Embrace Best-in-Class Office Design Through Sound Masking

It’s no surprise that how your office is built and laid out has a big effect on efficiency. Your productivity is impacted by the nature of your space in small ways every day. Not only does the office impact how long it takes to get from one place to the next. It also has profound influence on how your employees perceive your business and overall morale.

Even if you have a small office, making the most of your space allows employees to take greater pride in their work. One way to do that is by managing noise levels in the workplace.

There are three ways a structure directly impacts noise management:

1. Absorption
Acoustic wall panels, carpet, and ceiling tiles help absorb excess sound. This is great if there are several offices side by side. Carpet and ceiling tiles are relatively modest investments with lots of options. Installing new wall panels can be costly and time-consuming, however.

2. Blockage
Solid barriers such as partitions and walls enable some sound blockage. Unfortunately, the turn toward open plan offices has undermined this method. Even though partitions can be moved easily, they provide limited blockage if they do not reach up to the ceiling.

3. Cover
Sound masking systems offer customizable approaches to covering excess sound. This is the area you have the most influence over as a business leader: Sound masking can be implemented fast and inexpensively. It also adapts easily to changes in your office over time.

With sound masking, everyone benefits – and you don’t have to invest millions rebuilding your office down the line.

Sound Masking Balances Performance And Versatility
A business sound masking system consists of speakers that emit specialized low-grade sound similar in principle to white noise. The system reduces the “radius of distraction” caused by talking in the work environment, making distant conversations unintelligible.

A properly fine-tuned system also has benefits from the perspective of the person speaking. While normal conversation is not affected, it is more difficult to be overheard. This helps keep confidential information safe. Speech privacy is essential in today’s business world!

There are two ways to implement acoustic masking in the average office:

1. Direct Sound Field Masking
Installing speakers overhead in a direct field position ensures the masking effect is more evenly distributed through the space. This approach requires the most speakers: They point downward from the ceiling, emitting the masking field directly into the office. It’s crucial to note that even in this more direct approach, employees are never aware of the masking sound field itself.

2. Indirect Acoustic Masking
Indirect masking enables you to conceal your system more completely if you wish. The speakers are placed above the drop ceiling. Sound masking is directed upwards, bounces off the ceiling, and enters the work environment. A smaller number of more powerful speakers can be used.

Optimizing Your Acoustic Environment To Improve Morale
Whether direct or indirect masking is right for you depends on a number of factors. That not only includes the size of your space and number of employees, but the construction of your ceiling and the shape of rooms to be covered.

At Atlantic Communications Team, we have a deep understanding of sound masking’s true capabilities. We will work with you to understand your needs and craft the right system for your enterprise.

To learn more or get started, just contact us today.