USG Corp. Research and Technology Center’s Acoustical Testing Facility

The Acoustical Testing Facility at the USG Corp. Research and Technical Center was commissioned in 1996. The Facility contains structurally isolated test chambers housed within an exterior shell. The Facility includes chambers for performing sound tansmission loss tests per ASTM E90, sound absorption tests per ASTM C423, ceiling attenuation tests per ASTM E1414 and interzone attenuation tests per ASTM E1111. In addition to testing per ASTM standards, tests can also be performed to ISO Standards. The chambers are designed to provide maximum isolation from external noise. The chamber walls, roof and floor are built of a minimum of 8-in. (200-mm) solid concrete or filled concrete block. In addition the reverberation chamber is mounted on an independent spring system. The Facility is accredited under the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) and under the Underwriters Laboratories Client Data Test Program. The main function of this Facility is to provide data for new product and systems development and to provide testing under the UL Acoustical labeling program.