Advanced Acoustical Assessment Procedures for Open-Plan Offices (SPMSoft)

Objective

The development of advanced procedures for evaluating acoustical conditions and diagnosing problems in open-plan offices.

Background

Developing better procedures for evaluating the acoustical conditions and diagnosing problems is an important part of efforts to improve acoustical conditions for workers in open-plan offices. The measurement/diagnostic tool employed is based on impulse response measurement techniques that have been used extensively to evaluate meeting rooms and auditoria.

Sound paths between workstations

The technique has been adapted to measure speech privacy, in a less intrusive manner than with conventional measurements. Such improved measurements and diagnostics make the systematic improvement of open-plan office acoustics a practical option. This is particularly important because acceptable conditions in open-plan offices require all of the details to be near optimum.

Statement of Work

• Thoroughly evaluated the viability of using impulse response measurements to assess speech privacy and to diagnose acoustical problems in open-plan offices
• Determined in more detail the requirements of such a measurement/diagnostics evaluation system
• Developed dedicated measurement software to make the required measurements and to provide convenient diagnostics tools
• Evaluated the new measurement/diagnostics software in a representative sample of open-plan office situations and rectify problems and limitations

Outcome

The SPMSoft measurement/diagnostic software is now available for evaluating acoustical conditions in open-plan offices and for guiding the diagnosis and effective resolution of acoustical problems.

Partner

Public Works and Government Services Canada

Start/Completion Dates

The project began in 2004 and was completed in 2008.

Publications

Development and Evaluation of Speech Privacy Measurement Software : SPMSoft
Bradley, J.S.
Research Report, NRC Institute for Research in Construction,
pp. 1-46. 2008-08-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Open- Plan Office Speech Privacy Case Studies
Bradley, J.S.
Research Report, NRC Institute for Research in Construction,
pp. 1-36. 2008-08-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

SPMSoft (Speech Privacy Measurement Software) User's Manual
Bradley, J.S. Estabrooks, T.
Research Report, NRC Institute for Research in Construction,
pp. 1-20. 2008-08-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Related Information

SPMSoft – for Measuring Acoustical Conditions in Open-Plan offices

Institutes:

• NRC Institute for Research in Construction