What usually goes wrong
- The room roars during games.
- PA announcements are hard to understand.
- Teachers cannot be heard over the echo.
The main noise sources are crowds, balls and the PA. Sound bounces off hard walls, floors and ceilings, so it lingers and builds up. Absorbing panels soak up those reflections.
Where the panels go
- Baffles in rows under the roof structure.
- Upper walls above ball-strike height.
- The wall behind the bleachers.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using soft wall panels within ball range.
- Not treating the ceiling volume, which is where most of the energy lives.
Fire rating and codes
Assembly or educational occupancy: Class A finishes, and panels within reach must be impact-resistant.
Blocking sound between rooms
Panels make a room sound better, but they don’t stop sound passing through a wall. For that you need a wall assembly rated around STC 50, for walls next to classrooms and offices. Read about STC ratings and soundproofing.
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Learning center
14 guides for gyms
Acoustic panels for gyms: the complete guideWhat makes gyms noisy, which panels fix it, and how to plan treatment from start to finish.How many acoustic panels does a gymnasium need?A worked Sabine calculation for a typical gym, with panel counts for small, typical and large rooms.Where to put acoustic panels in a gymnasiumWhere panels do the most good in gyms, in priority order.Wall acoustics for gymsHow walls behave acoustically in gyms and how to treat them with panels.Ceiling acoustics for gymsClouds, baffles and ceiling tiles for gyms, and how much of the ceiling to cover.Choosing panel thickness for a gymnasium1, 2 or 4 inches: which thickness suits gyms and why.Reverberation time targets for gymsThe reverberation time to aim for in gyms, and why it matters.What acoustic treatment costs for a gymnasiumBudget estimates for treating a typical gym, and where the money goes.Fabrics, colors and shapes for gymsFabric types, colors and shapes that work in gyms.Fire ratings and code requirements for panels in gymsFire ratings, occupancy rules and mounting requirements for panels in gyms.Installing acoustic panels in a gymnasiumTools, hardware and step-by-step installation for panels in gyms.Common acoustic mistakes in gymsThe errors we see most often in gyms, and how to avoid them.Soundproofing and STC ratings for gymsWhen gyms need soundproofing, which STC rating to aim for, and how to get there.Gymnasium acoustics checklist and FAQA one-page checklist and answers to common questions about gym acoustics.