VDI 2569: Noise Protection and Acoustic Design in Offices

The VDI 2569 “Noise Protection and Acoustic Design of Offices” is a standard that comes very close to the desire for assistance in the “practical acoustic design” of office spaces. It deals with both acoustic measurement variables and a psychoacoustic component, i.e. the effect of negatively perceived sound on people. It is the human being who has to maintain his or her high motivation through the acoustic design of offices. It is therefore extremely important to consider the effect of acoustics on people. The main aim of this directive is to adapt office premises in areas to their intended use from the point of view of building and room acoustics. This includes both single and multi-person offices. The recommendations for sound protection can also be applied analogously to meeting rooms, with reference to DIN 18041 with regard to recommendations for room acoustics.

The planner, those involved in the planning and the users of the offices are provided with a basis for assessing the acoustic conditions. In addition, a sound level measurement must be carried out. The guideline shows the possibilities to reduce to a large extent the annoyance and disturbance of office users by noise from their own and neighbouring areas. The recommendations for building acoustics classify sound insulation in terms of privacy, freedom from nuisance and acoustic comfort.

This directive deals with the reduction of speech intelligibility in adjacent areas and the reduction of background noise for undisturbed work. For this purpose, VDI 2569 has a practical table recommending the achievement of the assigned characteristic values by proposing various acoustic measures in the office and associated products. When considering aspects of occupational health and safety, the levels of technical, organisational and personal intervention are often described. Organisational and personal contributions to noise reduction are essential but are not dealt with in detail in this guideline. We would be happy to advise you and offer you solutions in the sense of sound-absorbing walls, acoustic elements on the wall as well as mobile acoustic walls and many other possibilities to contribute to a better design of the workplace and to a better noise protection in the office.