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Sound masking

Ambient silence can be just as distracting as a loud environment as it highlights acoustical disturbances and decreases speech privacy. Overhearing private conversations is reported as a specific cause of employee acoustic dissatisfaction in open offices. Sound masking systems supply a low level of background noise to provide workers with a degree of confidentiality in their communications and can decrease distraction associated with aural interruptions.

Part 1: Sound Masking Use

All open workspaces use the following:

a.90 Sound masking systems.
Part 2: Sound Masking Limits

If sound masking systems are used, sound levels fall within the following range, when measured from the nearest workspace:

a.90 Open workspaces: 45 - 48 dBA.
b.90 Enclosed offices: 40 - 42 dBA.
Nervous
Immune

Applicability Matrix

Core & Shell New & Existing Buildings New & Existing Interiors
Part 1: Sound Masking Use - O O
Part 2: Sound Masking Limits - O O

Verification Methods Matrix

Letters of Assurance Annotated Documents On-Site Checks
Part 1: Sound Masking Use MEP
Part 2: Sound Masking Limits Performance Test
90

U.S. General Services Administration Center for Workplace Strategy Public Buildings Service. Sound Matters: How to Achieve Acoustic Comfort in the Contemporary Office. Washington, D.C.: 2012: 11, 29, 32, 33, 36.

79.1.a

The General Services Administration's Sound Matters recommends that sound masking should be considered a technique to achieve acoustic comfort in contemporary offices.

79.2.b

The General Services Administration's Sound Matters recommends sound masking at 40-42 dBA for private offices.

79.2.a

The General Services Administration's Sound Matters recommends sound masking at 45-48 dBA for open plan workspaces.