E33.02 - Speech Privacy

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Acoustical performance is dependent on many factors (see Guide E1374 for a discussion on general office acoustical considerations). One of these factors is the masking sound. The masking spectrum shape and level must conform within specified tolerances throughout the treated area. The measurement and recording of these parameters are addressed in this test method.  
5.2 The results from this test method are used to determine if the masking sound meets a particular specification.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method specifies the procedure used to measure the masking sound in terms of A-weighted and one-third-octave-band sound pressure levels.  
1.2 The results of this test method can be used to determine if and where the masking sound meets (or does not meet) a particular specification.  
1.3 This test method does not evaluate the overall acoustical environment. It is intended only to measure and report the masking sound levels.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.  
1.5 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Providing speech privacy in open-plan spaces depends upon many factors, the most significant of which are the following:  (1) the shadow zone of part-height space dividers and the diffraction of sound from the edges of space dividers; (2) the primary sound reflective properties of the ceiling system; (3) the level of masking sound present in the space; and (4) the distance between speaker and listener. Guide E1374 provides additional detail on the factors contributing to speech privacy in open-plan spaces.  
5.2 In this test method the third factor, masking sound, is eliminated and the fourth factor, the distance between speaker and listener, is standardized for all specimen types. For the measurement of ceiling systems, the first factor, the shadow zone, is also standardized for each divider height used. Experience has indicated that results obtained by this test method may not fairly represent the speech privacy that may be achievable with non-flat ceiling systems. For the measurement of furniture panels used as acoustical barriers, the second of these factors, the sound reflectance of the ceiling, is standardized. For the measurement of reflective and absorptive vertical surfaces used as wall finishings or furniture panels, the first and second factors are standardized and all paths between the speaker and listener reflecting only off of the ceiling are eliminated.  
5.3 This test method provides standardized techniques to assess the contribution of specific components of an open-plan space. The test method specifies an acoustical testing environment for each component type that isolates its contribution from the contribution of other components, which may in actual open-plan environments contribute significantly to the overall speech privacy.  
5.4 The significance of test results obtained by this test method must also be considered with regard to the attainable measurement accuracy. The attainment of speech privacy in the presence of masking sound is cri...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the interzone attenuation for three components of open-plan spaces:  
1.1.1 Ceiling systems when used in conjunction with partial-height space dividers. This arrangement is commonly used in offices to achieve speech privacy between work zones in the absence of full-height partitions. This test method is applicable to any ceiling configuration, including, for example, a pattern of sound-reflective panels in an otherwise sound-absorptive ceiling. This test method generally requires use of a fixed space divider height of 1.50 m [5 ft]. In recognition of trends toward alternate divider heights in open office environments, measurements with an alternate divider height may be conducted in accordance with this standard.  
1.1.2 Furniture panels used as acoustical barriers in open-plan spaces to provide speech privacy or sound isolation between working positions.  
1.1.3 Vertical panels, including wall finishes such as sound-absorbent panels, and furniture panels or screens which may reflect sound. It may not be applicable to such items as window finishes or furniture other than panels if these differ significantly from flat wall panels.  
1.1.4 The combination of results from the various components of an open-plan office is beyond the scope of this standard.  
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.  
1.3 Unless otherwise qualified, all dimensions specified in this test method shall be understood to have a tolerance of ±6 mm (±1/4 in.) The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information only.  
1.4 This standa...

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The speech privacy between locations in an open plan space is determined by the degree to which intruding speech sounds exceed the ambient sound pressure levels at the listener's ear; a classic signal-to-noise ratio situation.  
5.2 The sound pressure levels at the listener's ear from intruding speech depend upon:  
5.2.1 The individual vocal effort and orientation of the talker,  
5.2.2 The attenuation of speech signals due to distance or intervening barriers, and  
5.2.3 The reinforcement of speech signals due to reflections from surfaces such as the ceiling, furniture panels, light fixtures, walls, or windows.  
5.3 The ambient sound levels within a space often must be increased in order to mask intruding speech using an electronic sound masking system. However, in certain locations and in specific frequency ranges, the building mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) equipment, and the heating, ventilating, or air conditioning equipment (HVAC) may increase ambient sound levels or add tonal noise components that may require mitigation before tuning the masking sound.  
5.4 The primary purpose of this test method is to assess the speech privacy for an average speech spectrum using the standard Articulation Index method. This requires measurement of the relevant acoustical characteristics discussed in 5.2 and 5.3 for a pair of locations and calculation of the Articulation Index using an average speech spectrum. The average speech spectrum is for male talkers speaking with normal voice effort. In specific cases such as designated quiet work zones for ‘focused work’ where administrative measures have been taken to reduce speech levels, a ‘casual’ voice spectrum should be used to calculate speech privacy, whereas in designated group work zones for ‘collaborative work’ where lively discussion is expected, a ‘raised’ voice spectrum should be used to calculate speech privacy.  
5.5 The Articulation Index ranges from a low value of 0.00, where speech is gener...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a means of objectively assessing speech privacy between locations in open plan spaces. This test method relies upon acoustical measurements, published information on speech levels, and standard methods for assessing speech communication. This test method does not measure the performance of individual open plan components which affect speech privacy; but rather, it assesses the privacy which results from a particular configuration of components (1, 2).2  
1.2 This test method is intended to be a field test for the assessment of speech privacy in actual open plan spaces. However, this test method could be used in mock-up spaces and in environments arranged to simulate an open plan space.  
1.3 This test method is suitable for use in many open plan spaces including traditional open offices, focus areas, and collaboration spaces. In addition to office buildings, these types of spaces will also be found in healthcare buildings, institutional spaces, schools, etc. It is not directly applicable for measuring the speech privacy between open plan and enclosed spaces or between fully enclosed spaces.  
1.4 This test method relies upon the Articulation Index, which objectively predicts the intelligibility of speech. While both the Articulation Index and this test method can be expected to reliably predict speech privacy, neither predicts the specific effective speech privacy afforded to particular individual occupants.  
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units in parentheses are for information only.  
1.6 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.7 This international standard was developed...

