Absorption Coefficients of Building Materials
and Finishes

Floor Materials   125 Hz   250 Hz   500 Hz 1000 Hz 2000 Hz 4000 Hz
             
concrete or tile 0.01 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.02 0.02
linoleum/vinyl tile on concrete 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.02
wood on joists 0.15 0.11 0.10 0.07 0.06 0.07
parquet on concrete 0.04 0.04 0.07 0.06 0.06 0.07
carpet on concrete 0.02 0.06 0.14 0.37 0.60 0.65
carpet on foam 0.08 0.24 0.57 0.69 0.71 0.73
             
 
Seating Materials   125 Hz   250 Hz   500 Hz 1000 Hz 2000 Hz 4000 Hz
             
fully occupied - fabric upholstered 0.60 0.74 0.88 0.96 0.93 0.85
occupied wooden pews 0.57 0.61 0.75 0.86 0.91 0.86
empty - fabric upholstered 0.49 0.66 0.80 0.88 0.82 0.70
empty metal/wood seats 0.15 0.19 0.22 0.39 0.38 0.30
             
 
Wall Materials   125 Hz   250 Hz   500 Hz 1000 Hz 2000 Hz 4000 Hz
             
Brick: unglazed 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.07
Brick: unglazed & painted 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.03
Concrete block - coarse 0.36 0.44 0.31 0.29 0.39 0.25
Concrete block - painted 0.10 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.09 0.08
Curtain: 10 oz/sq yd fabric molleton 0.03 0.04 0.11 0.17 0.24 0.35
Curtain: 14 oz/sq yd fabric molleton 0.07 0.31 0.49 0.75 0.70 0.60
Curtain: 18 oz/sq yd fabric molleton 0.14 0.35 0.55 0.72 0.70 0.65
Fiberglass: 2'' 703 no airspace 0.22 0.82 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99
Fiberglass: spray 5'' 0.05 0.15 0.45 0.70 0.80 0.80
Fiberglass: spray 1'' 0.16 0.45 0.70 0.90 0.90 0.85
Fiberglass: 2'' rolls 0.17 0.55 0.80 0.90 0.85 0.80
Foam: Sonex 2'' 0.06 0.25 0.56 0.81 0.90 0.91
Foam: SDG 3'' 0.24 0.58 0.67 0.91 0.96 0.99
Foam: SDG 4'' 0.33 0.90 0.84 0.99 0.98 0.99
Foam: polyur. 1'' 0.13 0.22 0.68 1.00 0.92 0.97
Foam: polyur. 1/2'' 0.09 0.11 0.22 0.60 0.88 0.94
Glass: 1/4'' plate large 0.18 0.06 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.02
Glass: window 0.35 0.25 0.18 0.12 0.07 0.04
Plaster: smooth on tile/brick 0.013 0.015 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05
Plaster: rough on lath 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.03
Marble/Tile 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02
Sheetrock 1/2" 16" on center 0.29 0.10 0.05 0.04 0.07 0.09
Wood: 3/8'' plywood panel 0.28 0.22 0.17 0.09 0.10 0.11
             
 
Ceiling Materials   125 Hz   250 Hz   500 Hz 1000 Hz 2000 Hz 4000 Hz
             
Acoustic Tiles 0.05 0.22 0.52 0.56 0.45 0.32
Acoustic Ceiling Tiles 0.70 0.66 0.72 0.92 0.88 0.75
Fiberglass: 2'' 703 no airspace 0.22 0.82 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99
Fiberglass: spray 5" 0.05 0.15 0.45 0.70 0.80 0.80
Fiberglass: spray 1" 0.16 0.45 0.70 0.90 0.90 0.85
Fiberglass: 2'' rolls 0.17 0.55 0.80 0.90 0.85 0.80
wood 0.15 0.11 0.10 0.07 0.06 0.07
Foam: Sonex 2'' 0.06 0.25 0.56 0.81 0.90 0.91
Foam: SDG 3'' 0.24 0.58 0.67 0.91 0.96 0.99
Foam: SDG 4'' 0.33 0.90 0.84 0.99 0.98 0.99
Foam: polyur. 1'' 0.13 0.22 0.68 1.00 0.92 0.97
Foam: polyur. 1/2'' 0.09 0.11 0.22 0.60 0.88 0.94
Plaster: smooth on tile/brick 0.013 0.015 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05
Plaster: rough on lath 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.03
Sheetrock 1/2'' 16" on center 0.29 0.10 0.05 0.04 0.07 0.09
Wood: 3/8" plywood panel 0.28 0.22 0.17 0.09 0.10 0.11
             
 
Miscellaneous Material   125 Hz   250 Hz   500 Hz 1000 Hz 2000 Hz 4000 Hz
             
Water or ice surface 0.008 0.008 0.013 0.015 0.020 0.025
People (adults) 0.25 0.35 0.42 0.46 0.5 0.5
             

Material density: 1 ounce/cubic yard = 0.037079776 kg/m3 or 1 kg/m3 = 26.968878969 oz/yd3 center>