1.1This 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

1.2This 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.

1.3This 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.

1.4This 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.

1.5The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units in parentheses are for information only.

1.6This 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.