Improving the sound environment in offices

The biggest source of noise in offices is other people. How loudly those around them speak is not so important, but what disrupts concentration is that the employees understand what is being said.

Noise is often cited as one of the biggest problems in office environments, especially disruptive speech from others. Extra care is therefore needed when designing premises of this type.

The sound environment is affected by a number of factors

Although there are no threshold limit values for, for example, disturbing speech in offices, much can be done to improve the sound environment.
Examples of things that employers need to take into account when it comes to the sound environment in office solutions:

• the type of business and the tasks to be performed
• the individual employees' conditions and need for communication or privacy
• the acoustics of the room and how sound propagates in the room
• the positioning and shielding of disruptive noise sources, such as printers and ventilation
• the possibility of limiting the occurrence of disturbing noise by making the right choice of surfaces and furnishings, for example
• the need for quiet rooms for conversations and work tasks that require concentration.

Absorbent material reduces noise levels

Absorbent materials prevent unnecessary sounds from occurring and spreading throughout the room. It is usually good if the room has a short reverberation time, i.e. the time it takes for the sound to quieten down in the room.

A shorter reverberation time can be achieved by using materials that absorb or dampen sound, such as textiles and absorbent screens. Soft carpets, especially in walkways, both prevent footfall and help absorb sound.

However, it is important to keep textiles clean and dust-free, otherwise they can cause discomfort for people with allergies.

Show consideration in open office spaces

Open office spaces may need “sound rules” to function well. If everyone understands how the acoustics work in the room, it is easier to show each other consideration.

• If the office space has half-height screens to separate workstations, sitting down to talk is usually less disruptive than standing up.
• Furniture can be arranged so as to create natural meeting places away from workplaces.
• Coffee and water vending machines and break areas are places where conversations easily occur. So it's good if they are located a bit out of the way.

Consider acoustics when planning the premises

When planning a workplace, it is important to think about what the acoustics in the finished space will be like.

• Place shared printers, copiers, coffee machines and the like that generate both heat and noise in a separate room with good ventilation. They should not be too close to anyone's workplace.
• Make sure that doors that many people use, such as those to printer rooms, toilets and stairwells, are not too close to anyone's workplace
• Open office spaces almost always need to be supplemented with separate rooms for conversations and phone calls. Such rooms should have good soundproofing. If the room has glass panels, it is easy to see if it is vacant.