Speech Privacy In Adaptable Workplaces

1. Speech Privacy In Adaptable Workplaces

2. This CEU is registered with the Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC) for continuing education credits. This credit will be accepted by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), International Interior Designers Association (IIDA), and Interior Designers of Canada (IDC). • The content included is not deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by IDCEC of any material or construction of any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. • Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services should be directed to the instructor or provider of this CEU. • This program is registered for 1(one) CEU value. The IDCEC class-code is: 106845, HSW. • This CEU will be reported on your behalf to IDCEC and you will receive an email notification. Please log in and complete the electronic survey for this CEU. • Certificates of completion will be automatically issued once you have submitted the online survey for this CEU. • Attendees who do not belong to ASID, IIDA, or IDC and do not have a unique IDCEC number will be provided with a Certificate of Completion after this CEU. Learning Objectives This course is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation. Credit(s) earned on completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request. Course HAW 591.

3. Learning Objectives • Identify the primary factors which govern speech privacy in closed rooms. • Name the three key design tools which can be deployed to ensure speech privacy is achieved. • Describe Confidential Speech Privacy in Subjective and Objective Terms. • Identify the performance properties of the key construction elements which are necessary to ensure privacy is achieved.

4. The Need for Speech Privacy

5. 2013 Gensler U.S. Workplace Survey Key Findings • Since 2008 • Time spent collaborating has dropped 20% • Time spent on focused work has increased 13% • Focus should not be compromised in pursuit of collaboration • Innovative workplaces exhibit a balance of both collaboration and focus • Workers need quiet • 69% are dissatisfied with the noise level at their primary workspace • 77% prefer quiet to focus

6. Employees’ Need for Privacy • Center for the Built Environment, UC Berkeley • POE Survey of more than 52,980 workers in 351 buildings since 2000 • Acoustics scores lowest of all IEQ categories • “Privacy” receives the lowest satisfaction score of 17 categories • “Noise” is third-worst, after Temperature • Dissatisfaction with sound privacy is high • Open Plan Occupants: >50% • Private Offices Occupants: ~18% • Frontczak, M, S. et al. “Quantitative Relationships Between Occupant Satisfaction and Aspects of Indoor Environmental Quality and Building Design.” Indoor Air Journal, Vol. 22, no. 2 (2012): 119-131. • Kim, J., and de Dear, R. “Workspace Satisfaction: The Privacy-Communication Trade-Off in Open-Plan Offices.” Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2013.

7. The Effect on Productivity • Leesman Review - 2017 • Global survey of over 250,000 workers in over 2100 workplaces • 21 workplace activities • Private Conversations: 46% (last/least supported) • Business Confidential Conversations: 52% (3rd last) • In survey responses, “noise level” was selected as the factor that least contributes to productivity. • Leesman. The Next 250K. 2017.

8. What the Research Demonstrates • The research demonstrates • Collaboration is happening less than we thought • Space for focusis essential • Speech privacy is still expected, but not being supported • Investments in new spaces are not meeting the expectations of workers

9. Speech Intelligibilityand Privacy

10. Intelligibility & Privacy • Intelligibility • Speech = Desirable Sound • Degree to which a listener can hear AND understand speech sounds • Measured at the listener’s position • Privacy • Speech = Noise • Degree to which a listener CANNOT understand speech sounds • Measured at the listener’s position • Cavanaugh, W. J. et al. “Speech Privacy in Buildings.” The Journal of the Acoutical Society of America, Vol. 34, no. 4 (1962).

11. Signal-to-Noise Ratio • Difference between the attenuated speech sound and the background sound at the listener's position

17. Intelligibility • Signal > Noise = Intelligible Speech Signal < Noise = Privacy/Unintelligible Speech • Armstrong World Industries. Acoustical Guide – Overcoming Acoustical Challenges. 2011.

18. Privacy

19. Speech Privacy Levels • Privacy Index (PI) • ASTM International. ASTM E1130-16, Standard Test Method for Objective Measurement of Speech Privacy in Open Plan Spaces Using Articulation Index. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA. 2016.

20. Acoustic Design

21. Intelligibility/Privacy Influencers • Armstrong World Industries. Acoustical Guide – Overcoming Acoustical Challenges. 2011.

22. Acoustic Design • Armstrong World Industries. Attaining Speech Privacy with Acoustical Ceiling Panels. 2016.

23. Managing Reverberation • Metrics • Space: Reverberation Time (RT) • Material: Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) • Open Areas, Collaboration Spaces • Minimize reflections • Reduce overall sound levels • Closed Rooms • Reduce overall sound levels • Enhance speech intelligibility • Minimize “late reflections” • Armstrong World Industries. Attaining Speech Privacy with Acoustical Ceiling Panels. 2016.

