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Full-Text Articles in Architecture
Appropriate Characterization Of Background Noise Levels In The Workplace, Erica E. Bowden, Lily M. Wang
Appropriate Characterization Of Background Noise Levels In The Workplace, Erica E. Bowden, Lily M. Wang
Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications
Overall loudness is not the only quality of indoor background noise that affects occupants. The distribution of noise across frequency (pitch), whether or not the noise contains tones, and whether or not the noise changes over time must also be considered. There are several indoor noise criteria systems available to quantify the background noise in rooms, but many of them do not account for these factors. These systems are commonly used by architects and engineers, and often incorporated into manufacturer’s data, design guides, and standards. There is much debate over which of the criteria systems best reflect how occupants will …
Effects Of Noise On Productivity: Does Performance Decrease Over Time?, Jessica Errett, Erica Eileen Bowden, Marc Choiniere, Lily M. Wang
Effects Of Noise On Productivity: Does Performance Decrease Over Time?, Jessica Errett, Erica Eileen Bowden, Marc Choiniere, Lily M. Wang
Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications
Most people at one time or another have found themselves irritated or distracted by the background noise in a building. The irritation might have resulted in minor aggravation or may have been dramatic enough to hinder their work. This leads us to ask whether occupants are increasingly aggravated by noise the longer they are exposed to it, or if they naturally habituate to their acoustic environment. In an effort to answer this question, a study was completed in the “Indoor Environment Lab” at the University of Nebraska. This lab resembles a typical office and was specially constructed to be acoustically …