Ten Steps to Achieve Acoustic Comfort in Your Office

An unknown worker, in response to a New York Times article, Beyond the Cubicle, by Allison Arieff, July 18, 2011, wrote the following internet comment:

“I currently work in a cubicle – my neighbours are a man in the midst of a divorce, a woman with a problem child, another woman with an elderly parent who should be in a care facility. The only cure for my personal hell would be a quiet room with a door. Perhaps my employer would then get his money’s worth from my workday... did I mention that I am across from the copier?” 

According to a study by sound consultant Julian Treasure, if you can hear someone talking while you are reading or writing, your productivity in the workplace can dip by up to 66%. Treasure has been calling attention to the “invisible architecture” of sound. His research suggests that trying to perform knowledge-based tasks in a space in which other people’s conversations are clearly audible is difficult, with productivity being degraded by up to two thirds. Treasure’s whitepaper Building in Sound also found that sound masking technology improved employee focus by 47% and short term memory accuracy by almost 10%.

Another study found that noise in the office also correlated to increased stress hormone levels and a lower willingness to engage with others. Which creates a tense Catch 22, given the trend of shared space and open office is intended to foster a culture of communication and social interaction.
So what is acoustic comfort and how do you achieve it in the modern office?

‘Acoustical comfort’ is achieved when the workplace provides appropriate acoustical support for interaction, confidentiality, and concentrative work. The foundation of acoustical comfort in the office is the ‘Privacy Index’(PI).

To work out the PI, imagine going into an office, closing the door and reading 100 words at random out of the dictionary.

If your colleague in the adjoining office can understand 5 words out of 100, the office has achieved a PI of 95. This is the definition of confidentiality.

Most commercial office buildings provide a PI less than 80. Sound travels from one space to the next through numerous weaknesses in the built environment. The sound of speech passes between the joins between ceiling and wall, through lights and air conditioning components.  Sound energy can find every opening, no matter how small.

A PI of 80 defines normal privacy.



There are three key areas of equal importance that need to be addressed to create acoustic comfort:

• Behaviour
• Design
• Acoustic Treatment

Consistently integrating all three will deliver a workplace that is comfortable, sustainable and supportive of both interactive and quiet work.
Ten Steps To Acoustic Comfort

BEHAVIOUR

1) Identify the work patterns within the office. Observe the balance of concentration and interaction amongst your team to create zones to support each.

2) Identify the pattern and need for speech privacy – how many ‘secure’ acoustic spaces are needed?

3) Support behavioural change: adopt mobile technologies and multiple workplaces to allow the workplace patterns you have identified to be successful.

4) Create protocols aimed at reducing distractions and the appropriate use of space.

DESIGN

5) Zone appropriately – have a layout strategy that keeps incompatible functions apart.

6) Planning – What is the effect on neighbouring workstations when locating supporting activities such as printers and copiers, coffee bars and eateries, entries to conference rooms where a queue could be anticipated.

7) Furniture – select furniture that contributes to acoustic comfort. For example, high partitions actually contribute to noise levels rather than reduce, because of the perception that people wrongly-assume they are enclosed, and don’t monitor the volume of their conversations. Lower-partitions encourage awareness of people around, whilst also allowing for light and views.

ACOUSTIC TREATMENT

8) Choose sound-absorbing walls and ceilings; in conference, meeting and training rooms aim for a minimum 80% PI. For open workspaces, floors, walls, window coverings, and ceilings can all be used to absorb sound. Specific solutions include acoustic ceiling tiles, carpeting, furniture finishes, curtains, and other ceiling treatments such as hanging ‘clouds’, banners, artwork and acoustical plasters.


9) Sound Masking Systems. There are many types of masking systems available, ranging from a table-top fountain to complicated electronic systems with multiple time of day settings. There are even sound-masking privacy apps you can download to play through headsets!


10) Look at using sound-rated wall construction materials – talk to your architect about the appropriate materials for use, for offices that require confidential speech privacy to teleconferencing rooms and open space partitioning.

This article was published in Sourceable.net in March 2015

Instead of tying people to their desk, tie them to their senses

Whilst the focus over the past few years has been on sustainability and the impact of technology in the workplace, the future trends is to design for productivity, creativity and collaboration. How can we better design to maximise human productivity, potential and performance?

Productivity is not sitting at the same desk all day with your head down. It is creating solutions, achieving outcomes, solving problems. This does not necessarily come from remaining isolated at your desk.

