Designing an Acoustic Meeting Room: From Echo to Calm in 5 Steps

You’ve likely experienced it: a meeting where everyone has to speak louder to remain understandable, where the video-calling colleague is barely audible, or where hallway conversations intrude unexpectedly. This isn’t coincidence — it’s acoustics. The report *’Tired of Noise’* by NVAB (published via Arboportaal, December 2025) reveals that roughly one-third of employees experience tangible issues — headaches, concentration problems, miscommunication — from what initially seems like ‘normal’ office noise (Arboportaal, 2025). A meeting room is one of the most critical spots: it’s precisely where intelligibility matters most.

The good news: improving acoustics doesn’t have to mean renovating. With the right steps and sequence, you can transform an echoey meeting room into a comfortable space within a few weeks.

Why acoustics in the meeting room matter more than you think

Meeting rooms often feature hard, smooth surfaces: glass walls, large table tops, and bare ceilings. This causes long reverberation and excessive sound reflection — exactly the environment where speech intelligibility deteriorates fastest. The Social and Economic Council highlights in its advice on disruptive noise in the workplace that sound nuisance is a systematically underestimated occupational risk, with measurable effects on concentration and job satisfaction (SER). For meeting rooms, there’s an additional layer: since hybrid work is the norm, the space must also accommodate video calls, where poor acoustics impact the call quality for external participants even more than for those physically present.

What is a good reverberation time for a meeting room?

The reverberation time (RT60) is the most important measurable value for speech intelligibility. The international measurement method is described in NEN-EN-ISO 3382-2, supplemented with ISO 3382-3 specifically for office environments. These standards do not prescribe a mandatory value themselves — that is determined by a project specification or certification such as BREEAM-NL, but in practice, the acoustics industry targets a range of 0.5 to 1.1 seconds (BaSystems; BREEAM-NL, acoustic performance). For comparison: an untreated meeting room with glass and a hard ceiling quickly exceeds 1.5 seconds.

Background noise: which dB(A) standard applies?

In addition to reverberation, background noise levels play a role, especially during video calls. The Dutch guideline NPR 3438 sets a target value of 35 to 40 dB(A) for meeting and consultation rooms, with a maximum of 45 dB(A) — significantly quieter than an open-plan office (target value 50–55 dB(A)) (Adeqo). Note: these are comfort standards, not to be confused with the legal action values from the Arbobesluit (80/85/87 dB(A)), which pertain to hearing damage from continuous exposure and are rarely relevant in an office environment (Arboportaal).

5 steps to acoustically improve your meeting room

1. Measure and analyze before you buy. A simple sound measurement (or a professional acoustic scan) will show whether the issue is primarily echo, background noise, or sound leakage through the walls. This determines which solution takes priority.

2. Start with the ceiling. The ceiling is the largest untreated surface in most meeting rooms and therefore has the greatest impact per euro invested. Acoustic ceiling panels absorb sound without requiring a full ceiling renovation.

3. Treat the walls targeted, not everywhere. Full wall covering is rarely necessary. Acoustic wall panels in the right spots — usually the wall opposite the main sound source — eliminate most of the echo. If you work with an open or semi-open layout, an acoustic partition wall is often a step in between that both dampens sound and provides visual privacy.

4. Choose the right absorption class. Acoustic panels are classified from A to E (EN ISO 11654), with an alpha w-value indicating how effectively a panel absorbs sound: Class A ranges from 0.90 to 1.00, Class C from 0.60 to 0.75, and Class E from 0.15 to 0.25 (Reducel; Ecophon). For a meeting room, Class A or B is the logical choice—also see our detailed explanation in absorption classes A to E: how to choose the right acoustic panel.

5. Think beyond the meeting room itself. Many sound complaints related to meetings don’t originate inside the meeting space, but outside: the brief phone call just outside the room. One or more phone booths near the meeting rooms prevents one-on-one conversations from disrupting the acoustics of the entire department — see also how much does a phone booth cost? for a realistic price indication.

What does it cost to acoustically improve a meeting room?

Costs vary significantly based on room size, desired finish level, and whether you opt for modular elements or a full custom solution. A targeted intervention (ceiling islands + targeted wall panels in an average meeting room) is typically a fraction of the cost of a full acoustic renovation. Request the brochure meeting rooms for concrete price ranges, or explore the full range on the acoustic solutions page.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good reverberation time for a meeting room? In practice, a reverberation time of 0.5 to 1.1 seconds is recommended for meeting rooms. An untreated space with lots of glass and a bare ceiling often exceeds 1.5 seconds.

Which absorption class do I need for a meeting room? For most meeting rooms, absorption class A or B (alpha w 0.80–1.00) is the recommended choice, as speech intelligibility is the key criterion here.

Is acoustics in the meeting room legally required? There is no specific legal standard prescribing an exact reverberation time for existing offices. However, noise disturbance falls under the employer’s general duty of care (Dutch Work Environment Act, Belgian Code on Work Well-being) to provide a healthy work environment.

Can I install acoustic panels myself? Most panels and ceiling tiles are designed for easy installation. For the best results, however, it is advisable to first have a professional measure where the sound issue is precisely located, so you don’t install them blindly.

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Sources: Arboportaal / NVAB — *Tired of Noise* (2025); SER — *Bothersome Noise at Work*; NEN-EN-ISO 3382-2 and 3382-3 (via BaSystemen and BREEAM-NL); NPR 3438 (via Adeqo); Reducel and Ecophon on EN ISO 11654 absorption classes; Arboportaal on legal noise standards (Arbobesluit).

Last updated on 24 October 2026 by Stijn Belmans