The office should ideally be a place where people can concentrate to ensure as much work is done as possible, but the presence of noise can quickly impact this. Regardless of the volume, focus and productivity can be impacted by both white noise and competing noises, which should make it the priority of any organisation to quickly root out and manage these noise issues before work grinds to a halt. In this article, we take a look at acoustic insulation to give you a better idea if it’s the solution you need to improve your noisy work environment.
An introduction to sound insulation
Although you might think ceiling, wall or floor insulation installation sounds like a hassle, it is perhaps the best way to reduce all of the reverberation that occurs with unwanted sounds. Acoustic insulation works by absorbing sounds, rather than reflecting them. All of the hard surfaces that usually make up in office spaces usually just reflect any sound that is created nearby, which is how the background noises that so readily distract office workers are created. Acoustic insulation specifically designed for office environments can actually be custom made to fit a wide range of spaces and design needs, which allows superior sound absorbing potential to be possible in any working environment. There is obviously a cost attached, and it is one that becomes larger with the space, so organisations need to consider for themselves if this cost is worth their large investment. For many, it will be – although there is evidently a cost upfront, acoustic insulation should be treated as an investment. This is because it allows office spaces to benefit from reduced echoes and sound resonance, removes unwanted sounds that cause distraction and it also improves the quality all of the important sounds that an office might make use of, such as specific voices. Plus, sound insulation can work to improve the visual appeal and aesthetics of a work environment, which makes it an even better bargain!
The effectiveness of sound insulation
The effectiveness of sound insulation can vary to a wide extent, but that shouldn’t be taken as an indication that it can be ineffective – instead, it means that the products used should be highly tailored to the space to ensure that an environment gets the most out of its sound insulation. For example, large and open environments create the most unwanted noise due to their design so readily carrying noise, and sound insulation products designed to stop this specific relaying of noise an be considered most helpful. in choosing the right sound insulation products for your office, you should take the time to really consider all the factors that might influence sound, such as the design, layout and the materials used in the build of your office.
Where should you go from here?
If you’re considering outfitting your office space with sound insulation to prevent unwanted noise and increase productivity, although it might be tempting to do your own research and organise your own sound insulation products to save money, its best that you seek out an expert. Sound insulation should be treated as an investment, and knowing the right products for your space will help you prevent as much unwanted noise as possible.
