The data set contains the results of room acoustic measurements and additional information from 57 rooms in 19 different public preschools in the Gothenburg area (Sweden). The measurements were conducted during 2019-2020. Children at preschool are divided into units commonly, but not always, based on age. The presented data covers in total 31 different units aimed at older children. Up to three rooms per unit were measured, focusing on the main play rooms and the meal room. In cases where these rooms were the same, only one room per unit was measured.
The preschools are divided into three groups, strata, based on the year when they were built: 1980-1994, 1995-2006, and 2007-2018.
To reach an even distribution within each strata with respect to socioeconomic factors, we used an existing preschool-specific index acquired from the central preschool administration [Jorsäter, M., Resursfördelningsmodell Göteborg 2019. 2019, Statistics Sweden (SCB)] (attached as a PDF file). The index is based on a model from Statistics Sweden (SCB) where school performance after elementary school is linked with a number of explanatory variables related to the socioeconomic background of the individual child and her/his parents. When these factors are known for the children at a specific preschool, an averaged index is calculated, centered around 100. Preschools with an index over 100 have a larger share of children with a risk of not qualifying for high school (gymnasium). Preschools with an index less than 100 have a smaller share of children with a risk of not qualifying for high school. The purpose of the index is to prioritize economic support to school units with the highest need and increase equity.
Room acoustic parameters and unoccupied noise levels were measured in each room using a laptop and an external 8-channel sound card (HEAD acoustics SQuadriga II). An omnidirectional sound source with a built-in generation of pink noise (50-20000 Hz) was used to excite the room. A modification was made to the device in order to extract the electronic signal from the loudspeaker.
Unoccupied noise levels were measured in accordance with ISO 16032:2004. In some rooms the contribution from the ventilation could be estimated by conducting the measurements with the ventilation unit turned on and off separately.
Room acoustic measurements were conducted following the precision method in ISO 3382-2:2008. Three microphones were used simultaneously with predetermined height inte...