In the workplace, background noise is generally pin drop low or extremely high due to the living, breathing nature of a dynamic office space. In an office with low noise, employees and even non staff members can unintentionally overhear discussions – a difficult situation with both confidential and embarrassing information being shared around unknowingly.
On the other end of the spectrum, disruptive and loud workplaces can deter workers, with the chain of people talking over one another often cascading into unforeseen levels of volume. To address this problem, sound masking systems, a newer but greatly emerging technology, emit a soft, indistinguishable background sound from a single speaker or a group. The ambient sound is replaced with one that is often unnoticed within the workplace, while also being pleasing for those who do catch on.
What is the result of all of this? Employees described being less distracted, note higher concentration, with both correlating with higher productivity.
How Does a Sound Masking System Work?
An electronic sound masking system works not by eliminating sound but by introducing a continuous pink noise that will mask and/or offset the sound of voices, music, nearby traffic and other noises that may affect any space. The system itself is usually installed in a centralized and easy to access location while specialized speakers are dispersed around to evenly distribute the sound to each workstation, office, and collaboration area.
This allows everyone to instead hear the individual dull, pink noise that is described above, rather than the chatter of others near or in quiet situations ones even across the office.
What Benefits does Sound Masking Have?
Boost Productivity
Studies show productivity decreases by as much as 40 percent due to noise and distractions. If workers are distracted, they can be more prone to mistakes than before.
Help Promote Privacy
Speech between employees which can often be confidential or personal, is dampened and made difficult to overhear.
Enhance Workplace Comfort
Sound masking emits a sound that is built to be pleasing to your ears, enhancing the comfort of all within the workplace.
Increase Employee Well-Being
Studies have shown that the effects of sound masking in the workplace has increased their well being, with 44% of workers saying so in personnel today from this survey.
What are Some Potential Drawbacks?
While sound masking can make a sizable difference in background noise in a workspace, it is not a magical solution to noise problems. The “pink noise” provided by the system does not eliminate the noise, just masking it to the best of it’s ability.
Another potential drawback for sound masking is the initial price. While it has been measured that productivity gains from the implementation of a system can easily offset the cost overtime, the initial hurdle can be tough to overcome for a smaller business.
Additional Features and Technologies
Paging and music
The speakers have the functionality to work as traditional speakers to page persons, as well as play music throughout the space.
Individual speaker control
With multiple speakers in your sound masking system, you are given the ability to individually control each one. This can have various applications
Calendar adjustment
Many systems have the ability to schedule their noise levels without the real-time adjustment discussed above, making the transitions between real time adjustments smoother or allowing you to change the level throughout the day scheduling yourself.
Real-Time Adaptive Sound Masking Systems Vs. Other Sound Masking Technologies
An office space is an ever-changing environment in which ambient noise and the volume of sound distractions vary a great deal depending on the schedule and activities underway. To be most optimal, sound masking must adapt to changes: It must increase during very active periods and become more discreet when the area is quieter.
Top of the line solutions can adapt in real time to the changing volume in the work environment, a feature other sound masking systems (typically In-plenum) do not have. Real-time systems can provide that extra level of comfort while being even less noticeable and more calming than other systems but can come at an added cost. Depending on your needs, you may also consider another type of masking as not everyone will benefit as greatly as others from the real time adjustment.
How much does a Sound Masking System cost?
Other than the benefits listed above, average cost is about $2-4 per square foot. This can add up, but the masking is not needed throughout your entire building or floor.
You do not normally install sound masking in stairwells, bathrooms, break rooms and mechanical rooms so be sure to only use actual office space when estimating the budget for your environment.
Who Needs a Sound Masking System?
Businesses that benefit most from sound masking:
Work environments where confidential information is often shared (Government buildings, health care facilities, banks etc.)
Loud, open workplaces that often get loud and noisy
Offices suffering from low productivity due to noise
Productivity gains can also offset the cost of the technology, netting you a positive on the financial side over time as well the added privacy and comfort provided to your employees.
Businesses where sound masking is not reccomended
Offices with low numbers of employees
Businesses with individual offices
Businesses where many employees work from home
We recommend not investing in sound masking if the problems it solves do not affect your business, or if the cost of entry is too high of a burden on your organization.
What’s Next?
If you have done some more research and have concluded that sound masking is right for you, you’ll need someone with strong knowledge on the technology to aide you along with the rest of the process.
Cabco along with our partners at Office Interiors, can offer our expertise in the field in setting up your new office space or revitalizing your current one that needs a refresh with a sound masking system. We can help you make that final call on whether sound masking is right for you or not, as we have evaluated hundreds of office spaces for this very technology. Contact us here if you feel you are ready to begin the process.
With some industry professionals going as far to say “it has become increasingly indispensable” about sound masking, contacting us may be the difference between a good and a great workplace and environment.