Acoustic Issues in Open Plan Offices: A Typological Analysis

Sara Delle Macchie,Simone Secchi,Gianfranco Cellai

doi:10.3390/buildings8110161

Abstract

This paper reports the acoustic issues of open plan office environments. According to a detailed research based on the scientific literature of the most suitable acoustic descriptors recommended for the open plan offices analysis, the main typological-functional configurations of these environments have been analyzed in order to identify six spatial typologies. The variation of acoustic parameters of these typologies has been evaluated by using a sound pyramid tracing software. The analysis procedure was calibrated in a case study of an office environment, where a measurement campaign was carried out. Results point out that the acoustic improvement of open plan offices can usually be achieved by introducing a sound absorbing false ceiling and dividing panels between working positions, but there are different issues depending on spatial geometries of the office. Better results are referred to office typologies characterized by reduced height and equal plan dimensions.

Highlights

Since the 1960’s researchers have been addressing the acoustic problem in open-plan offices [1].Over this period, there have been substantial changes in the nature of the sounds of office equipment; for example, the most notable change from typewriters to computers on every desk
Typology A is the open plan situation that is most affected by the changes in the environment acoustic properties where D2,S reaches the value of 5 dB in configuration 3
The acoustic improvement in open plan offices can be usually achieved by introducing a sound absorbing false ceiling and high dividing panels, but literature shows that there can be different results depending on the spatial configuration of the office [41]

Summary

Introduction

Since the 1960’s researchers have been addressing the acoustic problem in open-plan offices [1].Over this period, there have been substantial changes in the nature of the sounds of office equipment; for example, the most notable change from typewriters to computers on every desk. Significant increase of non-productive spaces, such as collaborative work spaces where workers can interact with each other in an informal way; Growing number of workers who use the office in a non-continuative way (teleworkers, home workers, etc.); Decrease in the number of individual workstations in favor of open plan spaces; Reduction of archive spaces by software data storage, up to their absence; and, Spatial flexibility to respond to different future economic and management needs These trends have led to the defining of the workplace as a container of activities, some of these productive, others connected to the elaboration of immaterial products, and some others became mixed areas. Silence and concentration conditions should be Buildings 2018, 8, 161; doi:10.3390/buildings8110161 www.mdpi.com/journal/buildings

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