1.1 This test method describes a means of measuring speech privacy objectively 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; it measures the privacy which results from a particular configuration of components (1, 2).

1.2 This test method is intended to be a field test for the measurement of speech privacy in actual open plan spaces. However, this test method could be used in an environment arranged to simulate an open plan space.

1.3 This test method is suitable for use in many open plan spaces such as open plan offices, healthcare spaces, institutional spaces, schools, etc. It is not applicable for measuring the speech privacy between open plan and enclosed spaces or between fully enclosed spaces.

1.4 This 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 average speech privacy, neither predicts the specific degree of speech privacy afforded to particular open plan occupants.

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

1.6 This 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.