Strategy Public Buildings Service. Sound Matters: How to Achieve Acoustic Comfort in the Contemporary Office. Washington, D.C.: 2012: 11, 29, 32, 33, 36.

78.1.a

The General Services Administration's Sound Matters recommends RT60 of 0.6 seconds for meeting rooms.

133

Accredited Standards Committee, S12 Noise. ANSI/ASA S12.60-2010/Part 1 American National Standard Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools, Part 1: Permanent Schools. Melville, NY: Acoustical Society of America; 2010:8-10.

78.2.a

ANSI/ASA S12.60-2010 Part 1 recommends maximum permitted reverberation times for core learning spaces of less than or equal to 10,000 ft³ to be 0.6 seconds.

78.2.b

ANSI/ASA S12.60-2010 Part 1 recommends maximum permitted reverberation times for core learning spaces greater than 10,000 ft³ and equal to or less than 20,000 ft³ to be 0.7 seconds.