German workplace rules set noise limits according to the kind of work. The technical rule ASR A3.7, published in 2018, defines three categories. Category I is work that needs hohe Konzentration oder hohe Sprachverständlichkeit, high concentration or clear understanding of speech. Examples are scientific and creative work, translating and correcting complex texts, and meetings in conference rooms. For this work, the noise level may not exceed 55 dB(A). General office work falls into category II, which has a higher limit.