Partitions installed in open-concept offices may not be as effective as once thought, according to a new study from Concordia University.
The study, funded by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), found that noise levels in workspaces are largely influenced by employee behaviour, the layout of the office, and the type of communication used.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, Joonhee Lee, an associate professor in Concordia’s Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, said the installation of partitions between desks often leads people to speak louder in order to be heard.
The study showed that sound levels in meeting rooms are generally more stable and lower than those in open workspaces.
While installing sound barriers remains the classic solution, Lee observed that people tend to “compensate for that effect” by raising their voices.
“Partitions are still a good option, but they can become less effective in maintaining speech privacy,” he said.
Lee suggested that installing “subtle ceiling-mounted speakers that mimic the sound of air conditioning to create background noise” could be an alternative to partitions for improving privacy at work.
“Sound masking can help people stay focused, attentive and improve their performance,” he added.
Lee also noted that too much silence can hurt productivity. “A very quiet environment can make distracting noises more noticeable. That’s why excessive silence can be detrimental,” he said.
The research was carried out in collaboration with Montreal-based acoustics firm Soft dB, analyzing sound levels in two offices, one in Montreal and one in Quebec City, to produce these findings.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