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Each weighting factor given in Table 1 represents the fraction of overall speech intelligence contained within the associated one-third octave frequency band.  
4.2 The weighting factors in Table 1 are obtained by multiplying each individual one-third octave band weighting factor of ANSI S3.5-1969 by 300. Articulation class (AC) values are thus related to but distinctly different from articulation index (AI) values. In particular, the AC considers only the effect of signal attenuation; while the AI considers such additional factors as speech level and spectrum and background sound level and spectrum.
Note 2: The AC is similar to the DAI rating proposed by Warnock6 and has been shown to correlate with AI values derived from ANSI S3.5, except where the AI approaches 1 or 0 (AI values range between 1 and 0 and approach 0 with increasing privacy and nonintelligibility). Articulation class values give the reverse. They usually exceed 100 and increase with increasing privacy and nonintelligibility. Extensive comparison between AC ratings and subjective judgments of open-plan speech privacy has not yet been accomplished.
SCOPE
1.1 This classification provides a single figure rating that can be used for comparing building systems and subsystems for speech privacy purposes. The rating is designed to correlate with transmitted speech intelligence between office spaces.  
1.2 Excluded from the scope of this classification are applications involving female speakers or children,2 languages other than English, and sound spectra other than speech. Thus excluded, for example, would be comparisons of building systems or subsystems for their effectiveness in reducing transmitted noise from machinery, industrial processes, bowling alleys, music rooms, places of entertainment, and the like.  
Note 1: Published work by Pearsons, et al, may eventually permit the restriction on female speakers to be relaxed.3  
1.3 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

