How to Choose Acoustic Walls for Meeting Rooms? A Guide to STC Ratings



How to Choose Acoustic Walls for Meeting Rooms? With a Guide to Selecting STC Ratings

: Choosing acoustic walls for a meeting room should be based primarily on theconfidentiality level of the discussions within the room. Generally, general team meeting rooms are suited for STC 40-45. Standard meeting rooms requiring normal privacy are suited for STC 45-50. Executive meeting rooms or rooms handling critical business information are suited for STC 50-55, and meeting rooms requiring maximum confidentiality, such as HR or legal rooms, should opt for STC 55 and above. In addition to the main walls, doors and glass partitions—which are often the weak points of meeting rooms—must also be inspected concurrently, as they are the primary points where sound leaks in spaces of this type.

Meeting rooms are among the spaces that require special attention regarding acoustic walls, as discussions often involve business data, strategies, or personnel matters that should not escape the room. However, selecting acoustic walls for meeting rooms does not have a single one-size-fits-all answer, as each room has different privacy requirements. This article helps you choose the appropriate STC rating for each type of meeting room.

Why Do Meeting Rooms Require Special Attention for Acoustic Walls?

Unlike general residential spaces that focus on everyday noise privacy, meeting rooms have a unique risk: the content discussed often directly impacts business operations. If sound escapes from a meeting room and is heard by other employees or visiting competitors, it can easily cause immeasurable damage. Good acoustic walls are therefore both an investment in data security and a reflection of organizational professionalism.

Factors to Consider Before Choosing an STC Rating

• Confidentiality level of the room's discussions: This is the most crucial factor. Meeting rooms used for daily work briefings carry different risks compared to those used for contract negotiations or personnel discussions.
• Adjacent spaces: Meeting rooms adjacent to open-plan offices with constant conversation require higher STC ratings than those bordering quiet corridors or storage rooms, due to differing background noise levels.
• Room usage patterns: Meeting rooms frequently used for video conferencing require higher STC ratings than standard meeting rooms because room microphones are typically more sensitive to external noise than normal human hearing.

How to Choose STC Ratings by Meeting Room Type

Don't Just Look at the Main Walls: Meeting Rooms Often Have Other Weak Points to Check

Meeting rooms have a characteristic that sets them apart from other spaces: they often feature clear glass partitions for outward visibility. Standard single-glazed glass is a major acoustic weak point. No matter how high the STC rating of the solid walls is, if the majority of the room's partition is standard glass, sound will primarily leak through the glass.

Additionally, meeting room doors that are not acoustic doors, along with gaps under the doors, can undermine the expected performance of your investment. Therefore, selecting acoustic walls for meeting rooms requires evaluating the entire system together rather than focusing solely on solid walls.

Examples of Acoustic Wall Systems Suitable for Various Meeting Room Levels

Trandar Acoustics offers the TSIS (Trandar Sound Insulation System) under Trandar Hitech Wall, covering a range of STC values to meet the requirements of various meeting room tiers.

For standard general office meeting rooms, the TSIS48 d105 (STC 48) or TSIS53 d95 (STC 53) systems are typically sufficient for standard privacy levels. For executive meeting rooms or spaces requiring higher confidentiality, the TSIS56 d100 to TSIS58 d105 (STC 56-58) systems provide enhanced privacy assurance. All systems are assembled using Trandar Zoundboard panels combined with Trandar Heplar Pro framing and Trandar dBphon insulation. These STC values are measured from the fully completed, assembled wall system.

If you are planning a meeting room design and want to know which STC rating best suits your confidentiality requirements, feel free to chat with the Trandar Acoustics team to discuss your project details. We are happy to recommend the most suitable system for your needs.