Acoustic Guide

Speech Privacy

The next table shows you how these numbers relate to what you might hear, or not want to hear, between two rooms in an office environment.

Weighted sound reduction index R_w	Speech Privacy Level
25 dB	Normal speech can be overheard
30 dB	Loud speech can be heard clearly
35 dB	Loud speech can be distinguished under normal conditions
40 dB	Loud speech can be heard but not distinguished
45 dB	Loud speech can be heard faintly but not distinguished
>50 dB	Loud speech can only be heard faintly with great difficulty