ABSTRACT
This specification states the requirements for sound sources used for measuring the speech privacy between open offices or for measuring the laboratory performance of acoustical components. The sound source shall be a loudspeaker enclosed in a box that has a maximum dimension of 0.30 m (1 ft) on a side, to reduce spurious sound reflections. The measurements shall be carried out in a free sound field. The measurement microphone, amplifier, and level meter used to measure sound pressure levels shall satisfy the requirements prescribed. When the sound source is driven with the qualification signal, the sound output shall be adequate to maintain one-third octave-band sound pressure levels at least 10 dB above the corresponding background noise in each band at each measurement location. The directivity of the sound source shall be verified by driving the source with the qualification signal and measuring the sound pressure levels at measurement points.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification states the requirements for sound sources used for measuring the speech privacy between open offices and for measuring the laboratory performance of acoustical components (see Test Methods E1111 and E1130).  
1.2 The sound source shall be a loudspeaker located in an enclosure driven with an appropriate test signal.  
1.3 This specification describes the sound source and method of qualifying it using a special qualification signal. Test signals required by open office test methods may differ.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide is intended for the use of architects, engineers, office managers, and others interested in designing, specifying, or operating office environments.  
4.2 It is not intended to be applied to other environments, for example, open plan schools.  
4.3 While this guide attempts to clarify the many interacting variables that influence acoustical performance, 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 offices, including comparisons of test results carried out according to ASTM standards.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide discusses the principles and interactions that affect the acoustical performance of open and closed offices. It describes the application and use of the relevant series of ASTM standards.  
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.3 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method provides a means of measuring the sound isolation between the interior of a closed room and locations outside the room, and also the background noise levels at the locations outside the room. The results can be used to rate the degree of speech privacy, or to estimate the probability of speech being intelligible or audible at each receiving point.  
5.2 People speak at different levels and vary their voice level in reaction to room noise and other acoustical factors. Consequently it is not possible to say definitely whether a room is protected against eavesdropping. One can only assign a probability of being overheard. The owners or managers of the closed room under consideration must set criteria for this probability according to their specific goals and circumstances. The non-mandatory appendix gives an approach to setting criteria.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a test procedure for measuring the degree of speech privacy provided by a closed room, for conversations occurring within the room, and with potential eavesdroppers located outside the room.  
1.2 The degree of speech privacy measured by this method is that due to the sound insulation of the room structure—the walls, floor, ceiling and any other elements of the room boundaries—and to the background noise at listening positions outside the closed the room.  
1.3 Potential eavesdroppers are assumed to be unaided by electronic or electroacoustic equipment, and not touching the room boundaries. Determined efforts to eavesdrop are not addressed.  
1.4 The method may be applied to any enclosed room, whether specifically intended to be protected against eavesdropping or not.  
1.5 The method does not set criteria for adequate speech privacy. A non-mandatory appendix provides guidance on how the results of this test method may be used to estimate the probability of an eavesdropper being able to understand speech outside a closed room, and how to set criteria for such rooms.  
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.7 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Acoustical performance is dependent on many factors (see Guide E1374 for a discussion on general office acoustical considerations). One of these factors is the masking sound. The masking spectrum shape and level must conform within specified tolerances throughout the treated area. The measurement and recording of these parameters are addressed in this test method.  
5.2 The results from this test method are used to determine if the masking sound meets a particular specification.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method specifies the procedure used to measure the masking sound in terms of A-weighted and one-third-octave-band sound pressure levels.  
1.2 The results of this test method can be used to determine if and where the masking sound meets (or does not meet) a particular specification.  
1.3 This test method does not evaluate the overall acoustical environment. It is intended only to measure and report the masking sound levels.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.  
1.5 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide is intended for the use of architects, engineers, office managers, and others interested in designing, specifying, or operating office environments.  
4.2 It is not intended to be applied to other environments, for example, open plan schools.  
4.3 While this guide attempts to clarify the many interacting variables that influence acoustical performance, 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 offices, including comparisons of test results carried out according to ASTM standards.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide discusses the principles and interactions that affect the acoustical performance of open and closed offices. It describes the application and use of the relevant series of ASTM standards.  
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.3 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The speech privacy between locations in an open plan space is determined by the degree to which intruding speech sounds exceed the ambient sound pressure levels at the listener's ear; a classic signal-to-noise ratio situation.  
5.2 The sound pressure levels at the listener's ear from intruding speech depend upon:  
5.2.1 The individual vocal effort and orientation of the talker,  
5.2.2 The attenuation of speech signals due to distance or intervening barriers, and  
5.2.3 The reinforcement of speech signals due to reflections from surfaces such as the ceiling, furniture panels, light fixtures, walls, or windows.  
5.3 The ambient sound levels within a space often must be increased in order to mask intruding speech using an electronic sound masking system. However, in certain locations and in specific frequency ranges, the building mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) equipment, and the heating, ventilating, or air conditioning equipment (HVAC) may increase ambient sound levels or add tonal noise components that may require mitigation before tuning the masking sound.  
5.4 The primary purpose of this test method is to assess the speech privacy for an average speech spectrum using the standard Articulation Index method. This requires measurement of the relevant acoustical characteristics discussed in 5.2 and 5.3 for a pair of locations and calculation of the Articulation Index using an average speech spectrum. The average speech spectrum is for male talkers speaking with normal voice effort. In specific cases such as designated quiet work zones for ‘focused work’ where administrative measures have been taken to reduce speech levels, a ‘casual’ voice spectrum should be used to calculate speech privacy, whereas in designated group work zones for ‘collaborative work’ where lively discussion is expected, a ‘raised’ voice spectrum should be used to calculate speech privacy.  
5.5 The Articulation Index ranges from a low value of 0.00, where speech is gener...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a means of objectively assessing speech privacy between locations in open plan spaces. This test method relies upon acoustical measurements, published information on speech levels, and standard methods for assessing speech communication. This test method does not measure the performance of individual open plan components which affect speech privacy; but rather, it assesses the privacy which results from a particular configuration of components (1, 2).2  
1.2 This test method is intended to be a field test for the assessment of speech privacy in actual open plan spaces. However, this test method could be used in mock-up spaces and in environments arranged to simulate an open plan space.  
1.3 This test method is suitable for use in many open plan spaces including traditional open offices, focus areas, and collaboration spaces. In addition to office buildings, these types of spaces will also be found in healthcare buildings, institutional spaces, schools, etc. It is not directly applicable for measuring the speech privacy between open plan and enclosed spaces or between fully enclosed spaces.  
1.4 This test method relies upon the Articulation Index, which objectively predicts the intelligibility of speech. While both the Articulation Index and this test method can be expected to reliably predict speech privacy, neither predicts the specific effective speech privacy afforded to particular individual occupants.  
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units in parentheses are for information only.  
1.6 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Providing speech privacy in open-plan spaces depends upon many factors, the most significant of which are the following:  (1) the shadow zone of part-height space dividers and the diffraction of sound from the edges of space dividers; (2) the primary sound reflective properties of the ceiling system; (3) the level of masking sound present in the space; and (4) the distance between speaker and listener. Guide E1374 provides additional detail on the factors contributing to speech privacy in open-plan spaces.  
5.2 In this test method the third factor, masking sound, is eliminated and the fourth factor, the distance between speaker and listener, is standardized for all specimen types. For the measurement of ceiling systems, the first factor, the shadow zone, is also standardized for each divider height used. Experience has indicated that results obtained by this test method may not fairly represent the speech privacy that may be achievable with non-flat ceiling systems. For the measurement of furniture panels used as acoustical barriers, the second of these factors, the sound reflectance of the ceiling, is standardized. For the measurement of reflective and absorptive vertical surfaces used as wall finishings or furniture panels, the first and second factors are standardized and all paths between the speaker and listener reflecting only off of the ceiling are eliminated.  
5.3 This test method provides standardized techniques to assess the contribution of specific components of an open-plan space. The test method specifies an acoustical testing environment for each component type that isolates its contribution from the contribution of other components, which may in actual open-plan environments contribute significantly to the overall speech privacy.  
5.4 The significance of test results obtained by this test method must also be considered with regard to the attainable measurement accuracy. The attainment of speech privacy in the presence of masking sound is cri...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the interzone attenuation for three components of open-plan spaces:  
1.1.1 Ceiling systems when used in conjunction with partial-height space dividers. This arrangement is commonly used in offices to achieve speech privacy between work zones in the absence of full-height partitions. This test method is applicable to any ceiling configuration, including, for example, a pattern of sound-reflective panels in an otherwise sound-absorptive ceiling. This test method generally requires use of a fixed space divider height of 1.50 m [5 ft]. In recognition of trends toward alternate divider heights in open office environments, measurements with an alternate divider height may be conducted in accordance with this standard.  
1.1.2 Furniture panels used as acoustical barriers in open-plan spaces to provide speech privacy or sound isolation between working positions.  
1.1.3 Vertical panels, including wall finishes such as sound-absorbent panels, and furniture panels or screens which may reflect sound. It may not be applicable to such items as window finishes or furniture other than panels if these differ significantly from flat wall panels.  
1.1.4 The combination of results from the various components of an open-plan office is beyond the scope of this standard.  
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.  
1.3 Unless otherwise qualified, all dimensions specified in this test method shall be understood to have a tolerance of ±6 mm (±1/4 in.) The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information only.  
1.4 This standard does not purpor...

