Acoustics in the workplace - Revision history

Editor at 16:38, 24 December 2021

2021-12-24T16:38:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:38, 24 December 2021
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	--[[User:BSRIA\|BSRIA]]		--[[User:BSRIA\|BSRIA]]

−	= Related articles on Designing Buildings ~~Wiki~~ =	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

	* Acoustic design for health and wellbeing.		* Acoustic design for health and wellbeing.
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	* Facilities management.		* Facilities management.
	* Indoor air quality.		* Indoor air quality.
		+	* Noise level.
	* Noise nuisance.		* Noise nuisance.
	* Room acoustics.		* Room acoustics.

Editor at 09:54, 7 September 2021

2021-09-07T09:54:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:54, 7 September 2021
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	* Airborne sound.		* Airborne sound.
	* BSRIA articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.		* BSRIA articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
		+	* BSRIA Noise in the built environment TG 20/2021.
	* Building services and health risk resilient buildings.		* Building services and health risk resilient buildings.
	* CEOs predict COVID-19 workplace changes will be permanent.		* CEOs predict COVID-19 workplace changes will be permanent.

Designing Buildings at 07:25, 19 February 2021

2021-02-19T07:25:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:25, 19 February 2021
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	* Structure-borne sound.		* Structure-borne sound.

−	[[Category:~~News~~]] [[Category:DCN_News]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Design]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Commentary]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_News]] [[Category:News]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Design]]

Editor at 16:50, 11 August 2020

2020-08-11T16:50:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:50, 11 August 2020
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	* BSRIA articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.		* BSRIA articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
	* Building services and health risk resilient buildings.		* Building services and health risk resilient buildings.
		+	* CEOs predict COVID-19 workplace changes will be permanent.
	* Coronavirus and the construction industry.		* Coronavirus and the construction industry.
	* Facilities management.		* Facilities management.
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	* Structure-borne sound.		* Structure-borne sound.

−	[[Category:News]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Design]]	+	[[Category:News]] [[Category:DCN_News]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Design]]

Editor at 13:53, 26 June 2020

2020-06-26T13:53:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:53, 26 June 2020
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	* Acoustic design for health and wellbeing.		* Acoustic design for health and wellbeing.
	* Airborne sound.		* Airborne sound.
		+	* BSRIA articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
	* Building services and health risk resilient buildings.		* Building services and health risk resilient buildings.
	* Coronavirus and the construction industry.		* Coronavirus and the construction industry.

Editor at 13:51, 26 June 2020

2020-06-26T13:51:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:51, 26 June 2020
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	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

−	* Acoustic consultant.
	* Acoustic design for health and wellbeing.		* Acoustic design for health and wellbeing.
	* Airborne sound.		* Airborne sound.
−	* Approved Document E.
	* Building services and health risk resilient buildings.		* Building services and health risk resilient buildings.
	* Coronavirus and the construction industry.		* Coronavirus and the construction industry.
	* Facilities management.		* Facilities management.
	* Indoor air quality.		* Indoor air quality.
−	* Maintenance.
	* Noise nuisance.		* Noise nuisance.
	* Room acoustics.		* Room acoustics.
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	* Sound v noise.		* Sound v noise.
	* Structure-borne sound.		* Structure-borne sound.
−	* Suitably Qualified Acoustician.

	[[Category:News]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Design]]		[[Category:News]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Design]]

Editor at 12:06, 26 June 2020

2020-06-26T12:06:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:06, 26 June 2020
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	* Airborne sound.		* Airborne sound.
	* Approved Document E.		* Approved Document E.
−	* ~~BREEAM Acoustic performance~~.	+	* Building services and health risk resilient buildings.
		+	* Coronavirus and the construction industry.
		+	* Facilities management.
		+	* Indoor air quality.
		+	* Maintenance.
	* Noise nuisance.		* Noise nuisance.
	* Room acoustics.		* Room acoustics.

Editor at 12:02, 26 June 2020

2020-06-26T12:02:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:02, 26 June 2020
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	Acoustic Consultant, BSRIA and was published on 24 June 2020.		Acoustic Consultant, BSRIA and was published on 24 June 2020.

−	[[User:BSRIA\|BSRIA]]	+	--[[User:BSRIA\|BSRIA]]

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

Editor at 12:01, 26 June 2020

2020-06-26T12:01:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:01, 26 June 2020
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	-----		-----
−	This article originally appeared on the BSRIA website under the title, 'Acoustics in the workplace – What’s the “new normal”?' It was written by Rebecca Hogg,<br />	+	This article originally appeared on the BSRIA website under the title, '[https://blogs.bsria.co.uk/2020/06/24/acoustics-in-the-workplace-whats-the-new-normal/ Acoustics in the workplace – What’s the “new normal”?]' It was written by Rebecca Hogg,<br />
	Acoustic Consultant, BSRIA and was published on 24 June 2020.		Acoustic Consultant, BSRIA and was published on 24 June 2020.

	[[User:BSRIA\|BSRIA]]		[[User:BSRIA\|BSRIA]]

−	Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

−	~~BSRIA acoustic experts publish guidance, and support our members and clients with a range of acoustic testing solutions~~. ~~Read more about our UKAS-accredited laboratory~~ for ~~acoustic testing to BS EN ISO 3741, BS EN 12102~~ and ~~BS EN ISO 354 here~~.	+	* Acoustic consultant.
		+	* Acoustic design for health and wellbeing.
		+	* Airborne sound.
		+	* Approved Document E.
		+	* BREEAM Acoustic performance.
		+	* Noise nuisance.
		+	* Room acoustics.
		+	* Sound absorption.
		+	* Sound insulation.
		+	* Sound reduction index (SRI).
		+	* Sound v noise.
		+	* Structure-borne sound.
		+	* Suitably Qualified Acoustician.

