Are Office Acoustics Important?
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Office acoustics aren’t something that most employers or employees think about or consider very often. Does this lack of consideration mean that office acoustics aren’t important?
What are Acoustics?
Acoustics, in a technical term, is defined as: ‘the properties or qualities of a room or building that determine how sound is transmitted in it’. In simpler terms, acoustics is the way sound behaves within a space. There are numerous ways to manipulate this behaviour, both positively and negatively, depending on internal factors of the environment.
Acoustics VS Soundproofing
In a nutshell, acoustic solutions aim to absorb noise to improve the quality of sound within the room, whereas soundproofing solutions work to keep sound from being transmitted from one room to another.
Whether you need acoustic treatment or soundproofing treatment is entirely dependent on what you’re looking to achieve. If you’re hoping to stop people outside of a room from hearing in – you need soundproofing. If you’re looking to improve the sound quality and noise levels within a room – you need acoustic treatment.
How Acoustic Panels Affect Offices
Excessive Reverberation
The biggest issue that environments with a lack of acoustic properties face, is reverberation. Excessive reverberation causes interior sound to become muddled and lose its articulation. Along with clarity, a high reverberation time will cause a build-up of noise in the space, leading to an uncomfortably loud environment.
"Loud environments make concentration difficult"
Communication Problems
Once a high reverberation time is established, being able to hear people clearly or from far away can become near impossible in larger spaces. This isn’t ideal in offices or workspaces where communication and teamwork play an important role in the completion of tasks.
Comfort
Peace and quiet is the base of a comfortable working environment. Trying to concentrate with an abundance of background noise can be extremely difficult and quickly leads to an unproductive work environment. Without anything to absorb the excess background noise, such as acoustic panels or acoustic screens, the high quantity of small noises will build up and cause big problems.
Controlling Office Acoustics: is it Important?
"Acoustically treated office"
Considering the potential impact bad acoustics has on a space (poor concentration, communication problems, overall discomfort etc.) we’d say for certain that controlling office acoustics is essential. If you want an office that facilities a quiet and productive, but still collaborative, work environment then acoustically treating your office is exactly what you need to do.