The Best Tips to Control Sound in the Office
Studies from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that noise in the workplace affects employees’ concentration, stress levels, and can lead to stress-related health conditions. Because of this, having a noisy office can greatly reduce focus and productivity. One way that you can fix this is by soundproofing your office.
Do you want to learn more about office soundproofing tips and products you can use? Keep reading this guide to office soundproofing for everything you need to know!
Understand Sound Masking vs. Sound Absorption
When you are learning how to soundproof an office, it is important that you understand the differences between the different sound reduction strategies. The two most common are sound masking and sound absorption.
Sound absorption works just like a sponge. It uses absorbing materials to take in the noise and keep it from bouncing off the walls. Some common sound absorption strategies include acoustic panels, soft wall furnishings, and more.
On the other hand, sound masking covers excess noise by adding more sound to the space. This makes the areas in your office feel quieter because you are unable to understand what people are saying. This ambient noise matches the sound frequency of speech, which helps reduce distractions from sounds.
Understanding the differences between these will help you find a soundproofing strategy that works best for you.
Add Acoustic Panels for Offices
One of the easiest ways that you can reduce sound is by adding acoustic panels into your offices. This type of noise reduction solution can be installed on your walls or ceilings to absorb the sound in your space.
Bare walls lead to increased echoing and a noisier office. By installing these panels, you can improve the look of your office while preventing noises from echoing on your walls. This is especially helpful in large spaces, like offices or conference rooms that can produce echoes.
Many of these acoustic panels come in many styles and colors so they will not detract from your interior design.
Use Thicker Carpeting
You can also use sound dampening flooring to improve the sound reduction in your office space. Using things like vinyl or thick carpeting can help you absorb the sound waves and keep them from bouncing off the walls.
Often, office spaces use thin carpet that is inexpensive and easy to clean. However, carpets can absorb noises, which will help with sound reverberation and echo. You can even invest in area rugs for each office space to keep your space quieter. By adding rugs or better carpeting, you can greatly reduce the noise pollution in your office space.
Place Partitions in Open Spaces
While open floor plans are increasingly common for office spaces, they are not a great option if you are worried about having a noisy office. If you have an open floor plan in your office, you can place partitions in these open spaces to keep your office quieter.
Desk partitions will keep your employees from talking too much to people sitting next to them, which will keep your office quieter. Plus, these office partitions will improve the privacy of your employees. If they are working on confidential information or want their privacy, having partitions will help them feel more comfortable and will enhance their productivity.
Seal Openings to Rooms
Another common cause of noisy offices is small openings or gaps in the walls. When you have an office with gaps around your outlets, air vents, or even under the doors, you will be much more likely to hear what is going on through the wall. There are many easy solutions to help you seal these openings. For example, you can use caulk to seal gaps around your air vents and electrical work.
You can also install a door sweep or door seal to keep sound waves from sneaking through your door. This weather-stripping will keep your workplace quieter by reducing sound transfer between rooms.
Use Soft Furnishings
To help absorb sound in any space, you can use soft furnishings. These will prevent sounds from transferring through walls and will help you keep your office space much quieter. For example, you can use soft wall hangings, like quilts, to keep your office quieter.
You can also use upholstered couches and chairs in your office to reduce noise. This way, you can improve the appearance of your office space while reducing noise at the same time.
Even things like curtains and other window treatments can help you block noise from inside and outside your office.
Noise-Proof the Ceiling
Finally, you need to find ways to noise-proof your ceilings. This is especially important if you have people working in spaces above your office. One of the most effective ways you can noise-proof a ceiling is by installing an acoustic drop ceiling.
These suspended ceilings can help you reduce noise pollution from floors and is especially helpful in large spaces that are prone to echoes. You can even fill the space between the old ceiling and the new panels with insulation which will provide even better noise cancellation.
Need Help with Finding a Solution
When you want to quiet down a noisy office, it can be difficult to know where to start. By learning more about each of these office soundproofing materials and tactics, it can be much easier to have a quiet space.
ERCO can help! We provide soundproofing solutions from suspended ceilings to acoustic panels and more. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of soundproofing an office and to get an estimate for our soundproofing solutions for your space.