The world has changed. In the past, people had to sit at their desks if they needed to answer emails, but today, anyone can do that—or any other work—from anywhere. Mobile devices have released us from the tyranny of the desk. From a creative perspective, it is no longer necessary to make sure people are at their desks at all time.

Instead it makes it more crucial to ensure people have a supportive, well-designed environment that give them the freedom to work productively whilst connecting and brainstorming with each other. All their senses need to be encouraged to engage.

Designing a space with all five senses in mind can boost productivity in the workplace.  It can make employees happier, more engaged. Designer Jinsop Lee in a 2013 TED talk, postulated that the best designs appeal to all (or most) of our senses.

Sensory design elements such as colours, lighting, sounds, textures and smells can be purposefully adapted to enhance the work environment and increase productivity. Spaces can be designed to meet the requirements of all of our senses, the most obvious of these from a design point of view is sight.

Sight

The easiest sense to appeal to, sight can be manipulated most obviously by implementing colour psychology. Brighter colours, such as reds, blues and greens, are conducive to higher focus and task accuracy.

Blue is associated with calm, promoting mental clarity, control and creative thinking. Some studies suggest it can produce twice as many brainstorming results when compared to a red environment.

Citrus hues like yellow and orange, stimulating colours by nature, help people feel more alert, allowing for clear decision making and encouraging lively discussions.

By using colour strategically and following the basic principles of colour psychology, you can promote desired behaviors.

 Let there be light

With the sense of sight, the most important part of design is access to natural light. There is a strong relationship between workplace daylight exposure and office workers’ sleep, activity and quality of life.

Natural light is the most popular request by team members when interviewed about their requirements in their office. Focusing on natural light not only helps improve employee mood and productivity, it can also help save on cooling, heating and power costs.

Embrace art

Engaging the sense of sight is about visual interest, and an easy way to introduce this is wall art or sculptures.

Art that has interesting or thought-provoking subject matters not only infuses your workspace with character, it can also stimulate discussion and inspires workplace creativity.

By working with a corporate art curator, you can select artwork that conveys your company culture and branding, sparks employee imagination, and also supplements your Corporate Social Responsibility programs by supporting local, emerging artists.

There is also scope for art installations to change – so the artwork that stimulated and provoked your team last quarter does not remain the same year-on-year. The objective for any corporate art curation is to rotate, build and grow the collection, so it continually evolves and inspires your people.

The design of an office should not just address an employees’ immediate workspace, the design of the whole work environment needs to be designed to stimulate them, and encourage them to work to the best of their abilities whether it be as individuals, as teams or the overall Company.

This Article was published on Sourceable.net in January 2015 and can be viewed at https://sourceable.net/tie-people-to-their-senses-not-desks/

Keeping the bathroom warm this Winter

It’s probably fair to say that nobody likes to experience that cold chill from stepping out of a hot shower into a frosty bathroom. Fortunately, there are various options to warm up your bathroom so you can keep that fuzzy feeling. Here we will look at different ideas to keep you warm and comfortable in your bathroom this Winter.

Underfloor Heating

An energy efficient and effective method of heating your bathroom is to use underfloor heating. There are different systems, namely slab heating and thin film heating, which use either electric cables or hot water pipes, and are suitable for small or large spaces. Slab heating uses off peak electricity or natural gas, while thin film heating uses peak electricity but is more efficient than other electric heaters. Underfloor heating not only heats the floor but also warms the entire room, leaving a balmy temperature. Using a timer, you can save more energy by having the floors heated only when needed. This subtle heating mechanism will leave a lasting impression on users and you will find it hard to walk bare foot on cold tiles again!

Heat Lamps

Heat lamps are the most common type of heating as they are immediately hot when switched on. You will find them mounted on the ceiling combined with lights and an exhaust fan, usually in small bathrooms because of the centralisation of heat around its location. To overcome this problem, additional heat lamps can be installed. Greater efficiency can be achieved by models with temperature controls.

Permanent Heaters

This heating system, also known as strip, bar or radiator heaters, is mounted on the walls. They heat up quickly and produce sufficient heating for a room. Ideal for bigger bathrooms, the electrical wires can be linked to light switches to keep all the controls together. While radiator heaters work safely lower down, bar heaters should be fitted higher up as they emit plenty of heat and consequently, comes a risk of burns.

