Office Acoustics Explained: dB, Rw and Getting Privacy Right

Acoustic specs are where fit-out quotes get jargon-heavy fast. Here's the plain-English version so you can specify privacy properly.

What the numbers mean

You'll see partitions rated with an Rw value in decibels (dB) — a lab measure of how much sound the system blocks. Higher is more private. The practical on-site figure is always a little lower than the lab number, because sound also sneaks around the partition through ceilings, floors and gaps.

A rough feel for Rw values:

• 30–35 dB — normal speech is audible but muffled. Fine for general offices.
• 38–42 dB — raised voices become hard to follow. Good for most meeting rooms.
• 45 dB+ — confidential: even loud conversation is unintelligible next door. For HR, legal, boardrooms.

Glass can hit these numbers too

A common myth is that you need solid walls for privacy. A well-installed double-glazed partition comfortably reaches the mid-range, and laminated acoustic glass pushes into the confidential band — all while keeping the daylight. The glazing is rarely the weak point.

The weak points that actually matter

Spend your acoustic budget here, not just on thicker glass:

• The door. A meeting room is only as private as its door seal. A good acoustic door with drop-seals matters more than another few dB of glass.
• The ceiling void. If the partition stops at a suspended ceiling, sound travels over the top. For real privacy the partition needs a head deflection detail or to go to the slab.
• Flanking paths. Shared floor boxes, continuous ductwork and even the raised floor can carry sound around the wall.

How to specify without overpaying

Don't put 45 dB glass everywhere — it's expensive and unnecessary in open zones. Map your floor by privacy need: confidential rooms get the full treatment (acoustic glass, sealed door, ceiling detail), general meeting rooms get a sensible mid-spec, and open areas stay open. A good fit-out partner will zone this with you.

Want a partition spec that matches each room to the right privacy level? Get a free survey and we'll map it out.