24. Managing Transmission • Metrics • Space: Noise Isolation Class (NIC) • Materials: • Sound Transmission Class (STC) • Ceiling Attenuation Class (CAC) • Transmission • Direct (through walls, ceilings, and floors) • Flanking (through adjacent structure) • Armstrong World Industries. Attaining Speech Privacy with Acoustical Ceiling Panels. 2016.

25. Managing Intelligibility/Privacy • Metrics • Space: • Articulation Index (AI) • Privacy Index (PI) • Components: A-weighted decibels (dBA) • Space for Collaboration Maximize communication • Space for Focus WorkMinimize distraction • Space for PrivacyConfidentiality • Armstrong World Industries. Attaining Speech Privacy with Acoustical Ceiling Panels. 2016.

26. Controlling Background Sound • Uncontrolled Sources • HVAC • Office equipment (copiers, etc.) • Outdoor noise (road traffic, aircraft) • Computer fans • Radios • “Buzz” • Controlled Sources • Electronic sound masking

27. Privacy Influencers • Armstrong World Industries. Acoustical Guide – Overcoming Acoustical Challenges. 2011.

28. Putting it Together: Performance Properties

29. Space for Collaboration • Strategies • A Reduce noise levels • B Contain “activity” sounds • C Maintain intelligibility within space • Target PI 60 or lower within the space, PI 80 or higher to adjacent spaces • Surrounding wall STC: minimum 35 • Ceiling CAC: minimum 35 • Ceiling NRC: 0.60–0.80 • Background sound level: minimum 40 dBA

30. Space for Focus • Strategies • A Reduce noise levels • B Block distracting sounds • C Minimize intrusion from “collaboration” zones • Target PI 80 or better • Ceiling NRC: 0.70 or better • Surrounding wall STC: target 35 or better • Ceiling CAC: minimum 35 • Background sound level: 46–48 dBA

31. Space for Confidentiality • Strategies • A Reduce reverberation in larger spaces • B Contain sounds • C Ensure signal-to-noise ratio • Target PI 95 or better • Wall STC: minimum 38 • Ceiling CAC: minimum 35 • Ceiling NRC: minimum 0.60 • Background sound level: minimum 42 dBA

32. Space for Teleconferencing* • Strategies • A Minimize reverberation within the room • B Contain sounds within the room • C Ensure signal-to-noise ratio, but avoid interference with telecom equipment • Target raised-voice PI 95 or better • Wall STC: minimum 42 • Ceiling CAC: minimum 42 • Ceiling NRC: minimum 0.70 • May require added treatment to walls • Background sound levels • 38 dBA or less within the room • 44–48 dBA outside the room • *Spaces up to roughly 500 square feet

33. Learning Objectives • Identify the primary factors which govern speech privacy in closed rooms. • Name the three key design tools which can be deployed to ensure speech privacy is achieved. • Describe Confidential Speech Privacy in Subjective and Objective Terms. • Identify the performance properties of the key construction elements which are necessary to ensure privacy is achieved.

34. References • Armstrong World Industries. Acoustical Guide – Overcoming Acoustical Challenges. 2011. • Armstrong World Industries. Attaining Speech Privacy with Acoustical Ceiling Panels. 2016. • ASTM International. ASTM E1130-16, Standard Test Method for Objective Measurement of Speech Privacy in Open Plan Spaces Using Articulation Index. West Conshohocken, PA: 2016. • Cavanaugh, W. J., Farrell, W. R., Hirtle, P. W., & Watters, B. G. “Speech Privacy in Buildings.” The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1962: 475-492. • Egan, M. D. Architectural Acoustics. NY: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, 1988. • Frontczak, M. S., Schiavon, S., Goins, J., Arens, E. A., Zhang, H., & Wargocki, P. “Quantitative Relationships Between Occupant Satisfaction and Satisfaction Aspects of Indoor Environmental Quality and Building Design.” Indoor Air Journal, Vol. 22, no. 2 (2012): 119-131. • Jensen, K., & Arens, E. A. “Acoustical Quality in Office Workstations, As Assessed by Occupant Surveys.” Indoor Air. Beijing, China: 2005. • Gensler. 2013 U.S. Workplace Survey. 2013. • Kim, J., and de Dear, R. “Workspace Satisfaction: The Privacy-Communication Trade-Off in Open-Plan Offices.” Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2013. • Leesman. The Next 250K. 2017.

35. Thank You