Acoustic Design GPT
STC ratings, RT60, noise criteria, and wall assembly selection for architects.
Conversational acoustic design assistant for architects and interior designers. Covers sound isolation (STC/IIC), room acoustics (RT60), and noise criteria — from wall assembly selection to reverberation calculations. Ask about your specific project and get code references, assembly options, and practical design guidance.
The Problem
Acoustic problems are invisible until occupants complain or the building fails a sound test. Selecting the wrong wall assembly, missing flanking paths, or misunderstanding STC vs field performance leads to expensive remediation after construction.
How It Works
Tell it your problem type (sound isolation or room acoustics), building type, and performance target. It asks about construction type and target STC or RT60, then returns assembly options with ratings, field performance estimates, and common failure points.
"open office partition — how should I establish and document the target STC?""conference room RT60 target with 600 sq ft and 9ft ceiling"Key Features
Who It's For
Architects, acoustic consultants, and interior designers specifying wall assemblies or designing performance spaces.
This tool provides acoustic guidance based on published assembly data. It does not review your actual drawings or partition schedules. For a full acoustic review across your drawing set, use the Drawing Review Agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between STC and field STC?
STC (Sound Transmission Class) is measured in a controlled lab. Field STC (FSTC) accounts for flanking paths in real construction and is typically 3-5 points lower. Always design to the field target, not the lab rating.
What STC rating do I need for a conference room wall?
There is no universal office or conference-room STC target. Establish the privacy objective, identify any applicable owner standard or regulation, and distinguish a laboratory assembly rating from the expected field result before selecting a wall.
When does an architect need an acoustic consultant?
Bring in an acoustic consultant for performance spaces (theaters, concert halls), healthcare facilities (patient privacy), high-STC partitions above 55, and projects where mechanical noise is a primary concern.