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Acoustic screens, partitions and room dividers

Acoustic screens interrupt the direct sound path between neighbouring workstations, especially speech, and usually absorb on both faces. Height is decisive: the screen has to break the line of sight between seated people, otherwise the effect stays small. Screens damp direct transmission but do not replace ceiling or wall absorption.

A screen works through two mechanisms: it shields the direct sound path between desks and absorbs the incident sound at its surface instead of reflecting it. Both only work if the screen stands high enough and the surrounding room is already damped. In a reverberant room the reflections via ceiling and walls simply travel around the screen.

Last updated: 28 June 2026

products
147
datasets total
1,896
absorption coefficient
αw up to 1.0
per variant
measurement data

Partition screens with measurement data

Freestanding acoustic partitions and room dividers, sorted by absorption coefficient.

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  • aPerf® padαw 1.00

    BK Raumakustik

    aPerf® pad

  • Schallsauger FRAMELESS MOVEαw 1.00

    SCHALLSAUGER (KASPER GmbH)

    Schallsauger FRAMELESS MOVE

  • Acoustic Room Dividerαw 0.95

    freiraum Akustik

    Acoustic Room Divider

  • B11 Rotary Wallαw 0.95

    B11

    B11 Rotary Wall

  • Desk Partitionsαw 0.95

    freiraum Akustik

    Desk Partitions

  • raumAKUSTIKS Acoustic Partition Screenαw 0.90

    raumAKUSTIKS

    raumAKUSTIKS Acoustic Partition Screen

  • raumAKUSTIKS Desk Absorberαw 0.90

    raumAKUSTIKS

    raumAKUSTIKS Desk Absorber

  • raumAKUSTIKS Partition Wallαw 0.90

    raumAKUSTIKS

    raumAKUSTIKS Partition Wall

  • raumAKUSTIKS Partition Wallαw 0.90

    raumAKUSTIKS

    raumAKUSTIKS Partition Wall

  • 244 Bass Trapαw 1.00

    GIK Acoustics

    244 Bass Trap

  • Absorber CSαw 0.95

    Gerriets

    Absorber CS

  • B11 Cube

    B11

    B11 Cube

Screen types compared

Screen types compared
EffectTypical αwHeightBest for
Floor screen (freestanding)Interrupts direct speech transfer and shields whole zones0.7–1.0 (both sides)From approx. 1.5 m, for the seated line of sightOpen space, zoning, room division
Desk-mounted screenDamps speech right at the workstation, short sound path0.5–0.9 (both sides)Approx. 0.4–0.6 m above the desk edgeBench desks, double and row desking
Mobile partition (rolling)Flexible shielding, repositioned at short notice0.6–1.0 (both sides)Usually 1.6–2.0 m with castorsChanging layouts, temporary meeting zones

How high does an acoustic screen need to be?

What matters is the line of sight between the heads of seated people. A screen only shields direct sound effectively once it breaks that line. For two people sitting opposite each other, about 1.5 m of total height is often enough; for standing passers-by or real zone separation, considerably more. A desk-mounted screen needs roughly 0.4 to 0.6 m above the desk edge for this.

Placement matters just as much: the screen belongs as close to the sound source as possible, that is directly between the two workstations, not in the middle of the room. The shorter the unshielded sound path, the stronger the effect.

A screen does not replace ceiling or wall absorption

A screen reduces the direct sound path, not the sound reflected via ceiling and walls. In a reverberant room these reflections travel over the screen, and the level gain at the neighbouring desk stays small. That is why screens work best as a complement to a damped ceiling, not as a substitute.

In practice: treat the ceiling and large wall areas with broadband absorbers first, then use screens to shield the direct speech transfer between workstations. A reliable design is derived from the reverberation time in the room.

What to look for in the measurement data

The decisive figure is the weighted sound absorption coefficient αw, ideally backed by a reverberation-chamber measurement. Screens often absorb on both faces, and the αw refers to the absorber surface. A high αw helps little, though, if the screen is too low or badly placed, because the shielding of the direct path is then missing.

Fire safety is relevant depending on the building and mandatory in escape routes. The fire class (from non-combustible to easily flammable) is filterable.

Frequently asked questions

Do acoustic screens really reduce office noise?+

Yes, but only the direct sound path. A screen that absorbs on both faces shields the speech transfer between neighbouring workstations and reduces distraction. It does not replace ceiling absorption, though: in a reverberant room reflections travel over the screen. The most effective approach is a damped ceiling combined with well-placed screens.

How high must a screen be and where do I place it?+

The screen must break the line of sight between the heads of seated people, often from about 1.5 m of total height for people sitting opposite each other. A desk-mounted screen needs roughly 0.4 to 0.6 m above the desk edge. Place the screen as close to the sound source as possible, directly between the workstations, not in the middle of the room.

Do screens absorb on both sides?+

Acoustic screens are usually built to absorb on both faces, so they soak up sound from both neighbouring desks instead of reflecting it. The stated αw refers to the absorber surface. Pure visual dividers or screens faced only on one side perform worse, so it pays to check the construction and the measured value.

Do screens replace ceiling absorbers?+

No. Screens damp the direct sound path between desks, not the sound reflected via ceiling and walls. Without a damped ceiling the room stays reverberant and the gain at the neighbouring desk is small. Treat the ceiling and large wall areas with broadband absorbers first, then use screens to shield speech transfer specifically.

Are there mobile or desk-mounted options?+

Yes. Freestanding floor screens separate whole zones, mobile versions on castors can be repositioned at short notice, and desk-mounted screens damp speech right at the workstation. Choose the type by use: fixed zoning, flexible layout or bench desk. In the search you can filter for freestanding partitions and compare them by αw.

Which fire class should a partition have?+

It depends on the building. In ordinary offices fire safety is rarely mandatory, but it is required in escape routes and certain public buildings. The decisive figure is the fire class (from non-combustible to easily flammable). You can filter by minimum fire class in the search.

Find matching screens

Compare all freestanding partitions and room dividers with measurement data and filter by αw, material and fire class.

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