	[[Category:News]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Design]]		[[Category:News]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Design]]

Editor at 11:21, 26 June 2020

2020-06-26T11:21:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:21, 26 June 2020
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−	[[File:QuietZone.jpg]]	+	[[File:QuietZone.jpg\|link=File:QuietZone.jpg]]

	= Introduction =		= Introduction =
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	As people are gradually allowed to return to a place of work, new COVID-secure offices have changed the acoustic environment. The installation of screens, the partitioning of open plan spaces, wearing of face coverings and a lower level of occupancy have created acoustic challenges. For example, speech intelligibility is affected by the reverberation time of a space. Fewer people and more reflective materials, such as plastic screens, will decrease the sound absorption and increase the reverberation time, resulting in poorer speech intelligibility.		As people are gradually allowed to return to a place of work, new COVID-secure offices have changed the acoustic environment. The installation of screens, the partitioning of open plan spaces, wearing of face coverings and a lower level of occupancy have created acoustic challenges. For example, speech intelligibility is affected by the reverberation time of a space. Fewer people and more reflective materials, such as plastic screens, will decrease the sound absorption and increase the reverberation time, resulting in poorer speech intelligibility.

−	= ~~The~~ consequences ~~of rearranged spaces~~ =	+	= Rearrangement consequences =

	Building services have been specified, installed and commissioned for a particular set up of a workplace layout and building occupancy. If a space is divided into individual offices to allow for social distancing, then the building services provision also needs to be reconsidered. Changing the control settings of a system will have an impact on the internal noise levels and subsequently on levels of occupant annoyance.		Building services have been specified, installed and commissioned for a particular set up of a workplace layout and building occupancy. If a space is divided into individual offices to allow for social distancing, then the building services provision also needs to be reconsidered. Changing the control settings of a system will have an impact on the internal noise levels and subsequently on levels of occupant annoyance.

−	Not everyone works in an office, so, what about situation in different workplaces? Factories, shops, and construction sites have been redesigned to allow for social distancing, and often operating hours have been extended to allow for shift patterns, potentially increasing noise nuisance for neighbours.	+	Not everyone works in an office, so, what about situation in different workplaces? Factories, shops and construction sites have been redesigned to allow for social distancing, and often operating hours have been extended to allow for shift patterns, potentially increasing noise nuisance for neighbours.

−	In these environments the noise levels are also often higher and communication between people can therefore be harder. People working further away from each other and wearing face coverings will inhibit successful communication and influence performance, and if someone must shout to be heard does this have the potential to spread virus droplets further? There should also be consideration of the highly overlooked 12 million people in the UK who suffer from some level of hearing loss. Being unable to lip read because someone is wearing a face covering, or unable to hear the conversation over a bad video conferencing link is incredibly frustrating and isolating.	+	In these environments the noise levels are also often higher and communication between people can therefore be harder. People working further away from each other and wearing face coverings will inhibit successful communication and influence performance, and if someone must shout to be heard does this have the potential to spread virus droplets further?
		+
		+	There should also be consideration of the highly overlooked 12 million people in the UK who suffer from some level of hearing loss. Being unable to lip read because someone is wearing a face covering, or unable to hear the conversation over a bad video conferencing link is incredibly frustrating and isolating.
		+
		+	= Finding solutions =

	The acoustic challenges within a COVID-secure workplace may seem overwhelming but there are several simple solutions. Firstly, identify noise sources in the workplace and maintain them appropriately to minimise background noise.		The acoustic challenges within a COVID-secure workplace may seem overwhelming but there are several simple solutions. Firstly, identify noise sources in the workplace and maintain them appropriately to minimise background noise.
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	Secondly, examine acoustic specifications of any new products being installed – ask to see test reports and consider how a new product could influence the acoustic environment.		Secondly, examine acoustic specifications of any new products being installed – ask to see test reports and consider how a new product could influence the acoustic environment.

−	Finally, consider the occupants of your workplace and how they use the space. Tailoring the acoustic environment to the needs of the occupants can increase productivity, decrease annoyance and overall improve the wellbeing of all. The focus on workplace safety is paramount, but long-term ~~considering~~ other design parameters, such as the acoustic environment, will ensure workplaces not only survive but thrive.	+	Finally, consider the occupants of your workplace and how they use the space. Tailoring the acoustic environment to the needs of the occupants can increase productivity, decrease annoyance and overall improve the wellbeing of all. The focus on workplace safety is paramount, but long-term considerations of other design parameters, such as the acoustic environment, will ensure workplaces not only survive but thrive.
		+
		+	-----
		+	This article originally appeared on the BSRIA website under the title, 'Acoustics in the workplace – What’s the “new normal”?' It was written by Rebecca Hogg,<br />
		+	Acoustic Consultant, BSRIA and was published on 24 June 2020.
		+
		+	[[User:BSRIA\|BSRIA]]
		+
		+	Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

	BSRIA acoustic experts publish guidance, and support our members and clients with a range of acoustic testing solutions. Read more about our UKAS-accredited laboratory for acoustic testing to BS EN ISO 3741, BS EN 12102 and BS EN ISO 354 here.		BSRIA acoustic experts publish guidance, and support our members and clients with a range of acoustic testing solutions. Read more about our UKAS-accredited laboratory for acoustic testing to BS EN ISO 3741, BS EN 12102 and BS EN ISO 354 here.
		+
		+	[[Category:News]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Design]]