Abstract
Absorptive treatments for noise control have an important place in an overall engineering control strategy. However, predictions based on the easiest to use method, the Sabine equation, often understate the amount of existing absorption. This is because the method does not adequately account for the absorptive effect of room contents, specifically machines, in industrial settings. This underestimation of existing absorption can result in false optimism toward the potential benefits of architectural absorption. This paper reviews three alternate methods which may be better suited to predict the amount of absorption present in an industrial space. The alternate methods are the reverberation time method, the sound power method and the loss due to distance (LDD) method. The last method, put forth by the authors, is often well suited for use by those in the general practice of industrial hygiene because it does not require a great deal of user familiarity or specialized measuring equipment.