Date of Award

Spring 2016

Degree Type

Publishable Paper

Degree Name

MS Industrial Hygiene

Department

Industrial Hygiene

Committee Chair

Julie Hart

First Advisor

Dan Autenrieth

Second Advisor

Scott Risser

Abstract

Noise reverberation in micro distillery tasting rooms can interfere with speech communication and negatively impact the acoustic quality of live music. Noise reverberation was characterized in a tasting room in Butte, MT by calculated and quantified methods. Sound absorbing baffles were then installed in an effort to reduce reverberation and improve room acoustics. The overall reverberation time and speech interference level were decreased by measureable amounts that corresponded with an increase in overall absorption in the space. Reverberation time decreased from 0.85 seconds to 0.49 seconds on average. As shown by a customer survey given before and after the installation, the customer experience was also improved as a result of the sound absorbing baffles. Other distilleries or breweries may benefit by applying similar sound reverberation assessment and control methods in spaces where customers frequent.

Comments

A publishable paper completed to fulfill the requirements of a Master's Degree in Industrial Hygiene

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