ACOUSTIC SERVICES FOR OFFICE SPACES

Background

In office spaces, room acoustics and sound insulation are an essential part of designing a good working environment.

Office spaces can be divided into office rooms, open-plan offices, activity-based offices, and hybrids of these. In all of them, the acoustic conditions must be designed so that working is healthy, pleasant, and efficient.

When room acoustics and sound insulation between spaces are in order, and there are sufficient alternative workstations for different types of tasks, the sound environment of the premises is generally perceived as good.

Room acoustics, i.e., the sound field formed by sound generated inside the room, is controlled by sound absorption of room surfaces and furniture.

Sound insulation is controlled by sound-insulating walls, glazing, and doors. Sounds transmitted through various building devices and duct systems also significantly affect sound insulation.

We offer versatile and flexible services for different purposes, customer groups, and budgets.

Acoustic Design

  • We provide consultation on the conditions of an existing office by giving improvement proposals based on either a short preliminary visit or a more extensive survey.
  • We consult on the design of new buildings by reviewing specifications and floor plans.
  • We consult on setting target levels for spaces at the early stage of design.

Noise Control

In the design of office buildings, regulations and guidelines must be considered concerning:

  • Facade sound insulation,
  • Traffic-induced vibration, and
  • Building services noise (HVAC noise)

We also offer measurement and design services related to these.

Measurements and Target Levels

We perform measurements according to international ISO standards:

  • ISO 3382-2: Reverberation time
  • ISO 3382-3: Acoustics of open-plan offices
  • ISO 16283-1: Airborne sound insulation
  • ISO 16283-2: Impact sound insulation
  • ISO 16283-3: Facade sound insulation

We compare measurement results to Finnish building regulations and guidelines.

Product Development

We perform laboratory measurements for products used in offices:

Training Services and Presentations

  • Information sessions and training events on acoustics for managers and staff to support change management.
  • Presentations for industry seminars.

Research

Turku University of Applied Sciences also conducts scientific research related to office acoustics in two projects:

  • Academy of Finland-funded “Active Work Space” project
  • Business Finland-funded “Motti” project

References

Ympäristöministeriö (2017). Ympäristöministeriön asetus 796-2017 rakennuksen ääniympäristöstä, 24.11.2017, Helsinki. http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2017/20170796.

Ympäristöministeriö (2018). Ääniympäristö. Ympäristöministeriön ohje rakennuksen ääniympäristöstä. 28.6.2018, Helsinki. https://www.ym.fi/download/noname/%7B2852D34E-DA43-4DCA-9CEE-47DBB9EFCB08%7D/138568.

Ympäristöministeriö (2019). Rakennuksen ääniolosuhteiden suunnittelu ja toteutus. Ympäristöministeriön julkaisuja 2019:28, 50 pp., Helsinki. https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/handle/10024/161953.

RIL (2008). RIL 243-3-2008 Rakennusten akustinen suunnittelu. Toimistot. Suomen Rakennusinsinöörien Liitto RIL r.y., 96 s, Helsinki, 2008.

Nenonen, S., Hyrkkänen, U., Rasila, H., Hongisto, V., Keränen, J., Koskela, H., Sandberg, E. (2012). Monitilatoimisto – ohjeita käyttöön ja suunnitteluun, 64 s, 3.9.2012, Työterveyslaitos. Saatavilla: https://www.ttl.fi/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/monitilatoimiston_suunnitteluohje.pdf.