ASTM_E_1130_-_08.pdf

Designation:E113008Standard Test Method forObjective Measurement of Speech Privacy in Open PlanSpaces Using Articulation Index1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1130;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONThis is one of a series of test methods for evaluating speech privacy in buildings.It is designed tomeasure the degree of speech privacy between locations in open plan spaces,where occupants areseparated only by partial-height partitions and furnishings.Another proposed test method deals withassessing speech privacy for closed rooms.A related test method deals with the laboratorymeasurement of interzone attenuation open plan components intended to provide speech privacy,suchas partial height space dividers,ceiling systems and wall finishes.1.Scope1.1 This test method describes a means of measuring speechprivacy objectively between locations in open plan spaces.This test method relies upon acoustical measurements,pub-lished information on speech levels,and standard methods forassessing speech communication.This test method does notmeasure the performance of individual open plan componentswhich affect speech privacy;it measures the privacy whichresults from a particular configuration of components(1,2).21.2 This test method is intended to be a field test for themeasurement of speech privacy in actual open plan spaces.However,this test method could be used in an environmentarranged to simulate an open plan space.1.3 This test method is suitable for use in many open planspaces such as open plan offices,healthcare spaces,institu-tional spaces,schools,etc.It is not applicable for measuringthe speech privacy between open plan and enclosed spaces orbetween fully enclosed spaces.1.4 This test method relies upon the Articulation Index,which objectively predicts the intelligibility of speech.Whileboth the Articulation Index and this test method can beexpected to reliably predict average speech privacy,neitherpredicts the specific degree of speech privacy afforded toparticular open plan occupants.1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard.The inch-pound units in parentheses are for informa-tion only.1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:3C634 Terminology Relating to Building and EnvironmentalAcousticsE1179 Specification for Sound Sources Used for TestingOpen Office Components and Systems2.2 ANSI Standards:4S1.4 Specification for Sound Level MetersS1.6 Preferred Frequencies,Frequency Levels,and BandNumbers for Acoustical MeasurementsS1.11 Specification for Octave-Band,and Fractional-Octave-band Analog and Digital Filters3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsThe acoustical terminology used in thistest method is consistent with Terminology C634.Of specialimportance are the terms average sound pressure level and1This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E33 on Buildingand Environmental Acoustics and is the direct responsibility of SubcommitteeE33.02 on Speech Privacy.Current edition approved Sept.1,2008.Published September 2008.Originallyapproved in 1986.Last previous edition approved in 2002 as E1130 021.DOI:10.1520/E1130-08.2The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end ofthis test method.3For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.4Available from American National Standards Institute,11 W.42nd St.,13thFloor,New York,NY 10036.Available from American National Standards Institute(ANSI),25 W.43rd St.,4th Floor,New York,NY 10036,http:/www.ansi.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 arithmetic mean sound pressure level,both of which aredefined in Terminology C634,and source point which isdefined in Specification E1179.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 Select two locations in an open plan environment,between which the speech privacy is to be measured.Designateone location as the talker or source location and the other as thelistener or measurement location.These locations should typifythe usual positions of occupants.4.2 All masking sound systems and HVAC systems shall beoperating in their usual manner.4.3 At the listener location,measure the ambient soundpressure levels in each one-third octave-band from 200 to 5000Hz and the A-weighted sound leve