A small-scale multi-purpose reverberation room

A one-fourth scale model of the large (425 m³) National Bureau of Standards reverberation room is described. This facility was constructed to carry out acoustical research at relatively low cost in a frequency range two octaves higher than that used in the larger facility. Initial experimental measurements carried out in this facility concern sound power emitted by small sources. The pure tone qualification procedure specified in American National Standard S1.21-1972 ‘Metods for the Determination of Sound Power Levels of Small Sources in Reverberation Rooms’ was carried out using computer control of the experiment. This standard is of particular interest to the international acoustical community since it is technically equivalent to ISO Documents DIS 3741 and DIS 3742. The effect of increased low frequency absorption upon room qualification was tested in the model room. Future research plans to make use of the small-scale reverberation rooms are described.