ASTM E1374-06

Standard Guide for Open Office Acoustics and Applicable ASTM Standards

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This guide is intended for the use of architects, engineers, office managers, and others interested in designing, specifying, or operating open offices.
It is not intended to be applied to other than office environments, for example, open plan schools.
While this guide attempts to clarify the many interacting variables that influence office privacy, it is not intended to supplant the experience and judgment of experts in the field of acoustics. Competent technical advice should be sought for success in the design of open offices, including comparisons of test results carried out according to ASTM standards.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide discusses the acoustical principles and interactions that affect the acoustical environment and acoustical privacy in the open office. In this context, it describes the application and use of the series of ASTM standards that apply to the open office.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The SI units in parentheses are provided for information only.
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2006
• ICS: 91.120.20 - Acoustics in building. Sound insulation
• Technical Committee: E33 - Building and Environmental Acoustics
• Drafting Committee: E33.02 - Speech Privacy

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E1374-02 - Standard Guide for Open Office Acoustics and Applicable ASTM Standards
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2006
• Replaced By: ASTM E1374-06(2011) - Standard Guide for Open Office Acoustics and Applicable ASTM Standards
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E1111/E1111M-14(2022) - Standard Test Method for Measuring the Interzone Attenuation of Open Office Components
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2006
• Referred By: ASTM C634-22 - Standard Terminology Relating to Building and Environmental Acoustics
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2006
• Referred By: ASTM E1573-22 - Standard Test Method for Measurement and Reporting of Masking Sound Levels Using A-Weighted and One-Third-Octave-Band Sound Pressure Levels
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2006

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:E1374–06
Standard Guide for
1
Open Office Acoustics and Applicable ASTM Standards
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1374; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
There are no full height partitions in an open-plan office to block sound transmission between
adjacent work stations. Instead, partial height barriers, a sound absorbing ceiling and absorption on
vertical surfaces are used to provide sound attenuation between individuals. These, in combination
with work station layout and appropriate levels of broad band masking sound are used to obtain
acceptable degrees of acoustical privacy.
1. Scope E1573 Test Method for Evaluating Masking Sound in Open
Offices Using A-Weighted and One-Third Octave Band
1.1 This guide discusses the acoustical principles and inter-
Sound Pressure Levels
actions that affect the acoustical environment and acoustical
privacy in the open office. In this context, it describes the
3. Summary of Guide
application and use of the series ofASTM standards that apply
3.1 Acoustical Privacy—The attenuation of sound between
to the open office.
neighboring work stations in an open-plan office is typically
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
much less than that potentially available between closed-plan
as standard. The SI units in parentheses are provided for
offices. Nevertheless, a degree of acoustical privacy can be
information only.
achieved if component selection and interaction are under-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
stood. A successful open plan office is the result of careful
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
coordination of the several components, ceiling, wall treat-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ments, furniture and furnishings, heating, ventilating and
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
air-conditioning system, and masking sound system. (See
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Section 7.)
2. Referenced Documents 3.1.1 This guide delineates the role and interaction of the
2
several components and the application of the relevant ASTM
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Standards.
E1110 Classification for Determination of Articulation
Class
4. Significance and Use
E1111 TestMethodforMeasuringtheInterzoneAttenuation
4.1 This guide is intended for the use of architects, engi-
of Open Office Components
neers, office managers, and others interested in designing,
E1130 Test Method for Objective Measurement of Speech
specifying, or operating open offices.
Privacy in Open Plan Spaces Using Articulation Index
4.2 It is not intended to be applied to other than office
E1179 Specification for Sound Sources Used for Testing
environments, for example, open plan schools.
Open Office Components and Systems
4.3 Whilethisguideattemptstoclarifythemanyinteracting
E1414 Test Method for Airborne Sound Attenuation Be-
variables that influence office privacy, it is not intended to
tween Rooms Sharing a Common Ceiling Plenum
supplant the experience and judgment of experts in the field of
acoustics. Competent technical advice should be sought for
1
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE33onEnvironmental
success in the design of open offices, including comparisons of
Acoustics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E33.02 on Open Plan
test results carried out according to ASTM standards.
Spaces.
Current edition approved April 1, 2006. Published April 2006. Originally
5. General Open Office Acoustical Considerations
approved in 1990. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as E1374 – 02. DOI:
10.1520/E1374-06.
5.1 Introduction—Attenuation with Distance—In almost
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
anyenclosedspace,thereissomereductionofsoundlevelwith
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
distance. In many typical spaces, this decrease of sound level
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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E1374–06
with distance is affected by sound reflections from the ceiling, 5.8 Undivided Workspaces—Acoustical comfort may be
the walls, and floor. In the open plan office the goal is to improved in undivided workspaces such as “bull-pen” offices,
maximize this loss with distance in order to improve acoustical drafting ro
...