Nicholas Jones looks at solutions to bad acoustics in the workplace
What’s that you say? Acoustics in the workplace: we only notice noise when it’s bad! With open-plan layouts the main culprit, there’s plenty that can be done to improve in-office acoustics for worker wellbeing and privacy...
Words by Nicholas Jones
Nowadays the workplace is more than just a place of work - it's a home away from home. As a result we are seeing workplaces evolve to incorporate a variety of uses, with most employees working in open-plan spaces that are not only more efficient and adaptable, but better for collaboration and team work.
We are also recognising that the built environment can and should support our physical and mental health, and it's therefore essential when delivering these spaces that design solutions help create an environment that best supports employee performance, productivity and wellbeing.
As an industry, we do still have some way to go. A recent Wellbeing at Work Study by the British Council for Offices (BCO) states that more than a quarter of UK employees (26 per cent) find the acoustics in their office unpleasant, while 77 per cent of those blame this on a noisy open-plan environment. Noise can be a major distraction and source of frustration and stress - it's something we only tend to notice when it's bad - and while factors affecting acoustics are all intertwined, one sound in particular causes the biggest source of distraction: other people's voices. Ideally we need to take a holistic, systematic approach to the acoustical design of office spaces, to ensure the design mitigates noise issues from the outset.
But this isn't always the case, and some problems can present themselves over time. In these circumstances there are some simple solutions to help create a balanced ambience, including more screening between workstations; dividing spaces up - from the quiet areas for concentrative work to the breakout spaces that support creativity and team work; and acoustic rafts and panels that help reduce overall reverberation and noise levels.
Bad acoustics isn't just noticeable when it's too noisy - it's also an issue when it's too quiet. Low ambient background sound can be distracting, and being overheard becomes a big privacy issue. To counteract this problem, a sound-masking system can be used, raising the background levels so that voices or sounds that have decayed to a level below the masking will be covered up and go unheard.
This doesn't necessarily prevent a person from hearing another person speak, but it does inhibit their ability to understand what is being said, which increases the feeling of privacy and in turn reduces distraction.
Workplace trends may change over time, but open plan is here to stay. That means noise is too. It's therefore essential that design teams take a holistic approach by including acoustics in their planning, so that end-users are able to provide a more productive and satisfying environment for their workers.
