Workplace guidelines on volume and office noise

What regulations exist regarding noise and volume in the office and workplace? What does occupational safety for noise look like and what can be done about noise in the office?

Noise and loud sounds are omnipresent in many offices and can hinder concentration and, in the worst case, even lead to health risks and damage. Conversations at neighbouring workstations, office equipment, air conditioning systems and colleagues on the phone: all of these can produce disturbing noises. Various noise protection measures at the workplace by employers and employees can help to reduce unpleasant noise.

Everyday office life is characterised by phone calls, meetings and spontaneous exchanges, but also by concentrated individual work. Ideally, both communication and concentration should be possible without interference. However, if the noise level caused by conversations and technology is too high in the long term, this can become a stress factor and pose a significant health risk in the long run.

• Sound pressure level:
  The sound pressure level indicates the effect of sound on humans (sound immission) and is used to describe the volume. The pressure of the sound waves depends on the distance from the sound source.
• Decibel = dB or dB (A):
  Decibel is the logarithmic unit of measurement for sound pressure level. The A-weighting of the measured sound pressure level takes into account the human hearing curve. Humans hear differently depending on the frequency, so low tones are perceived as louder than high tones.
• Sound power level:
  The sound power level indicates the strength of the sound source (sound emission) and is decisive for comparing the noise of devices and machines, such as printers.
• Spatial decay rate of speech D2,S:
  The sound level decreases with increasing distance from a sound source. The architecture of the room (room shape, furniture, surface texture, etc.) influences the rate at which the sound level decreases over distance in the room. The higher the spatial decay rate, the less noise is perceived in the more distant areas of an open-plan office.
• Reverberation time T:
  Reverberation time is the period between the source being switched off and the sound energy density decreasing by 60 dB. This characterises the ‘reverberation’ of a room. For a pleasant noise level, this should be as low as possible.
• Average sound pressure level – assessment level:
  The assessment level measures noise pollution at workplaces by measuring the sound pressure level over a certain period of activity. This serves as a limit value or guideline.

There are guidelines for workplace design with regard to disruptive office noise. According to Workplace Ordinance Appendix No. 3.7 (partially supplemented by the Technical Rules for Workplaces, ASR), a sound pressure level of 40 dB (A) to 45 dB (A) is considered suitable for predominantly intellectual activities such as concentrated work at an office workplace. This should always be as low as possible in order to minimise psychological stress and health impairments.

Questions about office planning or workplace regulations?

An assessment level of 55 dB(A) can already be considered borderline. If the level rises briefly to 58 dB(A), the exposure limit is reached after four hours, and at 61 dB(A) after only two hours. However, the daily average does not take into account peak loads or brief periods of loud noise.

Furthermore, the type of sound is not insignificant when assessing the annoyance of noise. High-pitched and shrill sounds are perceived as more unpleasant than low-pitched sounds. Conversations and unpredictable noise are the most disruptive, whereas steady noise is better tolerated. In addition to noise within the office, noise can also penetrate a workplace through walls, ceilings or windows. It is also important to take into account the personal circumstances of employees and interactions with other stress factors.

It should be noted that the assessment level for evaluating noise stress in the office is only of limited significance. Even below this guideline value, noises can be perceived as very unpleasant. Therefore, when planning an office that is as quiet as possible, employers must take into account the individual work tasks and their specific requirements. It can be helpful here to include employees' statements about the disruptive and stressful effects. Finally, possible vibrations must also be taken into account, as specified in the Noise and Vibration Occupational Safety and Health Regulation (LärmVibrationsArbSchV).

However, the sound continues to reverberate in the room even after the source of the noise has ceased. This is known as the reverberation time. The lower this parameter, the less ‘echoey’ the room is and the better the speech intelligibility. The proportion of sound-absorbing surfaces determines the reverberation time. DIN EN ISO 9241 Part 6 requires a maximum reverberation time of 0.6 seconds in rooms of 200 cubic metres.

Reverberation time is a decisive factor for good acoustics in the office. The shorter it is, the better the speech intelligibility.

Even when noise levels are within acceptable limits, office noise can be stressful for many employees. Individual solutions and noise protection in the workplace are therefore essential. A well-thought-out office concept that takes room acoustics, zoning and working methods into account from the outset is therefore crucial. Targeted acoustic planning, material selection and a room concept tailored to the needs of employees can effectively reduce background noise – and create an environment in which communication remains possible without disturbing concentration. This can result in a working environment that promotes performance and health. We are happy to support you in this.