The main acoustic source of disturbance in an open-plan area is usually speech. It is therefore important that people who need to communicate sit near each other while, at the same time, different work groups must be sufficiently separated acoustically not to disturb each other.
Peamine akustilise segamise allikas avatud planeeringuga ruumis on tavaliselt kõne. Seepärast on tähtis, et inimesed, kes peavad omavahel suhtlema, istuksid üksteisele lähedal, samal ajal kui eri töörühmad oleksid piisavalt eraldatud, et nad üksteist ei segaks.