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Acoustic solutions for a multi-person office with five workstations

This example also clearly shows that if a room is used without specific acoustic planning, conflicts arise between communicative and focused work. The right design determines whether a room has a productivity-enhancing or stressful effect.

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Base situation: An office with five workstations, divided between two teams

Team 1 (3 people): Communicative work – discussions among team members are important.

Team 2 (2 people): Concentration tasks – discussions from Team 1 are disruptive.

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Only the nearest speaking person from Team 1 will be called upon to make a judgment.

Solution option 1

Sound screen on the sideboard

Absorbing elements: Furniture and attached sound screen (1.8 m high). All other surfaces are sound-reflective.

Acoustic values
  • Sound pressure level: 55 dB(A)
  • Speech transmission index STI: 0.51
  • Reverberation time in the speech frequency range 250 to 2,000 Hz: 1.3 to 1.1 sec.
Assessment

The reverberation time significantly exceeds the specifications. Although speech intelligibility is reduced, it remains too high for concentrated work. There is no effective acoustic separation between the teams. At the same time, there is a risk of the so-called Lombard effect occurring: employees speak louder to drown each other out.

Dividers

Solution option 2

Acoustic panels and carpet flooring

The room is fitted with carpet flooring and a thermally activated ceiling with selective acoustic sails.

Acoustic values
  • Sound pressure level: 53 dB(A)
  • Speech transmission index STI: 0.58
  • Reverberation time in the speech frequency range 250 to 2,000 Hz: 1 to 0.6 sec.
Assessment

The reverberation time is partially reduced – but only sufficiently in the higher frequency range. This means that there is still considerable potential for disturbance during concentrated work. Note: With thermally activated ceilings, additional absorbers are required on walls or acoustically effective furniture. Climate, lighting, and acoustics must be planned in an integrated manner.

Ceiling elements

Solution option 3

Full-surface acoustic ceiling and carpet flooring

The room is equipped with a sound-absorbing ceiling throughout and a textile floor covering.

Acoustic values
  • Sound pressure level: 49 dB(A)
  • Speech transmission index STI: 0.61
  • Reverberation time in the speech frequency range 250 to 2,000 Hz: 0.5 to 0.4 sec.
Assessment

The requirements of ASR A3.7 are met and the overall acoustics are significantly improved. However, speech intelligibility remains too high. There is still potential for disruption to concentrated work.

Ceiling elements

Solution option 4

Structural separation using an acoustically effective wall

A solid, ceiling-high partition wall with absorption material separates the teams. The acoustic ceiling and carpeted floor remain intact.

Acoustic values
  • Sound pressure level: 45 dB(A)
  • Speech transmission index STI: 0.5
  • Reverberation time in the speech frequency range 250 to 2,000 Hz: 0.5 to 0.4 sec.
Assessment

Best possible result! The sound level and reverberation time are ideal. At the same time, the speech transmission index is very low. Disturbances are barely noticeable.

Wall tiles

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