Resumen
Acoustic comfort in shopping malls is one of the aspects that influence the shopping environment. Making enjoyable and comfortable retail and public spaces is demanded when designing and managing properties. This paper focuses on the study of the public spaces with a large volume in the operating malls, which are perceived as acoustically uncomfortable. The main reason for poor acoustic conditions is a too long reverberation, as the measured reverberation time reached 4?5 s at middle frequencies. The usual way to improve the acoustics is to apply sound-absorbing materials on space surfaces. Two examples of improving acoustic conditions in food courts are given. In both cases, the reverberation time was reduced by about half, and changes in acoustics were considered significant and positive. It is shown the Sabine?s equation is valid for considered spaces. Average absorption coefficients are found by means of the Sabine?s equation and can be used for quick estimation of the reverberation time in similar spaces without the absorbing treatment. Based on the analysis of this and other studies, a method for qualitative assessment of the public space acoustics is proposed.