Having an open floor plan in the office has both benefits and drawbacks. While it creates a bright, open space that can be conducive to productivity, it can get noisy when there are a lot of people working. You may need privacy for a meeting room or lobby, or you may want to give employees their own spaces to concentrate and get work done. Partitions are a great option, and glass partitions allow you to keep the open, bright space while providing privacy.
What Is Acoustic Glass Partitioning?
When you want to create work areas, such as offices, meeting rooms, and more, you can use glass partitions. Acoustic glass is designed to provide privacy so that your office keeps its open feel while protecting confidential conversations.
Acoustic glass is manufactured by bonding a clear PVC membrane to the glass panes. These panes can be single or double-glazed, and the membrane absorbs sound energy and prevents any sound waves from going through the glass. While acoustic glass partitioning looks the same as standard frameless glass, it has this acoustic membrane that you can’t see. It offers privacy without reducing visibility or closing up the space.
How Is Acoustic Glass Different from Standard Glass?
At first glance, it is difficult to tell the difference between acoustic glass and standard frameless glass partitions. The membrane that provides the sound reduction is clear, so it doesn’t interfere with visibility at all.
The thickness of the acoustic glass is slightly different; the acoustic membrane adds 0.8 mm to the thickness. Although it doesn’t give you 100% sound insulation, it does help with sound performance.
Acoustic glass is available in both single- and double-glazed glass. With single-glazed glass, you get sound protection up to 37 dB while with double-glazed, you get between 46 and 50 dB. For maximum privacy, you can choose double-glazed partitions, double-glazed doors, and drop seals.
Types of Acoustic Glass Partitioning
There are five levels of acoustic glass partitioning. Level 1 is single-glazed glass, and it is ideal in open areas and offices that don’t need acoustic benefits. It has a dB rating of up to 33 dB, and normal speech can be heard.
Level 2 is single-glazed acoustic, and it rates up to 37 dB. It is ideal in standard offices and meeting rooms. Speech may be heard, but it is difficult to interpret. Level 3 is double-glazed safety toughened, and it has a rating of up to 40 dB. This is ideal for meeting rooms and private areas, and loud speech is difficult to interpret.
Level 4 includes double-glazed acoustic with a rating up to 46 dB. This is ideal in confidential areas and boardrooms. It protects loud and normal speech. Finally, level 5 offers the most acoustic protection with a rating up to 50 dB. Even loud speech cannot be heard through these partitions.
