EMC Acoustics was appointed to provide specialist room acoustic consultancy and electroacoustic system design for the Grande Mosquée de Chelles in the Paris region, France.

Our company was appointed by MSD Group, a Paris-based contractor specialising in renovation and improvement projects for mosques, schools and other community buildings.

The mosque had been experiencing ongoing problems with its existing PA system. Poor sound distribution and speech clarity meant that the existing installation was no longer providing the level of performance required by the congregation.

The objective was to understand the acoustic behaviour of the prayer spaces and develop a new sound reinforcement system capable of providing clear speech, controlled coverage and consistent sound throughout the mosque.

Mosques can present particularly demanding electroacoustic conditions due to their architecture, large open prayer spaces and extensive hard reflective surfaces.

The performance of a PA system cannot therefore be considered independently from the acoustics of the building.

For Grande Mosquée de Chelles, EMC Acoustics needed to establish how the existing room acoustics were affecting speech intelligibility before designing the replacement system.

Rather than simply replacing the existing loudspeakers, our approach was to measure the space, analyse its acoustic characteristics and use the collected data to engineer the new system.

UK Team – On-Site Acoustic Survey in Paris

Our acoustic engineering team travelled from the UK to Paris to undertake detailed measurements within the mosque.

The survey included impulse response measurements to establish the acoustic behaviour of the prayer areas.

These measurements provided our engineers with important information relating to reverberation, acoustic reflections, sound decay and the overall response of the space.

The measured data created the technical foundation for the next stage of the project.

3D EASE Acoustic Modelling

Following completion of the site survey, the measurement data was brought back to our engineering team and used to develop a detailed 3D electroacoustic model of the mosque using EASE software.

By recreating the space within the modelling environment, our engineers were able to investigate how different loudspeaker configurations would perform before equipment was installed.

This engineering-led approach allowed the proposed PA system to be developed around the actual acoustic characteristics of the building.

• Loudspeaker coverage across the prayer areas
• Sound pressure level distribution
• Speech intelligibility
• Loudspeaker positioning and aiming
• Interaction between loudspeakers
• Effects of the room acoustics on system performance
• Areas of excessive or insufficient coverage
• Overall system performance throughout the mosque

Three System Design Options

An important part of the project was giving the client a clear choice between different technical solutions.

Following our acoustic analysis and EASE modelling, EMC Acoustics developed and presented three different sound system proposals.

Each option offered a different level of performance and investment, allowing the client to compare the technical benefits against the available project budget.

Rather than specifying a single solution, our engineers explained the advantages and limitations of each option so that the client could make an informed decision.

The client ultimately selected the system that provided the most appropriate balance between acoustic performance, operational requirements and budget.

Detailed Electroacoustic Design

Once the preferred system had been selected, EMC Acoustics developed the detailed design information required for installation.

This provided the contractor with a clear technical framework for delivering the new system in accordance with the acoustic design.

• On-site room acoustic measurements
• Impulse response testing
• Analysis of the existing PA system
• 3D EASE electroacoustic modelling
• Loudspeaker selection
• Loudspeaker positioning and aiming
• Sound coverage analysis
• Speech intelligibility assessment
• System performance comparisons
• Development of three design options
• Technical recommendations and equipment specification
• Installation requirements and contractor coordination

Contractor Coordination & Quality Control

EMC Acoustics remained involved after the design stage to ensure that the system installed on site reflected the original engineering intent.

Our team maintained communication with MSD Group and the installation team throughout the project, providing technical support and clarification where required.

Following installation, our engineers travelled back to Paris to inspect the completed works.

This second site visit allowed EMC Acoustics to verify that the contractor had followed the design requirements, including loudspeaker locations, installation details and system configuration.

Any necessary adjustments could then be identified before final commissioning.

Testing, Tuning & Commissioning

Once the installation had been verified, EMC Acoustics carried out final system testing, tuning and commissioning.

The installed system was assessed against the original design objectives and optimised within the actual completed environment.

Our engineers carried out system checks and tuning to achieve the required balance between coverage, level and speech clarity throughout the mosque.

This final stage was essential because even a carefully modelled system requires professional commissioning once installed within the real acoustic environment.

The project provided Grande Mosquée de Chelles with a professionally engineered sound reinforcement solution developed specifically around the acoustic characteristics of the building.

The client was able to select a system that met both the required performance level and available budget, while EMC Acoustics remained involved through to final testing to ensure that the completed installation achieved the design objectives.

Site Survey → Impulse Response Measurements → Acoustic Analysis → 3D EASE Modelling → Three System Options → Client Selection → Detailed Design → Contractor Coordination → Installation Inspection → Testing → System Tuning → Final Commissioning

International Acoustic & Electroacoustic Consultancy

The Grande Mosquée de Chelles project demonstrates EMC Acoustics' ability to provide specialist acoustic and electroacoustic consultancy beyond the UK.

By travelling to Paris for both the initial acoustic measurements and the final inspection and commissioning, our engineers maintained technical control from the first measurement through to the completed sound system.

Working closely with MSD Group and the local installation team, EMC Acoustics combined on-site acoustic measurement, 3D simulation, professional sound system design, contractor coordination and final commissioning to deliver a practical solution tailored to the mosque, its congregation and the client's budget.