How to Minimise Loud Office Sounds

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From keyboards clicking to phones ringing, overlapping conversations and the rustle of paperwork, the hum of office work can often be loud and all-consuming.

Loud workplace noise is one of the biggest killers of productivity and can lead to burnout caused by increased stress levels. Noise is what’s known as an ambient stressor. It’s something that’s persistent, and no matter how hard we try, it’s often hard to control, and because of this, noisier environments only get noisier over time; this is what’s known as the Lombard Effect. Rather than reducing the noise, people try to get louder than the noise, which only exacerbates the problem. However, not all noise is bad. Working in a completely silent environment can have the same effect as working in the loudest of environments because, as they say, the silence can be deafening. You need to strike the right balance between silence and background noise so that it’s not distracting and you can remain focused and productive.

Why do you need good office acoustics?

Good office acoustics make problematic noise a thing of the past without completely eradicating the noise and creating a deafening silence. It allows you to minimise loud office noise and create a peaceful and quiet environment that is conducive to comprehensible communication and productive, focused work.

Office acoustics relates to how sound moves around the room. Empty rooms or rooms with little in them are louder and more echoey as there’s nothing to absorb this sound, and it bounces around the room off the walls and the ceiling, but it’s not like you’re going to work in a completely empty room you do need some sort of working surface.

Once you start to fill out the space, the noise reduces as there’s essentially less space for the sound to move around. This issue becomes prevalent in open-plan offices. With no additional walls or objects that can block or absorb sound, it essentially has more room to move around and create echoes, reverberation and loud background noises that can all equate to noise distraction. It’s not exactly practical to build fixed walls to try and counteract this problem because not only would there be a great cost involved, but you will also lose your open-plan layout.

Benefits of acoustic partitions or panelling

While more prevalent in open-plan offices due to how sound moves, it can also be a problem in shared offices and blocks of offices because the sound still bounces off the walls. A less permanent solution to enhance your office acoustics and reduce noise is acoustic partitions or panelling. The softer materials of the partition or panelling help reduce the echoes, reverberation and background noise by either absorbing or blocking sounds, which reduces their overall impact. Because they only absorb or block sound, the partitions or panelling don’t fully eradicate noise or create a completely soundproof room, so you’re not creating that deafening silence.

Partitions or panelling, when used in conjunction with other sound-absorbing objects such as carpets or fabric chairs, become even more effective at absorbing sound. You may be well aware that the main purpose of partitions is to create or maintain some privacy in the office rather than reducing noise. In an open plan or shared office, this is where partitions shine. Not only do they allow you to reduce noise levels, but they also allow you to add privacy to the space without losing your open-plan layout. By adding partitions, you can almost zone your office space and create dedicated quiet or collaboration zones for people to work in, depending on their needs.

While these are the main benefits of partitions as a bonus, they can also help improve your office aesthetics. Available in a wide range of colours, your partitions can allow you to add a pop of colour or vibrancy or even be matched to your business colours to enhance your office space and possibly make it less plain.

Popular acoustic partitioning and panelling options

acoustiQ Screens

  • Formaldehyde free
  • Made from recycled material
  • Compatible with TextileSafe™ anti-microbial treatment
  • Impact resistant
  • Humidity and moisture resistant
  • Printed panel options available
  • High speed panel cutting services using the latest European technology
  • Available in a wide range of colours and sizes
  • 10mm thick
  • 2kg density per square meter
  • Certification/ Testing:
  • Fire rated to BS EN 13501.1 Classification: B-S1, D0
  • Weighted Sound Absorption Coefficient: 0.95

 

acoustiQ Wooden Slat Panels

  • Combines aesthetics with functionality
  • Eco friendly
  • Sourced from sustainable products
  • Durable 9mm thick polyester fibre panel base topped with 12mm thick MDF board slats
  • 27mmW slats with a 13mm gap
  • Reduces ambient noise levels
  • Adds a modern touch to interiors
  • Can be easily mounted to the ceilings and walls

 

SK Acoustic/Sound Barrier Partitions

  • Exceptionally high sound absorption
  • Breaks down sound waves and traps them inside the acoustic lining
  • Made using Soundmesh G8 that is thin and tough with unique acoustic and fireproof properties
  • 6mm thick polyester soundmesh lining
  • Fixed to a 39mm MDF frame
  • Covered with Rim Trilogy One fabric

 

All Storage Systems have got you covered for all your acoustic partitioning or panelling needs. We can help you find the perfect solution that will allow you to reduce noise in your office and possibly add in extra privacy to create a focused and productive atmosphere. Contact our expert team today to discover how we can help.

Commercial & Corporate Office Furniture Fitouts Melbourne

We’ve worked with clients across a range of industries to create inspiring workplaces. Let us help you transform your office or retail space. Request a consultation now. We’ve worked with clients across a range of industries to create inspiring workplaces. Let us help you transform your office or retail space. Request a consultation now.


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