Of all the floor coverings, carpet is considered to be the best noise absorbent. The family with adult population in general prefer the carpets that are good at absorbing sound. However selection of proper carpet is necessary. If carpet is selected carefully, it can absorb noise as efficiently as many specialized acoustical materials. It also prevents the sound transmission to rooms below. Thus carpet plays the role of acoustical material that performs the dual role of a floor covering and acoustical aid.
Before buying carpet one should understand the acoustical values of particular carpet constructions and the combinations of specific carpet cushions. The coefficient of sound absorption usually vary strongly with frequency. A noise reduction coefficient (NRC) is applied to grade the effectiveness of a material employed for sound control. Acoustics value is also affected by the nature of the pile-height, cut or looped pile which should be inquired before purchasing.
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Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) is calculated by averaging the material's sound absorption coefficients at frequencies of 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz. Zero NRC indicates perfect reflection whereas an NRC of 1 indicates perfect absorption. It is expressed to the nearest multiple of 0.05.
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