Abstract:

This paper presents the status of standards dealing with this very contentious subject. Room criteria are contentious because, for years, the acoustical community has been trying, with minimal success, to come to some consensus on the types of descriptors, measurement procedures, and rating schemes based on steady state noises in rooms. (What constitutes steady state is not agreed upon.) Evidence of this long standing problem is the new ANSI standard S12.2-1995: Even though written after perhaps 10 years effort, it is still not satisfactory to many, if not most, people. This presentation tries to provide a perspective on this issue, not from an expert's point of view, but from someone immersed in the controversy for a long time. I will discuss the issues that need to be addressed, the current and proposed methods, and the problem with data collection, funding, and research. Audience input and reaction will be solicited if time permits.