Articles tagged “sound masking”
20 articles covering sound masking in acoustic engineering and building design.
Library Acoustic Design: Zones, Privacy & Focus in Modern Libraries
Practical guide to modern library acoustic design covering multi-zone strategies, background noise targets, RT60 by zone, sound masking, speech privacy, and a case study of Helsinki Oodi's three-zone acoustic architecture. Includes NC targets, treatment specifications, and cost estimates.
Open Plan Office Acoustics: Why 73% of WELL Submissions Fail
Why 73% of WELL Building Standard acoustic submissions fail on sound masking and speech privacy, with ISO 3382-3 metrics and proven treatment strategies.
What is Acoustic Privacy? Controlling Who Hears What
Acoustic privacy is the condition where speech cannot be understood by unintended listeners. Learn STC requirements, speech privacy classes, masking systems, and open-plan vs closed-office strategies.
Sound Masking Design Guide 2026 — Spectrum, Level & Speaker Layout | AcousPlan
Complete sound masking design guide 2026: target spectrum shape, levels by space type, speaker spacing calculation, and commissioning procedure per ASTM E1130.
Coworking Acoustics — Why Phone Booths Are a Symptom, Not a Solution | AcousPlan
Phone booths treat 2% of floor area while 98% stays noisy. ISO 3382-3 D2,S analysis shows ceiling treatment + masking outperforms booths 3:1 on cost.
Open Plan Office Acoustics — 5 Design Failures That Guarantee Complaints | AcousPlan
Open plan offices fail because of 5 specific design decisions. ISO 3382-3 D2,S data proves it. Learn the fixes with real before/after measurements.
Sound Masking System Design: Spectrum, Level, and Coverage Calculation
Design a sound masking system for a 500 m² open office from scratch: masking spectrum, required level, speaker spacing, and before/after Articulation Index.
Speech Privacy in Open Offices Is Physically Impossible Without Sound Masking
Acoustic panels and high partitions cannot achieve Normal speech privacy in an open office without sound masking. Here's the physics proof with ASTM E1130 calculations and real numbers.
WELL v2 Acoustic Requirements — 3 Features Most Projects Fail | Free Checklist | AcousPlan
WELL v2 Feature 74 has 7 acoustic requirements. Most projects fail L03, L05, and L07. Free compliance checklist with threshold values for each part.
What Is Sound Masking? — How Adding Noise Creates Privacy
Sound masking adds engineered background noise to make speech unintelligible at a distance, creating acoustic privacy without physical barriers. Learn how it works, where it is used, and how to specify it correctly.
Open Office Speech Privacy — Why You Can Hear Everything and How to Fix It
Your open office has an Articulation Index of 0.45 — that is Poor privacy. Here is the calculation per ASTM E1130 and the 3 changes that fix it.
Sound Masking Specification Guide — How to Write an Acoustic Masking Spec per ASTM E1130
A complete specification guide for sound masking systems in offices. Target levels, spectrum curves, speaker placement, and the ASTM E1130 framework.
Acoustic Design for Facilities Managers — When to Retrofit, What It Costs, How to Specify
A practical guide for facilities managers dealing with acoustic complaints. Covers diagnosis of common noise problems, cost-benefit analysis for acoustic retrofits, specification writing, and supplier evaluation. Includes a worked example for a 500m² office.
Acoustic Retrofit Guide — How to Fix Existing Buildings Without Demolition
A comprehensive guide to improving acoustics in existing buildings without demolition — covering offices, schools, healthcare facilities, and hospitality. Includes non-invasive treatment strategies, suspended baffles, freestanding panels, pod/booth insertion, desk screens, measurement-first approach, cost comparisons between retrofit and new-build, and a worked example of a 1970s office building acoustic upgrade.
Office Acoustic Design 2026: WELL v2, Activity-Based Working, and the Hybrid Office
The complete guide to office acoustic design for 2026 — covering activity-based working zones, hybrid office layouts, WELL v2 Feature 74 compliance, sound masking, privacy distance, and ISO 3382-3 open plan parameters. Includes a worked example for a 500 m² hybrid office with three acoustic zones.
Can Everyone Hear Your Calls? Why Open Office Speech Privacy Fails
If you can clearly understand a colleague's phone conversation from 4 metres away, your office STI is above 0.50 — and your speech privacy is non-existent. WELL v2 Feature 74 Part 3 requires STI < 0.50. Here is how to achieve it.
Post-Pandemic Office Acoustics — Why Hybrid Work Made the Acoustic Problem Worse
Hybrid work has fundamentally changed office acoustics. Lower occupancy reduces masking noise, video calls create new sound sources, and spaces designed for 80% occupancy now operate at 40-60%. This guide explains why and provides practical retrofit solutions.
Speech Privacy Index (SPI): How to Measure and Achieve Acoustic Privacy
A technical guide to the Speech Privacy Index (SPI) per ASTM E1130: how it relates to STI and AI, the three elements that determine privacy, privacy classification thresholds, and practical design strategies for offices, healthcare, and open plan environments.
How Much Does WELL Certification Cost? Breaking Down the Acoustic Component
Complete cost breakdown of WELL Building Standard v2 certification with detailed analysis of the acoustic component: Sound Mapping, Sound Masking, Sound Barriers, Sound Absorption, and Sound Reinforcement. Typical acoustic costs represent 15-30% of total WELL budget — here is how to optimize spend.
Open Plan Office Acoustic Design: The Complete Guide (WELL v2 | BS 8233 | ISO 3382)
The definitive guide to open plan office acoustics covering WELL v2 Sound features, BS 8233 targets, ISO 3382-3 open plan parameters, sound masking, and the ABC rule. Includes worked examples, compliance checklists, and cost analysis for 200-2000m² floor plates.