Conversations, coffee breaks, spontaneous meetings – the multitude of acoustic stimuli makes concentrated work difficult and drains focus and energy on a daily basis. How can the acoustic load in an open space be effectively reduced without jeopardizing the open space concept? We regularly encounter this question in the planning process for modern office landscapes.
Eva Wassermann (MBBM-BSO consulting engineer) gets to the bottom of this question in her specialist article on ISO 22955.
Based on acoustic simulations, her study shows how various shielding measures, from curtains and glass walls to ceiling absorbers, affect the location-dependent acoustic attenuation of speech (DA,S). The standard provides specific parameters and planning approaches to minimize acoustic disturbances in a targeted manner.
The article is based on Eva Wassermann’s technical study “Practical Application of ISO 22955 for Acoustic Design in Open-Plan Offices”, presented at the 51st Annual Conference on Acoustics (DAGA) in Copenhagen on March 20, 2025.
