Open plan seems to be everywhere these days, in homes, in shopping precincts and in offices. But, realistically, how practical is a wide open space when it comes to workforce productivity?

In this blog we ask what role acoustic partitions play in reducing office stress and increasing privacy…

Privacy – Every Worker’s Entitlement.

Arguably the fashion for open plan living is more practical than open plan working – our families are meant to be around us and we still have the privacy of our bedrooms or a ‘snug’ when needed. But in the workplace the top complaint of open plan offices is the complete lack of privacy.

Not that people have things to hide, but that they just don’t want to be in sight of everyone all the time. Add to that the noise of other workers; collaborative working conversations, mutterings to the self, utterances of annoyance, foot tapping and keyboard striking are all raising stress levels.

This survey from the University of Sydney shows exactly how the problem of visual privacy, noise levels and sound privacy is affecting the general office worker:

Office Noise Reduction Sound Absorption.

Yes, we’ve come a long way since the days of square metre cubicles when we only saw colleagues in meetings or on breaks, and yes the ideology behind the open plan workspace is admirable – to create a more collaborative style of working and a feeling of camaraderie towards our ‘work family’, but it is evident that these benefits come at a cost.

Partitions, even high ones, are proving to be insufficient in reducing the noise level complaints between colleagues, so where is the solution?

Acoustic partitions

Acoustic partitions are a movable wall system that divides the expanse with the added bonus of dramatically cutting down the noise ‘pollution’ for the individuals.

Reducing Sound Pollution In Offices.

With an acoustic movable wall from Flexible Wall Solutions, your yearned for open plan office space is not lost forever. You can choose a combination of wall configurations that provide complete, partial or no screening at all, making it the most flexible and most auspicious solution of all.

The Technical Bit

Acoustic infills combined with interlocking edge profiles with unique seal interfaces give up to 59dB sound block performance. Unrivalled seal pressure of 2KN per linear metre is possible by our unique rapid action scissor jack mechanism ensuring excellent onsite acoustic performance.

Our mechanism also performs within site restrictions or constraints such as uneven floors and deflections, making them suitable for use in older buildings and even buildings with planning restrictions.

All acoustic movable wall systems are acoustically tested to ISO 140-3 and certified for shock impact, endurance, thermal insulation and stability.

The Best Bit

Acoustic movable walls are available in a wide range of finishes including glass, laminate, white marker, veneer or primed, ready for onsite decorating. You can even get them with semi-automatic operating systems up to 11 metres tall.

So, the solution to inadequate partitions that block your view but not your noise pollution? Acoustic partitions from Flexible Wall Systems – providing comfort and facilitating productivity.

Offices Reducing Sound Pollution.