A survey on the acoustic environment and attention restoration potential of open-plan offices in industrial enterprises

This study conducted a field survey of open-plan offices in industrial enterprises and divided them into two groups based on their distance from the production workshop: near (N-IOPO) and far (F-IOPO). Objective acoustic parameters ( L A e q , L 10 and L 90 ) were measured in 7 N-IOPOs and 6 N-IOPOs, and occupants’ acoustic satisfaction, noise sources disturbance and its interference on work productivity were obtained through a questionnaire, as well as perceived restoration from the Perceived Restorativeness Scale, which includes being away, extent, fascination, and compatibility. The results showed that speech noise (e.g., nearby and distant colleague chatting and telephone conversations) was the main source affecting acoustic satisfaction and work-related outcomes. In terms of perceived restoration, both N-IOPOs and F-IOPOs had low overall scores and showed no significant difference between them. Among the four dimensions, the sense of being away was the lowest, indicating that the office’s inherent characteristics limited the upper limit of restoration. In addition, the acoustic environment can affect perceived restoration, and its effects on restoration differed between F-IOPOs and N-IOPOs. In F-IOPOs, objective acoustic parameters were positively correlated with restoration, while in N-IOPOs, restoration was correlated only with subjective acoustic satisfaction and not with objective acoustic parameters. Practical Application This study provides a practical basis for the acoustic environment design and assessment of open-plan offices in industrial enterprises. Firstly, noise levels meeting the requirements of the acoustic standard do not necessarily guarantee acoustic satisfaction or good restoration in IOPOs. Assessments should not focus solely on sound levels but should prioritise the control of speech noise. Secondly, steady-state industrial noise from neighbouring workshops could mask speech noise, potentially increasing acoustic satisfaction. Therefore, acoustic improvement should make good use of the steady-state background noise rather than simply focusing on noise reduction.