A Guide to Acoustic Office Partitions

Acoustic partitions and room dividers are something that we are regularly requested to provide. Many people think that constructing a soundproof office partition will provide a soundproof box when you enter and close the door – but in reality, a completely soundproof cellular space is not achievable with most office partitioning systems on the market.

Soundproofing an office: the possibilities

At Applied Workplace we provide acoustic partitions that will achieve a level of sound reduction which will help to reduce the level of speech intelligibility, which will be sufficient for most offices. This depends on the construction of the soundproof partition and other factors including: wall construction, floor and ceiling finish, and furniture that can help or hinder the level that is achievable for soundproofing an office.

What type of acoustic partition is the most soundproof?

As a general rule a solid office partition or room divider, such as our Fastline range, will achieve a higher level of sound reduction than a glass partition. There is the option for double glazed partitions, which will perform better than single glazed partitions.

How doors affect the level of noise

Careful consideration should be made as to which door option is chosen as part of the acoustic partition. As most doors will perform significantly lower than the partitions they are installed in. We recommend double-glazed acoustic doors as the most effective for soundproofing.

The position of a door should also be considered when designing the layout. To create the highest level of soundproofing, we recommend doors open into corridors and walkways where it’s unlikely people will be sat directly outside. Our soundproof office partitions include the option to have frameless glass doors with an acoustic seal, this acts similar to closing a door into a frame but is minimal and cost effective.

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How acoustic partitions and room dividers are tested

Most office partitions are tested in the conditions of a lab environment, which are not typically able to be re-created onsite. Reported figures should be taken as the maximum level possible with onsite conditions typically reducing this figure by at least 10%. This can be reduced further due to the flanking transmission that can occur and acoustic weak points such as door openings, wall, floor and ceiling abutments.

Other ways to reduce legibility of speech

One very important factor is the amount of white noise that is created in the workplace that can have a massive influence on the legibility of speech from offices and meeting rooms. Sound masking is used widely to create white noise in an open plan environment and is very effective in increasing the level of sound reduction in the workplace in conjunction with a soundproof partition.

If you are in the process of soundproofing an office and would like to install an acoustic partition or room divider, Applied Workplace are specialists in creating the most soundproof office partitions possible. Speak to a friendly member of our team about your requirements today by calling 01202 577 776 or email enquiries@appliedworkplace.co.uk. For instant answers to your queries, get in touch on our Live Chat.