Raumakustische Zielgrößen und Maßnahmen zur Optimierung der kognitiven Leistungsfähigkeit sowie des akustischen Komforts in Mehrpersonenbüros

Room acoustical set values and measures for optimization of cognitive performance and acoustic comfort in open-plan offices.

Noise is among the most frequently mentioned sources of complaint in open-plan offices. Particularly conversations of colleagues are perceived as being annoying. In addition office noise is known to impair employees' cognitive performance and wellbeing. Standards and norms hardly account for the special role of background speech. The Speech Transmission Index (STI), a measure of speech intelligibility, is assumed to be a suitable physical set value for the acoustical design of open-plan offices. The results of a laboratory experiment are presented investigating the relationship between presentation of background speech varying in STI and cognitive performance as well as perceived acoustic comfort. A strong relationship between speech intelligibility and cognitive performance as well as acoustic comfort is found. Therefore the STI can be assumed to be a suitable physical set value for the acoustic design of open-plan office.