ABSTRACT
This specification states the requirements for sound sources used for measuring the speech privacy between open offices or for measuring the laboratory performance of acoustical components. The sound source shall be a loudspeaker enclosed in a box that has a maximum dimension of 0.30 m (1 ft) on a side, to reduce spurious sound reflections. The measurements shall be carried out in a free sound field. The measurement microphone, amplifier, and level meter used to measure sound pressure levels shall satisfy the requirements prescribed. When the sound source is driven with the qualification signal, the sound output shall be adequate to maintain one-third octave-band sound pressure levels at least 10 dB above the corresponding background noise in each band at each measurement location. The directivity of the sound source shall be verified by driving the source with the qualification signal and measuring the sound pressure levels at measurement points.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification states the requirements for sound sources used for measuring the speech privacy between open offices and for measuring the laboratory performance of acoustical components (see Test Methods E1111 and E1130).  
1.2 The sound source shall be a loudspeaker located in an enclosure driven with an appropriate test signal.  
1.3 This specification describes the sound source and method of qualifying it using a special qualification signal. Test signals required by open office test methods may differ.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

ABSTRACT
This specification states the requirements for sound sources used for measuring the speech privacy between open offices or for measuring the laboratory performance of acoustical components. The sound source shall be a loudspeaker enclosed in a box that has a maximum dimension of 0.30 m (1 ft) on a side, to reduce spurious sound reflections. The measurements shall be carried out in a free sound field. The measurement microphone, amplifier, and level meter used to measure sound pressure levels shall satisfy the requirements prescribed. When the sound source is driven with the qualification signal, the sound output shall be adequate to maintain one-third octave-band sound pressure levels at least 10 dB above the corresponding background noise in each band at each measurement location. The directivity of the sound source shall be verified by driving the source with the qualification signal and measuring the sound pressure levels at measurement points.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification states the requirements for sound sources used for measuring the speech privacy between open offices or for measuring the laboratory performance of acoustical components (see Test Methods E 1111 and E 1130).
1.2 The sound source shall be a loudspeaker located in an enclosure driven with an appropriate test signal.
1.3 This specification describes the sound source and method of qualifying it using a special qualification signal. Test signals required by open office test methods may differ.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Each weighting factor given in Table 1 represents the fraction of overall speech intelligence contained within the associated one-third octave frequency band.
The weighting factors in Table 1 are obtained by multiplying each individual one-third octave band weighting factor of ANSI S3.5-1969 by 300. Articulation class (AC) values are thus related to but distinctly different from articulation index (AI) values. In particular, the AC considers only the effect of signal attenuation; while the AI considers such additional factors as speech level and spectrum and background sound level and spectrum.
Note 2—The AC is similar to the DAI rating proposed by Warnock6 and has been shown to correlate with AI values derived from ANSI S3.5, except where the AI approaches 1 or 0 (AI values range between 1 and 0 and approach 0 with increasing privacy and nonintelligibility). Articulation class values give the reverse. They usually exceed 100 and increase with increasing privacy and nonintelligibility. Extensive comparison between AC ratings and subjective judgments of open-plan speech privacy has not yet been accomplished.
SCOPE
1.1 This classification provides a single figure rating that can be used for comparing building systems and subsystems for speech privacy purposes. The rating is designed to correlate with transmitted speech intelligence between office spaces.
1.2 Excluded from the scope of this classification are applications involving female speakers or children, languages other than English, and sound spectra other than speech. Thus excluded, for example, would be comparisons of building systems or subsystems for their effectiveness in reducing transmitted noise from machinery, industrial processes, bowling alleys, music rooms, places of entertainment, and the like. Published work by Pearsons, et al, may eventually permit the restriction on female speakers to be relaxed.