Heated Towel Rails

What is better than using a dry towel? A warm, dry towel! Heated towel rails are powered by electricity and are designed to dry and warm your towels. The key to maximising the warmth from your heated towel rail is positioning as they release enough heat to pass through the towels to warm the air temperature of your bathroom. Unfortunately this is a slow process, so this product is best suited for smaller bathrooms.

Positive Temperature Coefficient Bathroom Heaters

Looking for a more energy efficient option? A Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater may be for you. The heat is generated by small ceramic stones that once a certain temperature is reached, it will sustain that level of heating – making PTC heaters energy efficient and safe. You can also purchase these heaters combined with energy efficient lights and an exhaust fan.

Tips to run your bathroom heating efficiently

Whether you are heating up a personal bathroom, you can keep it efficient. The foundation is to choose a heater that is an appropriate size for the space. This will prevent the heater from working harder than necessary to produce sufficient or oversupplying heat. Secondly, only have the heating system on when needed – this can be supported by installing a timer to program the required hours. 

There are plenty of options available to heat your bathroom safely and efficiently. To make the experience more pleasant, use soft hand towels or a warm hand dryer, consider a set of aroma reeds for a lasting scent. A bathroom or restroom should be a comfortable environment for users and this can be achieved with ease. 

 

Granny Flats aren’t just for Grandparents

Have you ever thought about expanding your home, but not sure of the requirements or value in doing so?

Having a secondary dwelling on your property is becoming increasingly popular across Australia. Whether it’s a solution for our growing and ageing population and rising rental prices or an escape to a parents’ retreat, granny flats are an affordable way to expand the living space on your property. Not only do they improve the value of your home, but also accommodate for more private living.

Granny flats as self-contained extensions can be constructed in three ways – within the house, attached to the house, or separate from the house. NSW Government outlines that granny flats must be on the same lot of land as the principal house and not on a separate lot, in a strata plan or in a community title scheme. There is only to be one house and one granny flat existing on the property – not on a subdivision.

There are particular standards and regulations that come into play when designing and building a granny flat. The legal maximum size for granny flats is 60 square metres, and they must be built in line with the Building Code of Australia. Furthermore, the combined total floor space of the two structures needs to comply with local council standards. Planning controls must also be met, including building height and setbacks, floor space ratios, and open space.

Designing a granny flat comes with endless possibilities – from an open-plan studio space to spacious two-bedroom apartment set-ups. The opportunities for different layouts and styles enable home-owners to use the space for a variety of uses, depending on their spatial needs. Some suggestions are a home office, rumpus room, parents’ retreat, design studio or home gym.

The flexibility of and range of functions for granny flats is what drives their attractiveness to home owners. As long as adequate backyard space is maintained, the addition of a granny flat on unused space can successfully improve your property value – particularly as you can rent out the space for some extra income.

So, if your teenagers are driving you crazy, or you need the extra room for another person, a granny flat could be your solution. The diversity in design choices will allow you to create a space that will meet your needs and improve the value of your home. 

Plan, Design, and Operate Sustainably

Companies both large and small are learning that sustainable business practices not only help the environment but can also improve profitability by supporting greater efficiency, less waste and better community and employee relations.

When creating a sustainable workplace, you should consider the following aspects:

1.  Planning 

2. Design and build

3. Operations

Each of which brings considerable savings to your bottom line.

Let’s take a look at each aspect.

1. Workplace Planning

Planning enables you to develop a workplace ideal to your expectations, while being viable and resourceful for your business and towards the environment.

When looking for premises, consider retrofitting an older style property instead of occupying new office blocks. An architect can help you think outside the square on how space can be best utilised for your needs.

If it’s a new build, select offices with plenty of natural sunlight so you can work longer before turning on lights. You can create more sources of natural light via large windows and atriums in your building design.

2. Design and Build

A number of design principles can be applied to produce a space that is unique and efficient.

A new trend emerging recently is in re-purpose shipping containers. This concept is particularly great if you have vacant space on your property and need to build an extension or more storage space. It is also a suitable idea if you need to build a home office in your backyard.

Take a look at a recent Starbucks store that was constructed from recycled shipping containers. 

    Image: Starbucks in Tukwila, Washington     

You may consider using old, discarded or pre-loved furniture and fixtures. Restored or recycled furniture and fixtures create not only environmental benefits, but restored pieces can be a real focal point in design.

