Differences in thermal-acoustic perception in various office behaviors

Thermal-acoustic interaction has vital research value in the development of soundscape prediction models. Previous studies on thermal-acoustic interaction have been focused mainly on perceptual changes. However, the differences in office behaviors warrant attention. We conducted an experimental study to explore the effects of various office behaviors (such as resting, reading, writing, and typing) on the thermal-acoustic interactive perception. The results showed that (at near thermal neutral temperature) (1) sound types affected thermal evaluation, acoustic evaluation, and overall evaluation. The sound of water significantly reduced the score for thermal sensation. (2) Behavior types affected thermal sensation, acoustic comfort, and overall comfort. Reading contributed to significantly lower scores than other behaviors for the three indicators. This indicated that when reading, people are more demanding of the environment. (3) The interaction of sound types and behavior types affected overall annoyance. Therefore, we recommend adjusting the office environment effectively and establishing more effective soundscape prediction models.