Productivity and acoustics
Studies show that a worker’s productivity increases with an improved acoustic environment that allows ease of communication, limited intrusive noise (and resultant distraction), and protection from ear damage where appropriate
Functional efficiency relates to the degree to which physiological needs are supported in the interior space plan. These needs, which are physical in nature, relate to human body requirements. Interior environments must respond to basic human functional needs vision, hearing, stability, and mobility to achieve both comfort and efficiency. The ability to comprehend one's environment as well as to perform tasks within it is strongly dependent upon hearing. Hearing is critical because it not only affects ability to communicate but also the general capacity to perform other tasks. The critical variables in human hearing are;
- audibility
- intelligibility
- signal-to-noise ratio
- noise annoyance
