Close-up of dark gray acoustic foam panels with pyramid-shaped protrusions arranged in a grid pattern.

Recurring Facility Noise Complaint, Traced to Sound Transmission

Industry:
Commercial
,
Application:
Full System Design
,
Commercial Noise Control
,
A facilities team had purchased acoustic panels twice, and the complaint continued. Memtech Acoustics measured the space, identified sound transmission between rooms as the cause, corrected it, and validated the result with before-and-after data.
Michigan
Corporate office interior with fabric-wrapped acoustic wall and ceiling treatment

Year

2026

Prior Attempts

2 panel purchases

Real Cause

Sound transmission

Proof

Before-and-after data

Services Provided

Measurement, Diagnosis, Treatment, Validation

A facilities team had purchased acoustic panels twice, and the occupant noise complaints continued. The panels were treating a symptom that measurement had never confirmed.

Memtech Acoustics measured the space with calibrated, NIST-traceable instrumentation. The measurement identified the cause as sound transmission between rooms rather than reverberation within a single room. Absorption does not address a transmission path, which is why the earlier panels made no difference.

Memtech corrected the transmission path and phased the work around an occupied, operating building, then measured again under the same conditions. The before-and-after data gave the facilities director documented results to present to leadership, and the recurring complaint was resolved.

Highlights

  • Two prior panel purchases had not resolved the recurring complaint
  • Calibrated measurement identified transmission between rooms as the cause, rather than reverberation within one
  • Corrective work was phased around an occupied, operating building
  • Before-and-after data gave the director documented results for leadership

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