Acoustic workstation partitions: screens, dividers and separators

02

The framework

The French market is structured around three complementary families, each addressing a specific acoustic use. None is sufficient on its own, and it is the combination that delivers performance.

Bench front screen: 35 to 65 cm high, universal clamp mounting on 18 to 40 mm desktops, Sabine absorption coefficient (alpha w) of 0.40 to 0.55 depending on the covering. It provides visual separation of facing colleagues without strong sound insulation. Budget generally between 120 and 280 EUR excl. VAT per workstation depending on the manufacturer ranges.

Side divider: 120 to 165 cm, on weighted feet of 8 to 12 kg or castors, alpha w 0.55 to 0.70. It blocks the direct propagation of speech emitted while seated, at ear height of 110 to 120 cm in working position. Budget generally between 350 and 550 EUR excl. VAT per workstation depending on the range selected.

Cluster separator: 165 cm minimum, configurable in a U or L shape, floor-mounted, alpha w 0.65 to 0.75. It treats the space between rows of 6 to 8 workstations. Budget generally between 450 and 700 EUR excl. VAT per workstation depending on the range and finishes selected.

In practice, the majority of the floor plates we audit combine at least two typologies, because the front screen alone ignores lateral propagation. Three acoustic performance levels are distinguished (standard, high-performance, very high-performance): only the screen plus divider combination reaches the high-performance level.

03

Your HR challenges

What partitions change for absenteeism and attractiveness

For the HR-QWL department, the subject is not acoustic, it is human. Actineo Barometer 2023 identifies noise as the leading source of dissatisfaction in open space (47% of respondents), ahead of temperature and lighting. On the floor plates we have equipped, feedback from occupants reports a noticeable improvement in acoustic comfort after the partitions were installed, confirmed by measurements of decreasing sound levels.

Three quantified trade-offs frame the decision:

Cost per workstation versus cost of a departure: 250 to 600 EUR excl. VAT per partition, to be compared with the cost of replacing an office employee, estimated at between 6 and 9 months of fully loaded salary. The investment pays for itself with the first retention.

Justifiable densification: going from 12 to 9 m2 per workstation without degrading satisfaction requires a complete envelope (ceiling alpha w above 0.80 plus segmented partitions). Without this, densification is experienced as a pure loss.

Reversibility: dividers on weighted feet follow floor plate reconfigurations, whereas floor-mounted separators are depreciated over 7 to 10 years.

Segmenting by use (collaboration zone at 50 dB(A), concentration zone below 35 dB(A)) noticeably improves the perceived acoustic effectiveness compared with uniform equipment.

04

Points of attention

Four operational limits to check before ordering

Partitions do not constitute a standalone acoustic treatment: their performance depends on the overall envelope. Four blocking points deserve a prior check.

Dependence on the absorbing ceiling: without a ceiling with alpha w above 0.80, 40 cm front screens provide only 2 to 3 dB(A) of gain, compared with 5 to 7 dB(A) with a high-performance ceiling. This is the first question we ask in an audit.

Critical height threshold: dividers below 120 cm let the voice pass over the top and lose much of their effectiveness for standing conversations, since ear height is around 160-170 cm.

Wear of absorbing materials: PET felts and melamine foams gradually become soiled and see their acoustic performance degrade without regular maintenance (quarterly vacuuming recommended).

The retrofit trap: compatibility with existing electrical trunking is a frequent blocking point in refurbishment projects.

We guarantee the B-s2,d0 fire classification in ERP zones and schedule an acoustic audit at 24 months to measure the drift in T60. Payback is generally observed over 18 to 24 months through restored productivity.

05

Method

1. Acoustic mapping of the floor plate
   We deploy a class 1 sound level meter at 3 to 5 points per floor plate, measure the T60 and the LAeq, then identify the collaboration zones (tolerance 50 dB(A)) and concentration zones (target below 35 dB(A)). This phase lasts 2 weeks and determines the rest of the project.
2. 3D modelling and selection
   On the basis of the mapping, we model the floor plate and select the typologies: 40 cm front screen in the collaborative zone, 140 to 165 cm divider with alpha 0.7 in the concentration zone. We validate the reaction-to-fire classifications according to the euroclasses (M0 = A2FL s1, M3 = BFL/CFL s1/s2, M4 = DFL s1/s2, non-combustible = A1FL) as well as the eco-labelled coverings. Duration: 3 weeks.
3. Ordering and manufacturing
   We manage orders with our European partner manufacturers, with standard lead times of 6 to 10 weeks. We check the CE marking of the metal components and validate the recycled PET felts or EU Ecolabel fabrics before shipment to the site.
4. Installation and fine-tuning on site
   Our team installs a complete floor plate in a few days: clamp mounting for the bench, weighted foot for the mobile divider, floor mounting for the structural separator. Installation invoiced at 80 to 150 EUR excl. VAT per workstation depending on the complexity of the existing trunking.