Privacy Testing

What’s Your Speech Transmission Index?

Building Systems Solutions provides testing services to companies that need or wish to evaluate the speech privacy within their facility. Speech privacy testing can be done in facilities with or without a current sound masking system. We can test within private offices, hallways, and open-office areas to determine the current speech privacy levels.

If your organization is in an industry where oral privacy is a necessity, such as in the health care, financial, or legal fields, testing your facility for speech privacy standards can help show due diligence in compliance with national speech privacy regulations like HIPAA. Contact us today to book a testing!

Workplace Acoustical Measurement and Standards

We use the Speech Transmission Index (STI) as an objective measurement of speech intelligibility in your workspace.

ASTM International sets industry standards on acceptable speech intelligibility measurement methods, ratings, and protocol. Building Systems Solutions complies with all industry standards and uses best practices when testing your space for speech privacy. Call us at 763-502-1515, or fill out the contact form here to schedule a testing.

HIPPA Standards: Oral Privacy in Health Care Facilities

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 established privacy and security rules that protect the health information of patients in certain “covered entities” like clinics, hospitals, health insurance companies, and government programs. These covered entities must show due diligence in complying with HIPAA Privacy Standards.

One of the most convenient and cost-effective ways health care facilities can show due diligence with HIPAA Standards is to install a fully-customized sound masking system. Sound masking makes speech unintelligible beyond 15 to 20 feet in open spaces, keeping conversations with and about patients confidential. Sound masking can also provide privacy in private offices and consultation rooms. Sound masking will travel through the plenum above private offices and reduce the amount of conversation that can be heard from room to room, allowing for greater speech privacy. Contact us today to book a privacy testing.

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act: Oral Privacy in Financial Institutions

In 1999, Congress passed the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) to ensure that financial institutions properly protect the financial information of their customers. The act applies to banks, credit unions, savings and loans institutions, insurance companies, and securities firms, among other institutions.

According to GLBA regulations, financial institutions must:

  • Keep customer information secure and private.
  • Protect customer information from threats or hazards to security, including unauthorized access.
  • Explain how they use customers’ personal information and when they share it.
  • Explain how they protect the confidentiality and security of customers’ personal information.
  • Explain when customers can opt out of information sharing when allowed by law.

Sound masking can help financial institutions comply with GLBA regulations and show due diligence in protecting their customers’ financial information. Sound masking makes speech unintelligible beyond 15 to 20 feet in open spaces, keeping conversations with and about customers confidential. Sound masking can also provide privacy in private offices. Sound masking will travel through the plenum above private offices and reduce the amount of conversation that can be heard from room to room, allowing for greater speech privacy.

Ready to book a testing? Please give us a call at 763-502-1515, or send us an email.

Book a Testing

Sound masking is easier to install and more economical than conventional soundproofing methods to obtain greater speech privacy in office spaces. To receive more information on our speech privacy testing services, or to book a testing, please contact us via phone or email.

Words From Satisified Customers

We have worked with BSS on several sound masking projects for our clients with successful results. The process begins with a well-designed layout and an accurate budget. That way the client knows exactly what they are getting and can adjust as needed. Their team is responsive and great to work with during the install process. After install BSS schedules a tutorial with the client on how to use their new sound masking system. Because BSS is a leader in product and design the client receives an intuitive system thus another satisfied client.

Heather Weerheim
Greiner Construction