3. Operational

When it comes to operating your business, there are a number of simple things you can do to create cost efficiencies through sustainable practices.

Ensure switches are labelled, so employees understand which are relevant to minimise excess lighting and appliance use.

Install dimmers on your lights where possible, so you can adjust for varying levels of natural light in the room.

Display lighting should only be installed for spot lighting selected displays and not as general illumination.  If you are in retail or hospitality, keep lighting on a reduced level and only switch on display lighting just before opening time or put them on a timer.

Energy light bulbs – invest in LED light bulbs to capitalise substantial long-term financial savings that should compensate for their higher prices.

Install motion sensor lighting, especially for storage cupboards, plant room lighting and other rarely used rooms, which are switched off by default.

Creating a sustainable workplace in design and operations is highly recommended as the benefits significantly exceed the monetary investment. 

The Great Energy Debate – Gas, Electric or Solar

Keeping your home cosy through the chill of winter and cool in the hot summer is a challenge for many – especially while trying to avoid high energy bills. It’s a balancing act that raises the question of whether to choose gas, electric or solar power. 

Given that heating and cooling amounts to approximately 23 per cent of Australian household energy use, homeowners need to consider their home heating requirements and choose a system that delivers the right amount of warmth and coolness to avoid energy wastage and bill shock. 

If you are building or renovating, you have a number of energy options and therefore different options for your heating and cooling. Depending on where you live, you will generally be able to choose from:  

▪     Electricity – traditional heaters, air conditioning, fans

▪     Gas – widely available in capital cities, though limited supply of piped or main gas in regional and rural areas, generally used for heating

▪     Solar – widely available, however, the benefits of installing solar panels will vary depending on a number of environmental factors. Usually used to supplement the electricity grid and reduce energy costs for heating and cooling

    

    Gas heating        

Advantages and Disadvantages

All three energy sources – electricity, gas and solar – have advantages and disadvantages.

Electricity is the most widely available energy source and can run all household appliances, but can be a more expensive source of energy.

Mains gas can be less expensive than electricity and kinder to the environment than electricity, generating around one-third of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. It is frequently used for heating water and room heating. It easily copes with heating large spaces quickly. Mains gas, however, is not as widely available as electricity.

Solar     

Solar energy is a renewable energy source and produces no greenhouse gas emissions during the generation of energy. It can be used to either supplement or replace gas and electricity. Although, solar energy systems require a significant upfront investment and cannot be installed at all premises.

Effective heating and cooling can be custom designed to suit every house and getting your requirements right the first time is essential if you want it to be cost effective.

 

     Electric heating and cooling

    

Key Office Trends for 2014

New office trends are taking the emphasis off the items found in offices and catering more for the needs of people.

Collaboration and Accessibility
The corner office is no longer the pinnacle achievement.  Employees find it out of touch and isolating, and the same concept applies to cubicles. How your workspace is designed says a lot about your business, how your team works, and is also an extension of your brand. Choosing an open-plan, more accessible office style gives greater potential to collaboration and ‘open minds.’

Flexibility and Sustainability
Flexibility is a crucial element in office space, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses. Consideration should be given to striking a balance between complete openness and the option of using use a more intimate area for one-to-one meetings.  This will create a more sustainable office space for your business.

The Gen Y Workforce
It is predicted by 2020, employment will be dominated by Generation Y, who will comprise 42 per cent of the workforce. As a cohort that excels in multi-tasking and multi-channeling, organisations will need to re-think how they communicate and connect with these employees.
Gen Y workers value authenticity and resonate with work environments that place greater significance on people as opposed to furniture. With the predicted high employer turnover for Gen Y, and associated costs for companies, it’s worth investing time into designing your office to reflect your values. In turn, this will attract the right team and increase the likelihood of longer service. With younger staff, expect a trend toward activity-based working, which allows movement between types of spaces.

The Dynamic Office
Today’s work culture is becoming increasingly diverse, as employees no longer have to be in the office to get the job done. Consequently, there will be a trend toward a workplace that can be configured to specific work needs. The worker who only sometimes comes into the office will be able to work comfortably using a pop-up work desk, which can be stored with their personal files and belongings in their absence. There will be an improved sense of belonging for all staff as they can share the workspace according to their needs.
Office trends are changing considerably to suit the worker demographic. To maximise workplace efficiency and retain quality staff, organisations need to remain aware of these changes to retain high quality staff.