Acoustic guidelines
European directives
Standard specifications are usually minimum values to be achieved. As such, they are not sufficient to create an optimal acoustic environment, but serve as good guidelines for legally compliant planning. This is why we in the xilence acoustics department offer planning in accordance with various internationally recognised standards. These include the standards DIN 18041, ÖNORM B 8115 and SIA 181.
We also take the best possible account of the respective national specifications when planning outside the DACH region.
DIN 18041 / ÖNORM B 8115-3
DIN 18041 differentiates between two groups of rooms: A (medium and long distances) and B (short distances). Group A includes, inter alia, community halls, classrooms, and sports halls. These are further categorised according to the types of use A1 to A5. Depending on the use and volume of the room, the DIN standard provides recommendations for the target reverberation time. For office spaces, canteens, or transit areas, room group B applies. Depending on the acoustic requirements, there is also a classification into the types of use from B1 to B5. The DIN standard provides a recommendation for the minimum A/V ratio, depending on the room height and type of use. The Austrian standard ÖNORM B 8115-3, part 3: Room acoustics, is based on DIN 18041.
VDI 2569
VDI 2569 provides recommendations specifically for the acoustic design of office spaces. For large office spaces, the A/V ratio recommended in DIN 18041 is not the only parameter to be considered: The reverberation time is of primary importance. Depending on the length of the reverberation time, office spaces are assigned to room acoustics classes A (short reverberation time) to C (longer reverberation time).
