What is sound masking and why do you need it?

In an office, noise is a problem. If it isn’t too much noise it’s not enough. Yes, not enough noise or to put a finer point on it, low ambient or background sound, is also a problem.

Post covid , offices are now too quiet too often and productivity and privacy are suffering.

There are 2 ways that low ambient sound effects an office space.

Firstly in open-plan office space low ambient sound makes conversations clearer. That’s great at short range when talking with your team but conversations further away that don’t involve you are also clear. Being interrupted by other conversations is simply the biggest problem with open-plan office space. After an interruption to your concentration it will take 10 minutes at best to refocus on the task. Repeated time after time throughout the day will significantly reduce productivity and increase stress and other related issues. If you ever feel the need to lower your voice when speaking to someone in your office so as not to disturb or be over heard by others, you have an ambient sound problem.

Secondly, low ambient sound reduces privacy. In the open, your conversations are more easily heard by others. Of course working for the same company this is possibly not an issue, however, if difficult client calls need to be made anxiety increases as you are aware everyone can hear you. In cellular space like boardrooms, meeting rooms or quiet rooms conversations can be overheard either by those outside or in adjacent rooms unless partitioning is of the highest quality.

So how does sound masking help?

Sound masking is a technology consisting of speakers suspended from the ceiling either visible or above a suspended tile ceiling. A sound is emitted which is carefully calibrated to cover speech frequencies. This sound, which is designed to mimic the unobtrusive sound of air conditioning, is uniformly delivered to all areas to elevate ambient sound levels to a level which reduces the distance of audible conversations without being noticed itself. At your  desk in the open-plan you will hear your local team as normal, but the content of those conversations further away which don’t involve you are rendered unintelligible and therefore less distracting.

If partitioning is failing to keep conversations private, sound masking will improve its performance ensure confidentiality.

Sound masking works and we are your Australian experts .

Please contact us here.