Acoustic advantages of wool carpeting

The impact and control of noise is becoming more important as we live and work more closely together, and roads get busier. Most of us want our homes to be quiet retreats from a noisy world. Offices too, are becoming noisier as individuals' workspaces become smaller and video conferencing becomes common; It is well known that noisy work environments make it harder to concentrate, contribute to stress and reduce job satisfaction and productivity. Noise is a particular problem for those with impaired hearing who have difficulty picking-out desired sounds from the confusion of background noise. In restaurants without carpeted floors and/or soft wall coverings, normal conversation can become difficult because of the large amount of sound generated on, and reflected from, the hard floor. Researchers at AgResearch have been studying the acoustic properties of wool carpeting, and key results are summarised here, along with the findings of other researchers. This publication is part of a series prepared to support the wider wool industry by highlighting developments in wool science and technology.