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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method provides a means of measuring the sound isolation between the interior of a closed room and locations outside the room, and also the background noise levels at the locations outside the room. The results can be used to rate the degree of speech privacy, or to estimate the probability of speech being intelligible or audible at each receiving point.
People speak at different levels and vary their voice level in reaction to room noise and other acoustical factors. Consequently it is not possible to say definitely whether a room is protected against eavesdropping. One can only assign a probability of being overheard. The owners or managers of the closed room under consideration must set criteria for this probability according to their specific goals and circumstances. The non-mandatory appendix gives an approach to setting criteria.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a test procedure for measuring the degree of speech privacy provided by a closed room, for conversations occurring within the room, and with potential eavesdroppers located outside the room.
1.2 The degree of speech privacy measured by this method is that due to the sound insulation of the room structurethe walls, floor, ceiling and any other elements of the room boundariesand to the background noise at listening positions outside the closed the room.
1.3 Potential eavesdroppers are assumed to be unaided by electronic or electroacoustic equipment, and not touching the room boundaries. Determined efforts to eavesdrop are not addressed.
1.4 The method may be applied to any enclosed room, whether specifically intended to be protected against eavesdropping or not.
1.5 The method does not set criteria for adequate speech privacy. A non-mandatory appendix provides guidance on how the results of this test method may be used to estimate the probability of an eavesdropper being able to understand speech outside a closed room, and how to set criteria for such rooms.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.7 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Speech privacy in an open office is dependent on many factors (see Guide E 1374 for a discussion on open office acoustical considerations). One of these factors is the masking sound in the office. Without masking sound in the open office, confidential speech privacy is not possible at normal voice levels. The four critical acoustical parameters of masking sound are its spatial uniformity, temporal uniformity, spectrum shape, and level. The measurement and determination of these parameters are addressed in this test method.
The results from this test method can be used to determine if the masking sound meets a particular specification.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method specifies the procedures that can be used to evaluate the spatial and temporal uniformity of masking sound in open offices using A-weighted sound levels. It also specifies the procedure for evaluating the masking sound spectrum and level using one-third octave band sound pressure levels.
1.2 The results of this test method can be used to determine if the masking sound meets a particular specification for spatial and temporal uniformity if that specification is written in terms of A-weighted sound levels and if the masking sound meets a particular spectrum shape and level in the office area.
1.3 This test method must not be used to evaluate the acoustical environment in an office space. It is intended only to evaluate the masking sound in an office. This test method, for instance, does not evaluate the low frequency rumble  noise found in some offices.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method provides a means of measuring the sound isolation between the interior of a closed room and locations outside the room, and also the background noise levels at the locations outside the room. The results can be used to rate the degree of speech privacy, or to estimate the probability of speech being intelligible or audible at each receiving point.
People speak at different levels and vary their voice level in reaction to room noise and other acoustical factors. Consequently it is not possible to say definitely whether a room is protected against eavesdropping. One can only assign a probability of being overheard. The owners or managers of the closed room under consideration must set criteria for this probability according to their specific goals and circumstances. The non-mandatory appendix gives an approach to setting criteria.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a test procedure for measuring the degree of speech privacy provided by a closed room, for conversations occurring within the room, and with potential eavesdroppers located outside the room.
1.2 The degree of speech privacy measured by this method is that due to the sound insulation of the room structure—the walls, floor, ceiling and any other elements of the room boundaries—and to the background noise at listening positions outside the closed the room.
1.3 Potential eavesdroppers are assumed to be unaided by electronic or electroacoustic equipment, and not touching the room boundaries. Determined efforts to eavesdrop are not addressed.
1.4 The method may be applied to any enclosed room, whether specifically intended to be protected against eavesdropping or not.
1.5 The method does not set criteria for adequate speech privacy. A non-mandatory appendix provides guidance on how the results of this test method may be used to estimate the probability of an eavesdropper being able to understand speech outside a closed room, and how to set criteria for such rooms.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.7 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The speech privacy between locations in an open plan space is determined by the degree to which intruding speech sounds exceed the ambient sound pressure levels at the listener's ear; a classic signal-to-noise ratio situation.
The sound pressure levels at the listener's ear from intruding speech depend upon:
The individual vocal effort and orientation of the talker,
The attenuation of speech signals due to distance or intervening barriers, and
The reinforcement of speech signals due to reflections from surfaces such as the ceiling, furniture panels, light fixtures, walls, or windows.
The ambient sound pressure levels will often be controlled to mask intruding speech. This is accomplished by means of a masking sound system. However, in certain positions and frequency ranges, heating, ventilating, or air conditioning equipment (HVAC) may contribute significantly to ambient sound pressure levels.  
The primary purpose of this test method is to measure the speech privacy for an average speech spectrum using the standard Articulation Index method. This requires measurement of the relevant acoustical characteristics discussed in 5.2 and 5.3 for a pair of locations and calculation of the Articulation Index using an average speech spectrum. The average speech spectrum is for male talkers speaking with normal voice effort.
The Articulation Index ranges from 0.00, where speech is unintelligible, to 1.00, where all individual spoken words can be understood. Caution should be exercised in interpreting the numerical results of this test method. There is a need for further research to establish the relationship of Articulation Index to speech privacy. One purpose of this test method is to encourage the measurement of data and further research on this topic perhaps leading to development of well-documented speech privacy categories and criteria.  
This test method can be used to:
Compare the relative privacy afforded between different locations within open plan spa...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a means of measuring speech privacy objectively between locations in open plan spaces. This test method relies upon acoustical measurements, published information on speech levels, and standard methods for assessing speech communication. This test method does not measure the performance of individual open plan components which affect speech privacy; it measures the privacy which results from a particular configuration of components (1, 2).  
1.2 This test method is intended to be a field test for the measurement of speech privacy in actual open plan spaces. However, this test method could be used in an environment arranged to simulate an open plan space.
1.3 This test method is suitable for use in many open plan spaces such as open plan offices, healthcare spaces, institutional spaces, schools, etc. It is not applicable for measuring the speech privacy between open plan and enclosed spaces or between fully enclosed spaces.
1.4 This test method relies upon the Articulation Index, which objectively predicts the intelligibility of speech. While both the Articulation Index and this test method can be expected to reliably predict average speech privacy, neither predicts the specific degree of speech privacy afforded to particular open plan occupants.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units in parentheses are for information only.
1.6 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.

