Sound Masking: A Privacy Must
Approximately 50 million Americans work in open plan offices. Open plan offices are environments in which workers do their job in closely-grouped cubicles. Though these cubicles are more space-efficient and improve the communication between workers, they are an acoustic challenge.
Conventional walls are being replaced by modular workstations, as more workers are using the same working space, and everyone is seated in close proximity to one another. You will also see, though, that modern building methods, along with absorptive actions, and quiet machines, have decreased the ambient level of office noise, reducing the volume considerably.
Sound masking - often referred to as "white noise" - has been a particularly successful solution. A sound masking system contains a set of speakers that produce an engineered background sound all through the facility. This hum is for the most part frequently compared to that of gently blowing air.
Sound masking has many benefits the most significant of which is reduced distractions with conversations and a more relaxed working environment. Sound masking can be easily set up and fits easily into new or existing facilities regardless of size. It provides a very efficient and affordable way to tackle acoustic troubles without having to perform structural modifications.
If you try to run water in your sink while trying to converse with someone in the adjacent room, you will be aware of how sound masking works. You will know that your partner is talking, but it is hard to understand what is being said since the running water in the kitchen has increased the sound in your area.
At this point, we should discuss the definition of a "noise floor". This term is used by sound engineers to describe the ambient sound level in your environment. If it is too high, you might be annoyed by the "background noise". Conversely, if it is too low, typical sounds such as people talking in the distance might become a nuisance.
Masking is a way of ensuring privacy, producing a noise level adequate to conceal noises, but not high enough to produce discomfort, with decibel levels generally between 42 to 48 dBA. By doing this, a system can effectively mask sounds, without being a distraction itself.
Conventional walls are being replaced by modular workstations, as more workers are using the same working space, and everyone is seated in close proximity to one another. You will also see, though, that modern building methods, along with absorptive actions, and quiet machines, have decreased the ambient level of office noise, reducing the volume considerably. The main benefit of sound masking includes reduced conversational distractions and a normally more relaxed working atmosphere. Through masking privacy can be achieved, which establishes a noise level sufficient to hide intrusive noises, but sufficiently low so as not to be bothersome, usually in the range of 42-48 dBA.
Published June 20th, 2008
Filed in Business, Management
