Abstract
Good acoustics is an indispensable requirement for verbal learning, and therefore vital to all knowledge-based societies. The World Health Organization has identified the basic acoustical requirements for verbal learning spaces (Guidelines for Community Noise, April 1999). Some nations are well advanced in meeting these requirements while others may lack local guidelines or other resources. The worldwide acoustical design and noise control communities can help nations to achieve good schoolroom acoustics. A technical initiative for that purpose titled ‘‘Noise and Reverberation Control for Schoolrooms’’ was approved by the International-INCE General Assembly at its meeting in December 1999. The initiative is intended to be an internationally coordinated program to assist participating nations with engineering issues associated with achieving satisfactory acoustics in learning spaces. Representatives of various I-INCE member societies appointed to this Technical Study Group will be asked to submit a draft report for review by the I-INCE General Assembly within two years of their first meeting. The report is expected to provide practical guidance to school planners, designers, and code officials. The Group will first convene at the Internoise meeting at Nice, France in August 2000. This presentation highlights the results of that meeting.