ABSTRACT
This specification states the requirements for sound sources used for measuring the speech privacy between open offices or for measuring the laboratory performance of acoustical components. The sound source shall be a loudspeaker enclosed in a box that has a maximum dimension of 0.30 m (1 ft) on a side, to reduce spurious sound reflections. The measurements shall be carried out in a free sound field. The measurement microphone, amplifier, and level meter used to measure sound pressure levels shall satisfy the requirements prescribed. When the sound source is driven with the qualification signal, the sound output shall be adequate to maintain one-third octave-band sound pressure levels at least 10 dB above the corresponding background noise in each band at each measurement location. The directivity of the sound source shall be verified by driving the source with the qualification signal and measuring the sound pressure levels at measurement points.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification states the requirements for sound sources used for measuring the speech privacy between open offices or for measuring the laboratory performance of acoustical components (see Test Methods E 1111 and E 1130).
1.2 The sound source shall be a loudspeaker located in an enclosure driven with an appropriate test signal.
1.3 This specification describes the sound source and method of qualifying it using a special qualification signal. Test signals required by open office test methods may differ.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the interzone attenuation for three components of open-plan spaces:
1.1.1 Ceiling systems when used in conjunction with partial-height space dividers. This arrangement is commonly used in offices to achieve speech privacy between work zones in the absence of full-height partitions. This test method is applicable to any ceiling configuration, including, for example, a pattern of sound-reflective panels in an otherwise sound-absorptive ceiling. This test method generally requires use of a fixed space divider height of 1.50 m (60 in). In recognition of trends toward alternate divider heights in open office environments, measurements with an alternate divider height may be conducted in accordance with this standard.
1.1.2 Furniture panels used as acoustical barriers in open-plan spaces to provide speech privacy or sound isolation between working positions.
1.1.3 Vertical panels, including wall finishes such as sound-absorbent panels, and furniture panels or screens which may reflect sound. It may not be applicable to such items as window finishes or furniture other than panels if these differ significantly from flat wall panels.
1.1.4 The combination of results from the various components of an open-plan office is beyond the scope of this standard.
1.2 Unless otherwise qualified, all dimensions specified in this test method shall be understood to have a tolerance of ±6 mm (±1/4 in.) The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information only.
1.3 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Each weighting factor given in Table 1 represents the fraction of overall speech intelligence contained within the associated one-third octave frequency band.
The weighting factors in Table 1 are obtained by multiplying each individual one-third octave band weighting factor of ANSI S3.5-1969 by 300. Articulation class (AC) values are thus related to but distinctly different from articulation index (AI) values. In particular, the AC considers only the effect of signal attenuation; while the AI considers such additional factors as speech level and spectrum and background sound level and spectrum.
Note 2—The AC is similar to the DAI rating proposed by Warnock6 and has been shown to correlate with AI values derived from ANSI S3.5, except where the AI approaches 1 or 0 (AI values range between 1 and 0 and approach 0 with increasing privacy and nonintelligibility). Articulation class values give the reverse. They usually exceed 100 and increase with increasing privacy and nonintelligibility. Extensive comparison between AC ratings and subjective judgments of open-plan speech privacy has not yet been accomplished.
SCOPE
1.1 This classification provides a single figure rating that can be used for comparing building systems and subsystems for speech privacy purposes. The rating is designed to correlate with transmitted speech intelligence between office spaces.
1.2 Excluded from the scope of this classification are applications involving female speakers or children, languages other than English, and sound spectra other than speech. Thus excluded, for example, would be comparisons of building systems or subsystems for their effectiveness in reducing transmitted noise from machinery, industrial processes, bowling alleys, music rooms, places of entertainment, and the like. Published work by Pearsons, et al, may eventually permit the restriction on female speakers to be relaxed.

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.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the interzone attenuation for three components of open-plan spaces:
1.1.1 Ceiling systems when used in conjunction with partial-height space dividers. This arrangement is commonly used in offices to achieve speech privacy between work zones in the absence of full-height partitions. This test method is applicable to any ceiling configuration, including, for example, a pattern of sound-reflective panels in an otherwise sound-absorptive ceiling. This test method generally requires use of a fixed space divider height of 1.50 m (60 in). In recognition of trends toward alternate divider heights in open office environments, measurements with an alternate divider height may be conducted in accordance with this standard.
1.1.2 Furniture panels used as acoustical barriers in open-plan spaces to provide speech privacy or sound isolation between working positions.
1.1.3 Vertical panels, including wall finishes such as sound-absorbent panels, and furniture panels or screens which may reflect sound. It may not be applicable to such items as window finishes or furniture other than panels if these differ significantly from flat wall panels.
1.1.4 The combination of results from the various components of an open-plan office is beyond the scope of this standard.
1.2 Unless otherwise qualified, all dimensions specified in this test method shall be understood to have a tolerance of 6 mm (1/4 in.) The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information only.
1.3 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.

