sabin

measurement

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July 13, 2026

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The sabin is a unit of measurement used in acoustics to quantify sound absorption. It is named after Wallace Clement Sabine, an American physicist who is considered the founder of architectural acoustics.12

The sabin is defined as the absorption of one square foot of a perfect sound absorber. This unit is crucial for understanding and designing spaces with desired acoustic properties, such as concert halls or lecture rooms. Sabine's work led to the development of principles for controlling reverberation, the persistence of sound after the original sound has stopped. The Boston Symphony Hall was one of the first buildings designed using his principles, achieving notable acoustical success.12

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Wallace Clement Sabine
…unit of sound-absorbing power, the sabin, was named after him. The first building designed in accordance with principles laid down by Sabine was the Boston Symphony Hall, which opened in 1900 and proved a great acoustical success.
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…unit of sound-absorbing power, the sabin, was named after him. The first building designed in accordance with principles laid down by Sabine was the Boston Symphony Hall, which opened in 1900 and proved a great acoustical success.
Read More

acoustics
Reverberation time
…room, measured by the unit sabin. The sabin is the absorption equivalent to one square foot of perfectly absorbing surface—for example, a one-square-foot hole in a wall or five square feet of surface that absorbs 20 percent of the sound striking it.
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…room, measured by the unit sabin. The sabin is the absorption equivalent to one square foot of perfectly absorbing surface—for example, a one-square-foot hole in a wall or five square feet of surface that absorbs 20 percent of the sound striking it.
Read More