Startup News Magazine

6 Tips for a Better Sound Environment in Built Spaces

Several scientific studies indicate that controlling noise and the sound environment in constructed places is critical — for general health, well-being, and productivity. According to the Leesman Index, one of the world’s largest and most ongoing assessments of office workers, over 70% of the workforce today is dissatisfied with the levels of noise in the workplace. It is a significant enough figure to prompt us to create solutions and seek immediate changes in our working surroundings. So, here are some easy and thought-provoking ideas to help you build a better workstation.

#1 Start with the Why

Actions should begin with a well-defined why or the rationale for doing it. It is simple to understand why having a pleasant acoustic environment at the office helps everyone: employers, employees, and society at large. According to research, a good sound environment results in:

  • Increased well-being and less fatigue
  • Enhanced job satisfaction
  • Concentration was made easier, and communication was made easier.
  • Stress hormones are reduced.
  • Errors are reduced, and accuracy is improved.

#2 There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Solution

Depending on the design of the workplace and the activities that take place within it, each office has various requirements for enhancing the sound environment. To prioritise acoustic measures, improvements should begin with assessing office workers’ demands and everyday activities. Consider the impact of re-designing a workplace, such as converting it into an activity-based office, and seize the chance to improve the acoustic environment. Some common denominators in workplaces with a good sound environment include mentioning a few, a policy against small chat, distinct locations for quiet work and socialising, and high-quality sound-absorbing walls and ceilings.

#3 Find the Sources of Noise Pollution

Noise is created in particular regions of offices. By positioning acoustic materials and sound absorbers as close to the noise source as feasible, you may maximise the impact on the sound environment. Noise from coworkers is a common source of disruption. According to a recent ‘Saint-Gobain Ecophon’ poll of office employees in Germany and Sweden, small chat is the most bothersome noise, followed by keyboard sounds and repetitive tapping on the floor. Informal gatherings, informal small talk, and sounds from the cafeteria are frequently irritating. It is critical that individuals who interact sit near each other, even if different workgroups are acoustically separated.

#4 Never Compromise on Quality

Acoustic absorbing panels on hard surfaces, particularly walls and ceilings, have a significant influence on the sound environment of a workplace and the health, well-being, and productivity of those who work there. However, there is a significant variation between different panels manufactured of various materials. The safest option is to choose an acoustic material with an absorption grade of w (Alpha w) = 0.9 or above – also known as class A. Other quality factors to consider are indoor air quality, fire safety, and sustainability performance. Products are evaluated based on their compliance with third-party certifications.

#5 Think Three-Dimensionally

Because sound moves in 3D, a good place to start is to glance about and above. The ceiling, like the sky, should disperse sound rather than reflect it. Sounds are prone to bouncing off hard surfaces. Adding sound absorbers to at least one of two opposing walls can improve the acoustic environment in conference rooms and open areas.

#6 Use Nature as a Hallmark

Our sense of hearing has been tuned for outside situations through thousands of years of development. Today, we spend over 90% of our time indoors in sound settings that are foreign to our hearing. Mr. Prateek Tandon, who leads the Saint-Gobain Ecophon acoustic solutions business in India, says, “This has a definite influence on our overall well-being and performance unless certain special precautions are taken.” Indoor settings may be deliberately constructed to mimic natural noises, allowing us to try to bring the outside in.” Biophilic workplace design (biophilia means “love of nature”) has demonstrated long-term benefits for office workers. This can be accomplished indirectly, such as replicating outside sound environments through acoustic planning, or in a more direct manner, such as including natural components in interior spaces.