SCOPE
1.1 This specification states the requirements for sound sources used for measuring the speech privacy between open offices or for measuring the laboratory performance of acoustical components (see Test Methods E 1111 and E 1130).
1.2 The sound source shall be a loudspeaker located in an enclosure driven with an appropriate test signal.
1.3 This specification describes the sound source and method of qualifying it using a special qualification signal. Test signals required by open office test methods may differ.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method  is intended to provide measurements of the sound reflective characteristics of ceiling systems when used in conjunction with partial-height space dividers. This arrangement is commonly used in offices and schools to achieve speech privacy between work zones in the absence of full-height partitions. This test method is applicable to any ceiling configuration, including, for example, a pattern of sound-reflective panels in an otherwise sound-absorptive ceiling. This test method, as specified, is primarily restricted to measurements with a fixed space divider height of 1.50 m (60 in.), a ceiling height of nominally 2.70 m (108 in.), a source height of 1.20 m (48 in.), and microphone positions at 1.20 m (48 in.) height.  
1.2  Laboratory Accreditation—A procedure for accrediting a laboratory for purposes of this test method is given in Annex A1.  
1.3  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.  
1.4 The values stated in acceptable metric units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information only.

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.
1.3 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.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method  is intended to provide measurements of the sound reflective characteristics of ceiling systems when used in conjunction with partial-height space dividers. This arrangement is commonly used in offices and schools to achieve speech privacy between work zones in the absence of full-height partitions. This test method is applicable to any ceiling configuration, including, for example, a pattern of sound-reflective panels in an otherwise sound-absorptive ceiling. This test method, as specified, is primarily restricted to measurements with a fixed space divider height of 1.50 m (60 in.), a ceiling height of nominally 2.70 m (108 in.), a source height of 1.20 m (48 in.), and microphone positions at 1.20 m (48 in.) height.  
1.2  Laboratory Accreditation—A procedure for accrediting a laboratory for purposes of this test method is given in Annex A1.  
1.3  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.  
1.4 The values stated in acceptable metric units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information only.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Speech privacy in an open office is dependent on many factors (see Guide E 1374 for a discussion on open office acoustical considerations). One of these factors is the masking sound in the office. Without masking sound in the open office, confidential speech privacy is not possible at normal voice levels. The four critical acoustical parameters of masking sound are its spatial uniformity, temporal uniformity, spectrum shape, and level. The measurement and determination of these parameters are addressed in this test method.
The results from this test method can be used to determine if the masking sound meets a particular specification.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method specifies the procedures that can be used to evaluate the spatial and temporal uniformity of masking sound in open offices using A-weighted sound levels. It also specifies the procedure for evaluating the masking sound spectrum and level using one-third octave band sound pressure levels.
1.2 The results of this test method can be used to determine if the masking sound meets a particular specification for spatial and temporal uniformity if that specification is written in terms of A-weighted sound levels and if the masking sound meets a particular spectrum shape and level in the office area.
1.3 This test method must not be used to evaluate the acoustical environment in an office space. It is intended only to evaluate the masking sound in an office. This test method, for instance, does not evaluate the low frequency rumble  noise found in some offices.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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.

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.
1.3 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.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a means of measuring speech privacy objectively between locations in open offices. This test method relies upon acoustical measurements, published information on speech levels, and standard methods for assessing speech communication. This test method does not measure the performance of individual open office components which affect speech privacy; it measures the privacy which results from a particular configuration of components (1, 2).
1.2 This test method is intended to be a field test for the measurement of speech privacy in actual open offices. However, this test method could be used in an environment arranged to simulate an open office.
1.3 This test method could be adapted for use in other open plan spaces such as open plan schools. It could also be adapted for measuring the speech privacy between open plan and enclosed spaces or between fully enclosed spaces.
1.4 This test method relies upon the Articulation Index which predicts the intelligibility of speech for a group of talkers and listeners. While both the Articulation Index and this test method can be expected to reliably predict average speech privacy, neither predicts the specific degree of speech privacy afforded to particular open office occupants.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units in parentheses are for information only.
1.6 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.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a means of measuring speech privacy objectively between locations in open offices. This test method relies upon acoustical measurements, published information on speech levels, and standard methods for assessing speech communication. This test method does not measure the performance of individual open office components which affect speech privacy; it measures the privacy which results from a particular configuration of components (1, 2).
1.2 This test method is intended to be a field test for the measurement of speech privacy in actual open offices. However, this test method could be used in an environment arranged to simulate an open office.
1.3 This test method could be adapted for use in other open plan spaces such as open plan schools. It could also be adapted for measuring the speech privacy between open plan and enclosed spaces or between fully enclosed spaces.
1.4 This test method relies upon the Articulation Index which predicts the intelligibility of speech for a group of talkers and listeners. While both the Articulation Index and this test method can be expected to reliably predict average speech privacy, neither predicts the specific degree of speech privacy afforded to particular open office occupants.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units in parentheses are for information only.
1.6 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.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a means of measuring speech privacy objectively between locations in open offices. This test method relies upon acoustical measurements, published information on speech levels, and standard methods for assessing speech communication. This test method does not measure the performance of individual open office components which affect speech privacy; it measures the privacy which results from a particular configuration of components (1, 2).
1.2 This test method is intended to be a field test for the measurement of speech privacy in actual open offices. However, this test method could be used in an environment arranged to simulate an open office.
1.3 This test method could be adapted for use in other open plan spaces such as open plan schools. It could also be adapted for measuring the speech privacy between open plan and enclosed spaces or between fully enclosed spaces.
1.4 This test method relies upon the Articulation Index which predicts the intelligibility of speech for a group of talkers and listeners. While both the Articulation Index and this test method can be expected to reliably predict average speech privacy, neither predicts the specific degree of speech privacy afforded to particular open office occupants.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units in parentheses are for information only.
1.6 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.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a method for the laboratory measurement of the effectiveness of floor coverings in reducing impact noise from a standard tapping machine through concrete floors. The test results are not necessarily directly related to the subjective evaluations of the floor coverings.
1.2 This test method applies to all floor coverings, whether single or multi-layered, as installed on a standard concrete floor. Multi-layered coverings may be factory-assembled or assembled at the test laboratory.
1.3 The test method applies only to laboratory measurements. It does not apply to the measurement of the effectiveness of a floor covering in a field situation.
1.4 Laboratory Accreditation—A procedure for accrediting a laboratory for performing this test method is given in Method E 492.
1.5 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.

