WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE NOISE? Acoustic solutions

We just have to block its path, and then it will stay outside!

IT’S ALL A QUESTION OF ACOUSTICS Phones ringing, people on the phone, conversations between colleagues, the clicking of computer keyboards and the constant rhythmic buzz of printers and copiers. The backdrop of noise in the office – especially in the open space – can be extremely stressful and is stated as the number one distraction factor at work. There’s even scientific evidence: noise disturbs concentration, which has a knock-on effect on efficiency at work. So doing something about office noise is worth it for all those affected. In this brochure you can find out all about acoustics in the...

What exactly is meant by acoustics and what the characteristic features are HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT ACOUSTICS BEFORE? THEN READ MORE ON THE SUBJECT NOW When people talk about the acoustics of a room, it’s usually because they fall short of the ideal. The thing is, good acoustics in a room are usually perceived to be pleasant and therefore people don’t notice them – so they generally aren’t a topic for discussion. Not in this brochure: here we tell you all about how to design office space for an optimum effect in acoustic terms. But what exactly are acoustics? It’s simple: the word is derived from...

Absolute calm – pure stress In a so-called “anechoic chamber”, in which you really can’t hear anything, people feel extremely uncomfortable. It causes high levels of irritation and stress if there is no acoustic orientation at all. Highs and lows Low sounds have long wavelengths, high sounds have short ones. The more frequently a sound wave oscillates, the higher the sound – the unit of measurement for this is Hertz (Hz). Sound spreads in waves. The interval between one highest (or lowest) point to the next is the wavelength. The height of the wave describes the volume. How do people react? The...

What role is played by acoustics in today’s office? COMMUNICATION IS QUINTESSENTIAL IN THE WORKPLACE – AS LONG AS IT DOESN’T DISTRACT OTHERS Whether the office is large or small: the most distracting thing is when other people are talking. In this situation it isn’t just the volume of their speech that’s important, it’s the extent to which it can be understood. The more information people are obliged to hear involuntarily and the more complex the thought processes have to be, the more their performance capacity is reduced. This can apply even when the noise level is low. The noises emitted by...

What different levels of distraction through noise are there? DIN 1320 on the subject of acoustics defines noise: Noise is defined as an undesired source of sound that can result in distraction, stress, negative effects or damage. Distraction: noise has a detrimental effect on mental activity, which is perceived consciously or unconsciously. Stress: noise is individually perceived to be a stress factor. Negative effects: noise compromises physical, psychological or social welfare. Damage: noise leads to a significant and possibly lasting impairment of the hearing and health. What effect does...

What you need to remember BALANCE: HOW TO MAKE SURE THE OFFICE HAS GOOD ACOUSTICS To achieve optimum room acoustics, you can’t just turn the office volume down as you would with a radio – you always have to consider a variety of factors. As well as the background sound level, there are firstly elements that contribute to speech understandability, and on the other hand there are elements that affect the reverberation time. The goal has to be to create a balanced relationship based on the structural conditions and the activities in the room. That sounds complicated, but in practice it can easily...

Absorption Screening When designing a room in acoustic terms it is important to consider the effects of Reverberation time (RT) of high and low-frequency sounds. This influences how we perceive and understand speech. Subjective speech impression Indistinct, difficult to understand Dull, but easy to understand Shrill, blaring, piercing, difficult to understand The table shows what you need to take into account with sound absorption. For instance if the reverberation time for low frequency sounds is too long yet there is too much sound absorption for the high sounds, the overall impression for...

How room acoustics planning works AN ACOUSTIC PROGNOSIS FOR A PLEASANT WORKPLACE Although room acoustics planning for offices follows certain rules, it is still an individual matter: you see, every room is different in character and has other requirements to fulfil. As well as functions, work forms and the number of employees, it is also important to take into account the traffic routes in areas of varying user concentration, for instance. Furthermore it is of key importance to maintain a balanced relationship between economy of space and the employees’ requirements in order to achieve efficiency...

Example of acoustic planning for an open space office THE CHALLENGE One of the most challenging tasks when it comes to room acoustics in the office is to plan a team office with an open-space character – especially when the workstations have to be close to each other due to economy of space. Team office solutions in principle aim to improve internal communication and encourage interaction and information exchange between individuals. So conversations are a good thing, but in an open space they mix with phone calls made by other colleagues and general noise from equipment to create a distracting...

What ideas can König+Neurath offer OUR SOLUTIONS: PEACE AND QUIET König + Neurath products and elements can be used to furnish offices for several people and open-space areas in such a way that the acoustics are suitable for all requirements and activities. The INSIDE screens are available with acoustically-effective fabric, and the ACTA storage range has acoustic doors and back panels. The new Phonebox and seat elements from the modular NET.WORK.PLACE range offer acoustic screening and damping, as do the TEAM.WORK.SPACE screens and absorbers. If offices are acoustically screened in this way,...