These findings on subjectively reported disruptive effects are supported by studies that demonstrate negative effects of office noise on various cognitive functions such as concentration or memory. Especially conversations between employees and telephone rings are perceived as disturbing.

In one study, 99% of respondents stated that their concentration was impaired by noise. Up to 54% of employees in offices report noise as sometimes the most severe disruptive factor in their work, which also has a negative effect on job satisfaction.

This has been proven in numerous scientific studies. In these rooms, the “human voice” is at the same time the largest source of interference, which not only reduces well-being, but is also responsible for diminished performance. The goal regarding room acoustics of multi-person offices is to enable trouble-free work at all workplaces. Thomas Plötzner, specialist in environmental acoustics at OWA, outlines the (spatial) acoustic challenges in his article and compares them with the current and new (still in the design phase) normative specifications. In open-plan offices or open-plan office environments, it requires a lot of acoustic optimization to gain acceptance for the new office landscape, especially if the employees used to be housed in individual offices.

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