1、Designation: E1374 06 (Reapproved 2011)E1374 18Standard Guide forOpen Office Acoustics and Applicable ASTM Standards1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1374; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the yea
2、r of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONThere are no full height partitions in an open-plan office to block sound transmission betweenadjacent work stati
3、ons. Instead, partial height barriers, a sound absorbing ceiling and absorption onvertical surfaces are used to provide sound attenuation between individuals. These, in combinationwith work station layout and appropriate levels of broad band masking sound are used to obtainacceptable degrees of acou
4、stical privacy.Office environments include open and closed spaces withvarying acoustical performance requirements depending on space function and occupant needs. Soundcontrol tools and methods are identified which combine to provide appropriate amounts of speechprivacy, freedom from distraction and
5、acoustic comfort whether in focus, private, collaborative orother office areas.1. Scope1.1 This guide discusses the acoustical principles and interactions that affect the acoustical environment and acoustical privacyin the open office. In this context, it performance of open and closed offices. It d
6、escribes the application and use of the relevantseries of ASTM standards that apply to the open office.standards.1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to SI units that are provided for information only an
7、d are not considered standard.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibilityof the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine theapplicabili
8、ty of regulatory limitations prior to use.1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardizationestablished in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issuedby the World T
9、rade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2C423 Test Method for Sound Absorption and Sound Absorption Coefficients by the Reverberation Room MethodE90 Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of Airborne Sound Transmission Loss of Building
10、Partitions and ElementsE336 Test Method for Measurement of Airborne Sound Attenuation between Rooms in BuildingsE795 Practices for Mounting Test Specimens During Sound Absorption TestsE1007 Test Method for Field Measurement of Tapping Machine Impact Sound Transmission Through Floor-CeilingAssemblies
11、and Associated Support StructuresE1110 Classification for Determination of Articulation ClassE1111 Test Method for Measuring the Interzone Attenuation of Open Office ComponentsE1130 Test Method for Objective Measurement of Speech Privacy in Open Plan Spaces Using Articulation IndexE1179 Specificatio
12、n for Sound Sources Used for Testing Open Office Components and SystemsE1414 Test Method for Airborne Sound Attenuation Between Rooms Sharing a Common Ceiling Plenum1 This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E33 on Building and EnvironmentalAcoustics and is the direct responsibility of
13、Subcommittee E33.02 on OpenPlan SpacesSpeech Privacy.Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2011Jan. 1, 2018. Published December 2011February 2018. Originally approved in 1990. Last previous edition approved in 20062011as E1374 06.E1374 06 (2011). DOI: 10.1520/E1374-06R11.10.1520/E1374-18.2 For referenced
14、ASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standardsvolume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page on the ASTM website.This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the use
15、r of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Becauseit may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current versionof the standard as
16、 published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States1E1573 Test Method for Measurement and Reporting of Masking Sound Levels Using A-Weighted and One-Third-Octave-BandSound Press
17、ure LevelsE2638 Test Method for Objective Measurement of the Speech Privacy Provided by a Closed RoomE2964 Test Method for Measurement of the Normalized Insertion Loss of Doors3. Summary of Guide3.1 Acoustical PrivacyPerformanceThe attenuation of sound between neighboring work stations in an open-pl
18、an office istypically much less than that potentially available between closed-plan offices. Nevertheless, Acoustics in open and closed officespaces must be considered during the design stage in order to provide occupants with an appropriate degree of speech intelligibilityand speech privacy while m
19、inimizing noise distraction as appropriate for the space usage. Speech privacy and distraction arecontrolled by the ratio of intruding voice level to background sound. In the open plan, a degree of acoustical privacy speechprivacy, noise control and comfort can be achieved if component selection and
20、 interaction are understood. A successful open planoffice is the result of careful coordination of the several components, ceiling, wall treatments, many components, including thosewhich influence the transmission of sound, such as the ceiling, furniture and furnishings, flooring, wall treatments an
21、d lighting;the heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system, and masking sound system.system which limits maximum background noiselevels and the sound masking system which controls minimum background sound levels. (See Section 76.) In closed plan offices,many of the same considerations are taken
22、 into account with the important addition of partition construction methods.3.1.1 This guide delineates the role and interaction of the several components and the application of the relevant ASTMStandards.3.2 This guide delineates the role and interaction of these components and the application of r
23、elevant ASTM Standards.4. Significance and Use4.1 This guide is intended for the use of architects, engineers, office managers, and others interested in designing, specifying,or operating open offices.office environments.4.2 It is not intended to be applied to other than office environments, for exa
24、mple, open plan schools.4.3 While this guide attempts to clarify the many interacting variables that influence office privacy,acoustical performance, itis not intended to supplant the experience and judgment of experts in the field of acoustics. Competent technical advice should besought for success
25、 in the design of open offices, including comparisons of test results carried out according to ASTM standards.5. General Open Office Acoustical Considerations5.1 IntroductionAttenuation with DistanceIn almost any enclosed space, there is some reduction of sound level withdistance. In many typical sp
26、aces, this decrease of sound level with distance is affected by sound reflections from the ceiling, thewalls, and floor. In the open plan office the goal is to maximize this loss with distance in order to improve acoustical privacy. Thisrequires a highly absorbent ceiling, some absorption on the flo
