Screens

When do you use an acoustic divider?

A noisy room where many people call or talk at the same time is undesirable for productivity, peace and comfort. Even in a room with an acoustic ceiling, the direct noise from colleagues can be annoying. This is particularly common in open-plan offices. After all, the direct sound from a source to a receiver is easily transmitted in an open space, a room without obstacles.

An acoustic divider is a solution to obstruct or block this direct sound. These are often flexible walls that you can erect or hang up to better shield a workplace from unwanted noise. The advantage of an acoustic divider is that it incorporates sound-absorbing materials. As a result, they not only provide a physical demarcation, but also a sound-absorbing separation. We therefore call it a sound-absorbing divider wall.

Acoustic divider office

Often 2 to 6 people sit together in a group at the office. These are often one or two departments that have intensive contact with each other. A freestanding divider desk for between workstations is a solution for creating your own space within this cluster. This is what we call acoustic office screens.

A sound-insulating divider around a cluster of desks is a very good addition to a desk partition. In the office, an acoustic divider is a way to compartmentalise or divide. An acoustic divider provides a physical demarcation, while at the same time reducing inconvenience to another department or cluster of desks.

This demarcation is not only important for privacy and sound. It is also a way of giving a department its ‘own place and value’. A group identity or recognisability in relation to other departments. An office divider (i.e. acoustic office dividers, office partition walls, screens) comes in many different sizes and finishes.

A good acoustic office divider

In order to achieve the best acoustic result, it is important that the sound-absorbing divider is high, solid and absorbent. In fact, we do not just want a sound-insulating divider, but a sound-insulating dividing wall. In other words, it should block as much noise as possible.

In order to stop a sound wave, an acoustic divider must be higher than the source. In other words: a person sits with his mouth at a height of approximately 120-130 cm. It is at this height that the direct diffusion of his/her sound takes place. A shielding wall should therefore ideally be at least 130-140 cm high. Even higher is, of course, even better acoustically.

This also applies to the weight of the core of a screen. In many places we see screens made of only plastic. Plastic often has little specific weight and therefore does not stop sound. A plywood or plasterboard, on the other hand, has a much higher specific weight and stops sound better.

Absorption is another important pillar for an acoustic divider or screening wall. This provides sound attenuation and prevents reflections through the hard core of the screen. In general, the thicker the greater the damping power.

Different acoustic dividers

The well-known office divider is the square / rectangular screen. These are available in different sizes and fabric colours. There is also, for example, the EASYphoto screen, which can be provided with a photo or design instead of a fabric. Or a screen wall in the shape of a planter.

In many cases these are good acoustic dividers. What you can look out for acoustically are the thickness, the height and the filling (absorption and mass).

In addition, there are mobile dividers, available with castors (mobile acoustic divider walls). This provides more flexibility. Also useful if you want a little more privacy during a presentation in an auditorium or open canteen, for example. These ‘traditional’ screens can also be used between desks.

In addition, there are the so-called acoustic room dividers. Examples of these are the EASY blinds and the EASYfelt divide. Or what about the vertical elements that can be suspended from the ceiling (Airleaf by Abstracta). These are more examples of a divider wall and also less suitable for between desks. They are more ‘open’ and provide some transparency between departments.