Task-irrelevant speech is among the most common and disruptive sources of noise in modern office environments. For acousticians, the challenge has long been: how do we objectively assess the distraction caused by such fluctuating, speech-dominated environments using tools readily available in the field? A new study by Hongisto et al. (2025) offers a solution. It […]
open-plan office
How noise affects decision-making
Noise has always been seen as a challenge in workplaces, but its impact on decision-making—especially in experience-based judgments—is not yet fully understood. This article looks at two research studies that explore how noise affects decision-making and the practical implications of their findings. Why room acoustics matter in decision making Efficient decision-making is essential in workplace […]
Active noise-cancelling headphones do not improve cognitive performance in office noise environment
In modern open-plan offices, noise from conversations and background activities can significantly impact employees’ productivity and well-being. Active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones are often employed as a personal solution to reduce distractions and control the acoustic environment. But how effective are these devices in enhancing performance, reducing stress, or improving the overall work experience? This article […]
Empirical Method for Predicting Speech Sound Propagation in Offices
ISO 3382-3 describes how to assess sound propagation and speech intelligibility in open-plan offices. At the recent Inter-Noise conference in Nantes, Rainer Machner presented Hongisto and Keränen’s (2013) regression-based model for predicting ISO 3382-3 parameters. By analyzing data from 10 office spaces, he evaluated the model’s performance and gave practical recommendations for its use in […]
Tackling acoustic challenges in open-plan offices
Increase in open-plan solutions Open-plan offices have gradually become a preferred model for companies to use, mainly to encourage spontaneous interactions between coworkers, but also because of the aesthetics around a big open room. Further, there is an economic benefit of having as many workstations as possible in fewer square meters. However, these benefits often […]
Office noise increases stress hormone levels in blood plasma
Why this study? Valtteri Hongisto stated that there are no previous studies which have investigated the effects of office noise on the stress hormone levels (concentrations in the body) using the most precise and real-time method: i.e. blood sampling. Also a questionnaire was used to evaluate the effect. 100 person participated in the study and […]
Designing for Acoustic Satisfaction in Open Plan Offices: EIAS Presentation by Jack-Harvie Clark
Jack-Harvie Clark demonstrated that the perception of the acoustic environment is influenced by numerous factors. Working on room acoustics alone can help reduce annoyance caused by noise. Achieving acoustic satisfaction necessitates considering many additional factors that extend beyond room acoustics. Dissatisfaction with noise levels kills productivity Jack Harvie-Clark outlined at the beginning of this talk […]
Practical implications of acoustic design of open plan offices according to ISO 22955:2021: Insights from Juan Negreira’s presentation at EIAS 2023
The design of open plan offices has become a subject of intense scrutiny in recent years. At EIAS, in a presentation by Juan Negreira the practical implications of ISO 22955 for open plan office design were discussed, shedding light on the important considerations and best practices. The role of acoustics in offices At the outset […]
