Sound and acoustics

All undesirable sound is called noise. These can be sounds that are “only” annoying or sounds that are harmful to hearing.

Noise can be a problem in many workplaces - in industry and agriculture, in offices, restaurants and bars, in concert halls, gyms, kindergartens and schools.

Loud noise can damage hearing both temporarily and permanently, causing hearing loss, tinnitus or sound hypersensitivity. Noise can also be tiring, stressful and affect performance. Noise can also make it difficult to have a conversation and increase the risk of accidents due to people not hearing important sounds.

Disturbing noise and poor acoustics can cause stress

Poor acoustics and unnecessary noise can cause stress, fatigue and difficulty concentrating. Anyone who talks a lot at work and has to drown out other sounds may experience problems with their vocal cords.
If the background noise is loud, it becomes more difficult to perceive the sounds you want to hear.

Disturbing noise can come from

  • other people talking
  • steps and doors that slam
  • ventilation, printers and copiers
  • traffic outside.

When talking, it is easy to raise your voice if the background noise is loud, which in turn contributes to a higher sound level.

Proper acoustics reduce the risk of damage

It is important to plan for good acoustics and sound environment in the workplace. By identifying noise sources and how the risks associated with them can be minimised at an early stage of the planning process, the risk of damage can be reduced. This applies to both hearing-impairing and disturbing sounds. It is also important to plan the sound environment according to the hearing demands of the work tasks and the circumstances of the employees.

  • The most economical and effective method is usually to limit the noise at the sound source. It is also appropriate to separate noisy and quiet activities, either through separate premises or by dividing the premises into separate spaces with soundproofing and sound-absorbing walls or screens.

    In office and laboratory environments, noise from fixed installations and devices can be disruptive. It is therefore important to place such equipment so that it causes as little disturbance as possible.

    Disturbing noise can be limited by

    • designing the premises properly
    • choosing floor coverings that are quiet
    • putting up sound absorbers on ceilings and walls
    • choosing sound-absorbing fittings and furniture.

    It is especially important to limit disruptive noise in environments where work tasks require concentration or where employees need to be able to carry on conversations undisturbed.

    However, the measures must not mean that the premises collect dust and become difficult to clean. For example, a lot of textiles have a negative effect on air quality because they collect a lot of dust.

  • In addition to noise from mechanical equipment, the human voice is also a source of noise. For example, in preschools and after-school centres with playing children, the children's voices and screams can not only be both disturbing and tiring but also sometimes pose a risk of hearing damage. It is therefore important that the premises are designed with this in mind.

    Speech and voices in an office environment can also be disruptive, especially in open-plan offices. Consideration needs to be given to the type of activity, room acoustics, sound propagation, and the placement and shielding of disturbing sound sources. Employees also need to be placed based on individual conditions and need for communication or privacy.

    Teaching premises need to be particularly well designed

    In rooms intended for spoken communication, such as teaching rooms, acoustics are particularly important for how the room functions and what the work environment will be like. It is therefore important that such premises have an appropriate reverberation time and are otherwise designed so that speech can be easily understood. For good speech intelligibility, it is also important that the background noise is at a low level.

    Minimise disturbing noise even in break areas

    In order for employees to be able to recover and have the opportunity to talk in an undisturbed environment, it is important that staff areas such as dining areas and break rooms are also designed and furnished so that problems with disturbing noise are minimised.

Fix noisy installations

Noise from machinery and noisy equipment can be minimised by setting them up on sprung elements or rubber bushings. This applies to fans, lift machinery, motors and compressors, for example. In this way, the spread of sound to surrounding parts of the building is limited.

Fan-controlled ventilation systems often cause noise. Even low levels of ventilation noise are disturbing and can lead to impaired performance and cognitive strain in connection with tasks that require concentration. It is therefore important to design the system so that it makes as little noise as possible.

The choice of fans and silencers, the design of fan inlets, the fan layout, the design and positioning of dampers and the design and size of diffusers and ducts all affect noise levels. In ventilation installations where large air masses are set in motion, infrasound can be generated, which can pose risks to health.

Last updated 2025-12-03