Over the years we have witnessed innovative advancements in building standards in order to comply with environmental policies. However, until recently, strategies which benefit human wellbeing have unfortunately not had such a prominent impact.
Today, wellbeing is becoming increasingly important in regard to building practices and there is a significant demand for workspaces that benefit employee health. Alongside major acousticians, at Elite Acoustics we endorse both The Well Building Standard and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) and believe sound acoustics have a major impact on employee well being. For this reason, sound masking systems have become an increasingly popular choice for office workspaces.
Sound masking systems pose several benefits for commercial environments. The absence of sound masking and the presence of ambient noise can be a source of acoustic dissatisfaction amongst employees. Quiet settings can impede employee productivity due to the decrease in speech privacy and highlighting disturbances. In fact, this setting can be equally disruptive as a louder environment. Below we discuss the benefits of implementing a sound masking system within your office:
Privacy
Sound masking systems provide a low-frequency background noise increases privacy and reassures employees that conversations can remain confidential. Matching background noise to the frequency of human speech can create a more pleasant environment which will have a positive impact on workflow. Employers can also benefit from knowing that any sensitive information is safeguarded to space immediately beyond the conversation.
Without sound masking, sound transmission can be difficult to control. Meetings and conferences may be overheard by other office employees, not only can this be quite distracting but could mean sensitive information is indirectly broadcast. Employing sound reduction methods and integrating a sound masking system can provide reassurance that confidential matters remain private.
Fewer Distractions
Sound masking can support a more comfortable and relaxing work environment by minimising distractions. By effectively masking noise, interruptions are less impactful and are less likely to disrupt employees. Again, a reduction in interruptions will have a positive impact on employee productivity. In fact, many researches show that Sound masking has improved worker performance by nearly 10% by reducing conversational distractions.
Compatible
Despite the wide variety of office spaces that differ in size or shape, sound masking is compatible with most areas. With the ability to detect ambient noise, sound masking devices control room noise based on the environment they are situated. As stated by, The Well Building Standard, if using a sound masking system offices with open workspaces fall with a range of 45 – 48 dBA and enclosed offices fall between 40 – 42 dBA.
Final Thoughts
At Elite Acoustics, we highly recommend implementing sound masking within commercial buildings to preserve acoustic quality. Improved workplace acoustics has a direct impact on employee health and wellbeing and is worth considering for your office.