27、or, and careful treatment of nearby vertical surfaces. The ideal isto approach the conditions of the outdoors, where there are no reflecting surfaces.5.2 Attaining acoustical privacy between work stations, open or closed plan, is determined by the degree to which the intrudingsounds from adjacent wo
28、rk stations exceed the ambient sound levels at the listeners ear.5.1 Signal to Noise RatioThe sound pressure levels arriving at the listeners ear from sources in adjacent work stations dependon the following:Noise intrusion and the level of acoustical privacy between work spaces, in either open or c
29、losed plan, isdetermined by the degree to which the sounds from a nearby work space exceed the background sound levels. It is essential thatboth the spread of sound from voices and other sources and the background sound are carefully controlled. The following attributesapply regardless of the source
30、 of the intruding sound.5.1.1 The sound source amplitude, directivity, and orientation.5.1.2 The total attenuation of the sound due to a combination of distance and shielding by intervening barriers.barriers andattenuation due to sound absorptive surfaces.5.1.2.1 AbsorptionIn the open plan office, t
31、he goal is to maximize attenuation with distance in order to improve soundisolation. This may require a highly absorptive ceiling, some absorption on the floor, and careful treatment of some verticalsurfaces. Where the highest level of sound attenuation is required, the ideal is to approach the cond
32、itions of the outdoors, wherethere are no reflecting surfaces. In both open and closed spaces, absorption reduces sound reflection and reverberation whichcontributes to acoustic comfort.5.1.2.2 Sound BarriersSounds passing through, over or around a physical barrier will be reduced in level. Barriers
33、, such aswalls, windows, doors and workstation partitions are an essential part of both open and closed plan acoustical design. Theacoustical performance of each will depend on their design and construction.5.1.3 The reinforcement of the direct strengthened spread of sound due to reflections from of
34、fice surfaces such as the ceiling,furniture panels, light fixtures, walls, and windows.5.1.4 The level and spectrum of ambientbackground sound at the listeners ear. This will often be generated and controlled bya sound masking sound system, but in certain positions and frequency ranges, heating, ven
35、tilating, and air conditioning equipmentE1374 182(HVAC) may contribute significantly to the ambient sound level.ear generated by sources other than speech. To ensure predictablelevels of speech privacy where insufficient levels of continuous minimum background sound exist, electronic sound maskingsy
36、stems offer the best means of raising the ambient sound level in a tunable (optimized) manner.5.2 DensityThe attributes inOccupant density affects 5.3.1 through both 5.3.4 apply regardless of the source of the intrudingsound. In the open plan, both office equipment and speech are the dominant intrud
37、ing sources. In many cases, the provision foracceptable speech privacy is the major concern. the number and proximity of people in a given space. Higher density results inboth greater noise and distraction from increased quantity of conversation and activity.5.3 LayoutOffice layout should The open o
38、ffice layout must consider needs for isolation and concentration or collaborationand ease of communication between workstations as appropriate. Where the need for concentration is of higher importance, thelayout can be designed to avoid obvious noise intrusion possibilities. Individual assist in min
39、imizing noise intrusion. For example,individual work stations should be positioned relative to columns, walls, and each other to avoid uninterrupted sound pathsbetween contiguous work stations. Occupant orientation is also important, because there is a significant difference betweenin thesound level
40、 when a talker faces a listener versus the talker facing away from the listener, of the order of 9 dB.dBA. In a closedplan space, door openings on either side of a corridor should be staggered.5.4 Loud NoisesUndivided Workspaces Distractions caused by raised voices or loud office equipment usually c
41、annot becontrolled by normal open office constructions. It is recommended that some closed plan spaces be provided to contain such loudequipment or enclose noise sensitive spaces such as conference rooms.Collaborative open office design has all but eliminatedvertical barriers in order to foster comm
42、unication and interaction between coworkers. For job functions requiring freedom fromdistraction in the open plan, it may be achieved with the inclusion of appropriate sound barriers. In open spaces with workstationpartitions below seated head height, acoustical performance may be improved by the ad
43、dition of acoustical absorption and soundmasking, but an expectation of speech privacy or significant noise isolation is unrealistic in this circumstance.5.5 Problem Noise SourcesIntrusive NoisesComputers, business machines, copiers, typewriters, and other noise generatingdevices Distraction caused
44、by raised voices or noisy equipment may not be sufficiently controlled by open office constructions.Spaces requiring increased speech privacy and noise isolation such as conference rooms should be designed using appropriatelyhigher sound isolation criteria. Noise generating devices and occupant func
45、tions should be located in isolated (enclosed)enclosedrooms or areas to minimize their noise intrusion into the work station. Where this is impractical, care should be exercised ineliminating or minimizing the noise generation aspects. Telephones and “speaker phones” are a frequent problem. The form
46、ershould be equipped with flashing lights, rather than ringers (audible annunciators). Large typing pools or word processing otherwork spaces. For example, speaker phones and call centers can generate A-weighted sound levels up to 80 dB. These activitieshigh sound levels. These should be contained i
47、n special work areas affording adequate noise isolation from the surrounding openplan spaces.spaces. Care should be exercised in eliminating or minimizing the noise generation aspects. Open office etiquetteguidelines should be established and enforced.5.8 Undivided WorkspacesAcoustical comfort may b
48、e improved in undivided workspaces such as “bull-pen” offices, draftingrooms, and typing pools by the addition of acoustical absorption to horizontal and vertical surfaces, but no such treatment alonewill provide speech privacy.5.6 Component TestingASTM test methods exist for testing components and
49、systems for open plan offices. These includemeasuring the attenuation between work stations by the ceiling path , path, the effect of barriers such as furniture panels, the effectof flanking or reflections from vertical surfaces (see Test Method E1111), measurement of masking sound in the open office (seeTest Method E1573), and the determination of the articulation class (see Classification E1110),) that is a single number rating ofsystem component performance. Articulation class does not account for the effect of masking sound.5.7 Objective DeterminationMeasur