SCOPE
1.1 This classification provides a single figure rating that can be used for comparing building systems and subsystems for speech privacy purposes. The rating is designed to correlate with transmitted speech intelligence between office spaces.  
1.2 Excluded from the scope of this classification are applications involving female speakers or children, languages other than English, and sound spectra other than speech. Thus excluded, for example, would be comparisons of building systems or subsystems for their effectiveness in reducing transmitted noise from machinery, industrial processes, bowling alleys, music rooms, places of entertainment, and the like.  
Note 1--Recently published work by Pearsons, et al, may eventually permit the restriction on female speakers to be relaxed.

SCOPE
1.1 This classification provides a single figure rating that can be used for comparing building systems and subsystems for speech privacy purposes. The rating is designed to correlate with transmitted speech intelligence between office spaces.  
1.2 Excluded from the scope of this classification are applications involving female speakers or children, languages other than English, and sound spectra other than speech. Thus excluded, for example, would be comparisons of building systems or subsystems for their effectiveness in reducing transmitted noise from machinery, industrial processes, bowling alleys, music rooms, places of entertainment, and the like.  
Note 1--Recently published work by Pearsons, et al, may eventually permit the restriction on female speakers to be relaxed.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method specifies the procedures that can be used to evaluate the spatial and temporal uniformity of masking sound in open offices using A-weighted sound levels. It also specifies the procedure for evaluating the masking sound spectrum and level using one-third octave band sound pressure levels. This test method is one of two standards that can be used to evaluate masking sound; the other is Guide E1041. Guide E1041 is used when a more in-depth evaluation of the masking sound is required. It does not allow the use of A-weighted sound levels and requires that more locations in the office space be surveyed to determine spatial and temporal uniformity. Guide E1041 can be used in place of this test method.
1.2 The results of this test method can be used to determine if the masking sound meets a particular specification for spatial and temporal uniformity if that specification is written in terms of A-weighted sound levels and if the masking sound meets a particular spectrum shape and level in the office area.
1.3 This test method must not be used to evaluate the acoustical environment in an office space. It is intended only to evaluate the masking sound in an office. This test method, for instance, does not evaluate the low frequency rumble noise found in some offices.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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.

SCOPE
1.1 This specification states the requirements for sound sources used for measuring the speech privacy between open offices or for measuring the laboratory performance of acoustical components (see Test Methods E1111 and E1130).
1.2 The sound source shall be a loudspeaker located in an enclosure driven with an appropriate test signal.
1.3 This specification describes the sound source and method of qualifying it using a special qualification signal. Test signals required by open office test methods may differ.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the interzone attenuation of furniture panels used as acoustical barriers in open-plan spaces to provide speech privacy or sound isolation between working positions.
1.2 This test procedure was originally developed using the foot-pound system of units for prescribing measurement positions and distances. However, the use of SI units is preferred by ASTM. For this reason, dimensions are provided in SI units, with approximate foot-pound conversions indicated.
1.2.1 Unless otherwise qualified, all dimensions specified in this test method shall be understood to have a tolerance of ± 25 mm (± 1 in.), even though the indicated approximate conversions of the numerical dimensions given will not always be accurate to this extent. All measurements shall be made in SI units or the corresponding exact foot-pound units.
1.3 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.

SCOPE
1.1 This laboratory test method measures the degree to which reflected sound is attenuated by the most commonly found vertical surfaces in open-plan spaces. Reflection of sound from vertical surfaces is a concern in open-plan spaces because it can reduce speech privacy. The vertical surfaces covered by this test method include wall finishes such as sound-absorbent panels, and furniture panels or screens. It does not cover such items as window finishes or furniture other than panels.
1.2 This test procedure was originally developed using the foot-pound system of units for prescribing measurement positions and distances. However, the use of SI units is preferred by ASTM. For this reason, dimensions are provided in SI units, with approximate foot-pound conversions indicated in parentheses.
1.2.1 Unless otherwise qualified, all dimensions specified in this test method shall be understood to have a tolerance of ± 25 mm (± 1 in.), even though the indicated approximate conversion of the numerical dimensions given will not always be accurate to this extent. All measurements shall be made in SI units or the corresponding exact foot-pound units.
1.3 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.

SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes the measurement of masking sound in an open office environment. The objectives of the measurements are to determine the uniformity of masking sound both in time and from position to position, and how closely the masking sound matches a spectrum specified by others. The masking sound will usually be associated with a masking system, however, in certain positions and frequency ranges, heating, ventilating, or air conditioning equipment (HVAC) may affect the masking sound spectrum.  
1.2 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.