Comparison of acoustics performance measurement and evaluation standard of office space and office acoustics criteria of countries

ABSTRACT

The office environment is changing according to work types, Information Technology (IT) advancements, and the Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 situation. In order for office space users to perform their tasks comfortably and efficiently, it is necessary to secure individual privacy as well as easy communication among members. In Korea, the demand for improving the acoustic performance of office spaces is also increasing, but the related performance criteria and guidelines have not been established. In this study, standardization of office space acoustic performance measurement and evaluation methods and European countries' acoustic performance criteria were compared and reviewed. It is proposed to comprehensively review international standardization trends and acoustic performance standards in each country and to establish and utilize criteria for evaluating the acoustic performance and satisfaction of office spaces in Korea through our survey. Considering the international standardization direction and compatibility with communication and Public Address (PA) systems, it is appropriate to establish criteria using the speech transmission index or Speech Transmission Index (STI) application index. This criterion will be highly utilizable and compatible. In addition, since the office furniture industry is interested in improving the acoustic performance of office space, it is necessary to establish a labelling system for speech level reduction of office furniture.