2/28/2022
Acoustical Baffles Improve Productivity in Open Office Spaces
In open-office configurations, conversations, keyboards, phones, and footsteps create a cacophony that disrupts workers; acoustical baffles are just the remedy for improving the sound environment.
With the return-to-office in full swing, companies are seeking custom acoustical baffles from MBI Products.
Designing the right solution depends on a company’s budget, aesthetics desired, and the size of the office. MBI’s Chuck Splain says, “Cloud-Lite® Acoustical Baffles are the most popular and usually best solution for open-plan office spaces. The baffles are very effective in controlling reverberation, and they break up the space visually. Some say they give a sense of privacy in an otherwise vast open space.” Cloud-Lite baffles integrate well with sprinklers, HVAC, and other mechanical systems, and have a unique look, as well.
MBI can create patterns, designs, and even space designations with the baffles in an open office space, all while improving the acoustics for the occupants. For example, the accounting department has green baffles; sales has blue baffles, etc. This visual effect is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
University of Dayton Research Facility
Cloud-Lite Baffles: MBI Products
Acoustic design and installation: Acoustical Systems
The noisy transition from home to the office
For those who have returned to the office after working in virtual cocoons at home, the noise at work can be not only distracting but detrimental to their productivity. “Office noise is driving people crazy,” says MBI’s Chuck Splain. “They’re used to working at home in a controlled environment, so returning to the office — especially one with an open configuration — takes a lot of adjustment and tolerance.” Splain shared that MBI has received an influx of inquiries from businesses that need a solution to their office noise problem, and acoustical baffle installation is keeping his team busy, for good reason. Unfortunately, the effects of intrusive office noise are real.
Office noise puts workers in a bad mood
According to a study conducted in July 2021, open office noise was shown to reduce psychological well-being. Researchers found a quantifiable relationship between open-plan offices and physiological stress — the noise heightens negative mood by 25%.
According to sound consultant Julian Treasure, “Open-plan offices without sound treatment can experience a productivity decrease of as much as 66%, since it is quite difficult and unhealthy to work in noisy environments, so a workspace design should be extra conscious of acoustics.”
Companies are looking for ways to achieve a calmer, more settled feeling in the office, without a renovation. Acoustical baffles are designed to do just that; reduce noise, make sounds less intrusive, and improve the sound environment. MBI has been installing these products for over fifty years.
Acoustical baffles; a solution pioneered by MBI
MBI pioneered the original Cloud-Lite Acoustical Baffle over fifty years ago and today offers the most complete line of acoustical baffles throughout the industry. Cloud-Lite Baffles are easily suspended from ceilings, bar joists, horizontally stretched cable, or pre-engineered suspension systems. These highly-effective acoustical products are Class A, lightweight, cost-efficient, and easy to install, making them the industry’s most practical solution to noise control.
Cloud-Lite Baffle acoustical performance
