{"id":17266,"date":"2026-03-24T11:39:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T18:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/?post_type=glossary&#038;p=17266"},"modified":"2026-04-01T20:15:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T03:15:03","slug":"noise-reduction-coefficient-nrc","status":"publish","type":"glossary","link":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/glossary\/noise-reduction-coefficient-nrc\/","title":{"rendered":"Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5fb354c2ea397be6d41f664ceca31aea\">Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) measures how much sound a material absorbs within a space, rated from 0 to 1. Higher NRC materials reduce echo and noise buildup, improving clarity and comfort. It does not block sound between spaces, but instead controls how sound behaves within an environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why NRC Matters for Internal Acoustic Comfort<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7536a3d6f02af2c44c46f1a57a901bf3\">NRC is a key metric for understanding how sound behaves within a space. It measures how much sound is absorbed by a material rather than reflected back into the environment. In spaces with low absorption, sound reflects off hard surfaces and builds over time, creating echo, increasing background noise, and reducing speech clarity. High NRC materials help manage this by absorbing sound energy, resulting in a quieter and more comfortable environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7e3d48542d3db8c562f4d9e54b409085\">This is why NRC is commonly used in open-plan offices and shared environments, where controlling internal noise is essential for focus and productivity. However, NRC is often misunderstood as a measure of soundproofing. While it improves how sound is experienced within a space, it does not prevent sound from travelling between areas. For enclosed environments, absorption is only one part of the equation. Internal materials can improve clarity and reduce echo, but overall acoustic performance depends on how the entire structure manages sound. Understanding this distinction helps set the right expectations, focusing on both internal comfort and how sound interacts with the surrounding environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Terms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/glossary\/what-is-speech-reduction\/\" type=\"glossary\" id=\"17258\">Speech Reduction<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/glossary\/speech-privacy\/\" type=\"glossary\" id=\"17103\">Speech Privacy<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/glossary\/what-is-reverberation-time-rt60\/\" type=\"glossary\" id=\"17102\">Reverberation Time (RT60)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\t<section class=\"bureau-featured-resources\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"bureau-featured-resources__heading\">\n\t\t\t\tFeatured Resources\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"bureau-featured-resources__grid bureau-featured-resources--3col\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"bureau-featured-resources__card\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/blog\/deskside\/how-booth-sensors-optimize-your-workspace\/\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bureau-featured-resources__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bureau-Sensor-Software-1.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Unlock Peak Performance: How Smart Booth Sensors Optimize Your Workspace\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bureau-featured-resources__body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"bureau-featured-resources__title\">Unlock Peak Performance: How Smart Booth Sensors Optimize Your Workspace<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"bureau-featured-resources__excerpt\">In today&#8217;s dynamic work environment, modular office pods are essential for focused work. But how much do you truly know about their performance? At Bureau, we believe your workspace should be as smart as your team.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bureau-featured-resources__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M4.167 10h11.666M10 4.167 15.833 10 10 15.833\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.667\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"bureau-featured-resources__card\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/blog\/office-culture\/noise-vs-focus-how-soundscapes-affect-your-brain-at-work\/\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bureau-featured-resources__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Copy-of-StoneChalk-XL-10-scaled.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Noise vs. Focus: How soundscapes affect your brain at work\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bureau-featured-resources__body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"bureau-featured-resources__title\">Noise vs. Focus: How soundscapes affect your brain at work<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"bureau-featured-resources__excerpt\">If you\u2019ve ever found yourself struggling to concentrate in a noisy office, you\u2019re not alone. The sounds around us, whether it\u2019s the background noise of conversations, the clatter of keyboards, or the distant brewing of a coffee machine, can have an impact on our productivity and well-being. While some people thrive in these kinds of energetic environments, others need near &#8230; \nRead More<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bureau-featured-resources__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M4.167 10h11.666M10 4.167 15.833 10 10 15.833\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.667\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"bureau-featured-resources__card\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/blog\/new\/top-office-furniture-solutions-that-block-noise\/\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bureau-featured-resources__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/NYC_Office-One-Meet.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Silence at Work: Top Office Furniture Solutions That Block Noise\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bureau-featured-resources__body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"bureau-featured-resources__title\">Silence at Work: Top Office Furniture Solutions That Block Noise<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"bureau-featured-resources__excerpt\">Anyone who has worked in an open office floor plan can tell you that noise is one of the biggest challenges in these spaces. Without the benefit of walls, these offices are filled with the sounds of people at work, including conversations, phone calls, message notifications, music, typing, and so much more. While it may feel like the cost of &#8230; \nRead More<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bureau-featured-resources__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M4.167 10h11.666M10 4.167 15.833 10 10 15.833\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.667\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/section>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) measures how much sound a material absorbs within a space, rated from 0 to 1. Higher NRC materials reduce echo and noise buildup, improving clarity and comfort. It does not block sound between spaces, but instead controls how sound behaves within an environment. Why NRC Matters for Internal Acoustic Comfort NRC is a key metric for &#8230; <\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/glossary\/noise-reduction-coefficient-nrc\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","glossary_category":[],"class_list":["post-17266","glossary","type-glossary","status-publish","hentry","no-post-thumbnail"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What is Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) - Bureau<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn what NRC measures, how it improves sound absorption and reduces echo, and why it does not provide soundproofing between spaces.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/glossary\/noise-reduction-coefficient-nrc\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"What is Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) - Bureau\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Learn what NRC measures, how it improves sound absorption and reduces echo, and why it does not provide soundproofing between spaces.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/glossary\\\/noise-reduction-coefficient-nrc\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/glossary\\\/noise-reduction-coefficient-nrc\\\/\",\"name\":\"What is Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) - Bureau\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-24T18:39:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-02T03:15:03+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn what NRC measures, how it improves sound absorption and reduces echo, and why it does not provide soundproofing between spaces.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/glossary\\\/noise-reduction-coefficient-nrc\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/glossary\\\/noise-reduction-coefficient-nrc\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/glossary\\\/noise-reduction-coefficient-nrc\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/home\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Glossary\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/glossary\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/\",\"name\":\"Bureau\",\"description\":\"Workspaces That Work\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Bureau\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Bureau-Favicon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Bureau-Favicon.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Bureau\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.withbureau.com\\\/uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/bureau.glo\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/bureau.global\\\/\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What is Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) - Bureau","description":"Learn what NRC measures, how it improves sound absorption and reduces echo, and why it does not provide soundproofing between spaces.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/glossary\/noise-reduction-coefficient-nrc\/","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"What is Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) - Bureau","twitter_description":"Learn what NRC measures, how it improves sound absorption and reduces echo, and why it does not provide soundproofing between spaces.","twitter_misc":{"Estimated reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/glossary\/noise-reduction-coefficient-nrc\/","url":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/glossary\/noise-reduction-coefficient-nrc\/","name":"What is Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) - Bureau","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-03-24T18:39:11+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-02T03:15:03+00:00","description":"Learn what NRC measures, how it improves sound absorption and reduces echo, and why it does not provide soundproofing between spaces.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/glossary\/noise-reduction-coefficient-nrc\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/glossary\/noise-reduction-coefficient-nrc\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/glossary\/noise-reduction-coefficient-nrc\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/home\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Glossary","item":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/glossary\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC)"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/","name":"Bureau","description":"Workspaces That Work","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/#organization","name":"Bureau","url":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Bureau-Favicon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Bureau-Favicon.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Bureau"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/bureau.glo","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bureau.global\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary\/17266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/glossary"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary\/17266\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"glossary_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.withbureau.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary_category?post=17266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}