Partitions installed in open-concept offices may not be as effective as once thought, according to a new study from Concordia University.

The study, funded by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), found that noise levels in workspaces are largely influenced by employee behaviour, the layout of the office, and the type of communication used.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Joonhee Lee, an associate professor in Concordia’s Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, said the installation of partitions between desks often leads people to speak louder in order to be heard.

The study showed that sound levels in meeting rooms are generally more stable and lower than those in open workspaces.

While installing sound b

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