Good room acoustics in the office and work environments are important. It can have a significant impact on the productivity and well-being of employees. Poor or disruptive acoustics, on the other hand, can lead to increased stress, communication difficulties and declining attention and concentration. To create a productive and pleasant working environment, it is important to consider the role of room acoustics in the office and take measures to improve them. But what matters in the context of ‘healthy room acoustics’? 

The eight most important aspects on room acoustics in the office 

Room geometry

An irregular room shape, excessive room height or the unfavorable positioning of doors and windows can cause sound waves to be reflected and amplified. In most cases, this leads to increased noise pollution and affects the ability to communicate. Optimal room geometry, on the other hand, can help absorb sound and thus reduce noise levels.

As a general rule, offices should be constructed in a rectangular or square shape, as this ensures even sound distribution. Irregular shapes such as elongated, narrow corridors or asymmetrical walls, on the other hand, can lead to disturbing sound reflections. A ceiling height of ideally 2.5 to 3 meters should also be taken into consideration.

Interior design

The optimal design of office space has a great influence on the well-being of employees and at the same time contributes to improving the working atmosphere and increasing employee satisfaction. Proper acoustics, in addition to optimal lighting and ventilation, have a major impact on room design.

The creation of an optimal acoustic environment can be ensured, for example, by using acoustic wall panels. These serve to keep noise inside in noisy places, while isolating quiet places from noise. They can be attached to walls and come in a variety of colors and materials, making it easy to match the decor of any office. The right decor and targeted placement of plants can also help improve room acoustics. Ferns, fiddlehead figs, or smaller palm trees are especially great for improving sound management.

Speech intelligibility

In most offices, effective communication and good speech intelligibility is essential. However, it is not uncommon to deal with a wide background noise of conversations, phone calls, copying and printing noise that can interrupt the flow of conversation.

To ensure good communication, special attention should be paid to the room design mentioned earlier. Arranging furniture and workstations in the form of islands or niches can help to ensure that sound waves are better intercepted and thus that there is less noise pollution between employees. In addition, mobile partitions or room dividers of various sizes and widths can be used, which can temporarily screen areas and divide work groups.

HVAC noise

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are essential, especially on very cold and extremely hot days. They regulate the temperature, humidity and air quality in the building and ensure optimal comfort. However, older systems in particular are often noisy and disrupt the concentration and productivity of employees.

This problem can be minimized by using modern and quieter HVAC systems. To further reduce noise levels, noise barriers, such as acoustic insulation or sound-absorbing material, can also be installed around the systems.

Open plan office

Open-plan offices are very popular these days, as they are designed to create an open working environment and facilitate collaboration. However, they can also lead to significant acoustic problems, as sound is not well controlled in an open space. Noise levels can quickly become uncomfortable and speech intelligibility can deteriorate, negatively impacting work efficiency and employee well-being.

In this context, floor coverings, such as carpeting or carpet tiles, are particularly important. They help absorb sound and reduce the noise level in a room. They also provide a softer surface underfoot, which can be more comfortable for employees who need to walk quickly from one place to the next.

Privacy

Confidential conversations in the workplace require adequate soundproofing to prevent eavesdropping. This is especially challenging in open-plan offices, where sound can travel through even small gaps and cracks in doors, partitions or windows.

Acoustic measures such as sound barriers can help maintain privacy and confidentiality in open-plan offices. For example, building owners can install soundproof doors and windows to keep noise levels to a minimum. There should also be opportunities for retreat and relaxation, so employees can have private conversations away from other colleagues during their breaks.

Health

Once in the work life, employees spend a great deal of time at the job and with colleagues. Being exposed to noise over a long period of time can lead to serious health problems such as hearing loss and increased stress.

If you would like more information in this context, we are the right people to talk to. Feel free to give us a call.

Safety

Closely related to the health aspect of room acoustics is safety. Especially in environments where increased concentration and attention are required, such as emergency rooms, control rooms or traffic control centers, a high noise level can promote errors and accidents. For example, if the flow of communication is interrupted, important information may not be properly understood or employees may not be able to coordinate well.

If you have questions about this topic, we welcome your call.

 

By considering these eight aspects, companies can ensure that their workplace is designed to optimize both acoustics and the well-being of their employees. However, in addition to room acoustics in the office, there are other factors that should be considered when creating a productive feel-good atmosphere in the workplace. Read more articles from us on this topic:

Create proper light in office space

Human Centric Lighting to support human bio-rhythm

Employee motivation with the help of scents

The office of the future

A room within a room – box-systems for the office are in vogue

 

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