Speech Privacy
Speech Privacy, or audibility, is not just a concept, it is a quantifiable feature of any room or open plan area.
Speech privacy is assessed by measuring the noise level of the speech and comparing this with the level of background noise. This comparison effectively indicates how easily a conversation can be heard by the recipient or, often more importantly, overheard by others.
The louder the background noise compared with speech the more the speech will be masked and hence the conversation will be more private. For example, compare a noisy pub where a conversation at the adjacent table would be unintelligible, if not completely inaudible, with the waiting room at a doctor's surgery, where even whispered conversation is clearly intelligible.
Data protection is important and ensuring conversations with clients, patients or students cannot be overheard is the first step to protecting their privacy.
Dragonfly Acoustics can design the internal spaces within a development to ensure a high standard of speech privacy (by ensuring a sufficient but not excessive level of background noise), or audibility (by the improvement of the sound insulation), whichever is required.
If you would like more information about our residential noise assessment services please contact us to discuss your requirements.