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As workspaces are reaching full capacity again and facilities are implementing new space plans to follow health and safety protocol, noise levels will fluctuate and ultimately rise. It is critical to consider acoustics and managing noise to maximize productivity as you return to work.

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Noise has a tremendous effect on employee well-being and productivity.

 

Unwanted noise in the workplace creates fatigue, increases stress, and can cause aggression in employees. Upset, noise-fatigued workers hurt your bottom line relative to healthcare costs, lost productivity, and employee satisfaction. Investing in acoustics is investing in your people, fostering healthy, productive minds to boost your operations. 

 

Speech is a major distraction in the workplace.

 

Even when the topic is not relevant to an employee, the mind subconsciously tunes into a conversation and tries to “decode” the language. Speech and other sounds are amplified by highly reflective surfaces and funneled or bounced back and forth between walls and other parallel surfaces. Combating traveling noise and minimizing volume can reduce employee stress, therefore increasing productivity and bettering work results. We recommend using the ABC strategy to reduce harmful noise in the workplace.

 

 

A: Absorb sound to minimize noise.

 

Stop traveling sound by using porous materials on all six surfaces of a room. Free-standing vertical surfaces and hung acoustic baffles reduce the reverberation of sound, minimizing amplified noises. Fabric, draperies, carpeting, and furnishings immensely absorb sound in the workplace and can be curated to fit your brand’s aesthetic.  

 

B: Block sound between noise-generating activities and workspaces.

 

Partition systems are beneficial in creating designated, enclosed spaces for quiet or collaborative work. Falkbuilt utilizes Digital Component Construction to create modular partitioned areas that are easily installed and reconfigured to accommodate future needs. Falkbuilt rooms feature double-glazed glass and solid walls to block outside noise from getting in and inside noise from getting out.

 

C: Cover noise with sound masking equipment.

 

Emitting pink noise, a continuous, ambient sound, masks and lowers the intelligibility of nearby noises. With facilities operating at lowered capacity, small noises may produce an out-of-proportion disturbance. Pink noise adds a smooth, soothing background sound to minimize the intensity of noise in a quiet space. 

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Sources:

Extremely Quiet or Incredibly Loud k. talk – Victoria Cerami, CEO of Cerami

Noise at Work – White Paper Research, Knoll

 

How are your workplace acoustics?

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