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Your Church, May/Jun 2001
I Can't Hear You!
How acoustic panels can help solve your sound problems
by Cleve Pendleton
Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, used to have a serious sound problem. According to Mark Jenkins, minister of media at the 1,500-seat church, the round brick building the congregation has been worshiping in for 23 years had so much reverberation that it was almost impossible for a sound system to operate properly. Though many solutions to their sound woes had been explored, including new sound systems, all found limited success.
Finally, as part of a building program, Mark Jenkins and the building committee hired a sound consultant, who used a computer program to analyze the acoustical characteristics of the sanctuary. The program clearly showed the need for sound reverberation treatment and predicted what type of results could be expected from different remedies. Acoustic panels were recommended and approved.
Approximately 1,500 square feet of panels were strategically placed on the sanctuary walls, with models ranging in size from 16 feet by 6 feet to 4 feet by 1.5 feet. A typical 4-by-10-foot panel, 2 inches thick, cost $280, not installed. Smaller panels have higher costs per square foot.
In Grove Avenue's case, the improvement in sound was immediate and very significant. Reverberation was virtually eliminated and acoustics were improved in all areas of the sanctuary, says Jenkins.
A similar but even more pronounced reverberation problem existed in Grove Avenue's gymnasium. A year after solving the sound problem in its sanctuary, the church contracted with Acoustical Solutions in Richmond, Virginia, to install acoustic panels on the walls and ceiling of the church gymnasium. The improvement in the gymnasium was even more dramatic than in the sanctuary, allowing the gym to be used for social activities.
What's an Acoustic Panel?
Acoustic panels can have the same positive effects on your church's sound situation. But what are they? And how can you know if they'll help?
The what. Depending on the manufacturer, acoustic panels may be constructed on a metal or rigid board base and faced with a variety of fiberglass soundproofing material. They come in various sizes from as small as 18 inches by 48 inches to as large as 6 feet by 19 feet. Very durable, most panels are approximately 2 inches thick.
Some wall panels may be covered in fabric, but ceiling panels are usually hardboard or metal with painted fiberglass facing. Different colors and fabrics are available. Both painted and fabric panels are easily cleaned. "The fabric can be cleaned with regular spray-on carpet or upholstery cleaner," says Don Strahle of Acoustical Solutions.
The panels are not difficult to install and come with installation brackets. They may be installed flush to the walls or ceiling or offset by several inches.
The how. The effects of installing acoustic panels can be predicted quite accurately based on proven analysis programs. Sound companies can do much of the required analysis without even seeing the facility.
To determine the quality, size, and placement of panels your room will need, the current reverberation time of the room will need to be calculated. The reverberation time is the time required for reflected sound to deteriorate below the level of hearing. A reverberation time report on a room requires knowing the length, width, and height of the room, and the existing building materials of the walls, ceiling, and floor. All building materials have some sound absorption properties, and these are considered in the analysis.
Once existing reverberation characteristics have been assessed, the type and number of acoustic panels needed can be determined. Once the panels are installed the actual reverberation time can be measured and compared with the earlier numbers.
In most cases the improved sound will be readily apparent.
Another Success Story
The First Baptist Church of Downey, California, was built in 1965. Sound panels were used to correct reverberation problems that were identified at the time. However, a fire in the church about eight years ago caused considerable damage, including severe damage to the acoustic panels. The loss of the acoustic panels did not seem to affect the quality of the pipe organ or grand piano, but severe reverberation problems interfered with speakers and musical programs.
Dave Glenn, sound system administrator for the church, says the problems were so pronounced that he contracted with Apex Audio in Huntington Beach, California, which did a sound analysis of the sanctuary. The results of the analysis recommended acoustic panels on the walls and ceiling. The installation of the acoustic panels, supplied by Acoustics First Corporation in Richmond, Virginia, helped retain a "live" sound atmosphere in the sanctuary so that the pipe organ and grand piano could be enjoyed, while improving acoustics for voice and other music. A new sound system was also installed, further enhancing the audio quality in the church.
The Problem of Church Gyms
Church gymnasiums are often used for many other functions in addition to sports. Unfortunately the design of most gymnasiums and the materials used are not conducive to good sound quality.
The family life center of the Dueber United Methodist Church in Canton, Ohio, is an example. The center is approximately 80 feet by 50 feet large and has vinyl tile floors over concrete. It also has painted concrete block walls with a sloped drywall ceiling. The center serves as the site for many youth functions. Don Lung, director of the family life center, says the acoustics were once so bad that you could not hear anything clearly inside the building.
In an initial attempt to improve acoustics, carpets were installed on the lower wall surfaces to a height of six feet above the floor. Though computer calculations by D.H. Kaiser Company in Canton indicated some improvement as a result of the carpets, the room still fell short of appropriate reverberation standards. Computer calculations determined that 6.05 seconds were required for sound to fall below the level of hearing after the installation of the carpets. Published guidelines suggested that 1.40 seconds would be more ideal, based on the expected uses of the room. Acoustic panels were recommended. Eckoustic Functional Panels Type II from Eckel Industries in Cambridge, Massachusetts, were chosen.
The total installation cost approximately $18,000. Installing the panels significantly reduced reverberation time and reverberant noise level, making the facility a more attractive venue for the social events of both church and community groups.
Though acoustic panels may seem to be an expensive investment, the improvement in sound for some churches has more than justified the cost. If your church sanctuary or gym has reverberation problems, they're a solution worth considering. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Cleve Pendleton (cleve@nbnet.nb.ca) lives in Rothesay, New Brunswick, and owns Pendcor, a church consulting firm.
Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today, Inc./Your Church magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Christian History.
May/June 2001, Vol. 47, No. 3, Page 64
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