Sound Masking In The Busy Office

It is noted that about 50 million Americans do their job in open plan offices. Cubicles usually make better use of space and improve communication flow, but 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 the advantage of decreasing disturbances and providing a comfortable working atmosphere. It is easy to set up a sound masking system in new or existing facilities of any size and it offers a better way of resolving acoustic troubles at low cost without requiring any structural changes.

One example of sound masking occurs when you attempt to talk over the sound of running water. If you run water in the sink in your kitchen, it will be difficult to talk to someone in the next room since the sound of the running water actually increases the sound in your room. You will be aware that your partner is speaking but not know what is being said.

It could potentially be of help to know that a noise floor is simply the level of regular sound current in an environment. It can be wearisome and annoying if it is too high, but, if the noise floor is too low, it can be very easy to hear distracting noises and conversations.

Privacy can be achieved via masking, 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. Thus these systems can successfully drown out irritating sounds while not being disruptive themselves.

It is said that about 50 million Americans do their job in open plan offices, and suffer considerable interruption as a result. Cubicles usually make better use of space and improve communication flow, but they are an acoustic challenge. The main benefit of sound masking includes reduced conversational distractions, and a more relaxed working atmosphere. Thus, privacy can be achieved via masking, which establishes a noise level sufficient to hide intrusive noises, but sufficiently low so as not to be bothersome. Modern buildings with absorptive walls and quiet machines have decreased the ambient level of office noise, reducing interruptions considerably.

- Bruce Davidson