11/21/2022
Help! Our Office is Too Loud
If you work in a noisy office, you’re not alone.
We hear it all the time; workers complain about their loud workplace but can’t identify the source of the noise — or what to do about it.
So what’s the culprit? Layers of co-occurring sounds; ringing telephones, chatter, office machines, and footsteps are all typical office sounds that reflect off multiple hard surfaces, contributing to the loud sound environment.
Depending on the size of the space, these sounds can take a long time to dissipate, further layering the noise intensity. This combined effect makes the human brain confused and tired, causing a loss of concentration and productivity where it’s needed most — at work.
Open offices, a popular modern design choice, fosters collaboration and creativity. The drawback? Acoustic design often gets overlooked, and the space needs to be quieter to concentrate.
Acoustical Baffles Improve Productivity in Open Office Spaces.
Companies are looking for ways to achieve a calmer, more settled feeling in the office without 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. READ MORE
What is an appropriate level of office noise?
We measure sound in units called decibels. The higher the decibel level, the louder the sound. A rock concert may top 110 dB, and a library may have a sound environment of 30 dB.
“For maximum comfort and productivity, we like to see an office environment between 49-58 dB and the reverberation time down to about one second,” says Chuck Splain, MBI’s office acoustics expert. “These levels keep the employees from competing with each other to be heard. In other words, if I am on the phone and my officemates are on the phone, or there are multiple conversations occurring, everyone has to keep raising their voices. At some point, it becomes impossible for anyone to be heard.”
A comparison of decibel levels in various sound environments
If you’re ready to improve your office acoustics, we can help.
First, determine your priorities, which will help narrow down which acoustic solution is best for your office. Then, of course, you want the environment to be less noisy. But what else is important to you?
Acoustic Products Design
If you seek a creative, colorful, aesthetically pleasing solution, MBI Colorsonix® Acoustical Wall Panels can achieve just about any desired look. Colorsonix wall panels are available in a wide range of prices and finishes. Aesthetically pleasing and a decorative solution to sound control, they use a highly sound-absorbent fiberglass core that can effectively eliminate reflected sounds in your office.
Colorsonix wall panels absorb sound and offer visual appeal
If you envision a unique, highly customized look, we recommend the Masquerade DESCOR® system. Available in over 256,000 digitally custom-printed colors, the design possibilities are limitless. Plus, built for modularity and flexibility to meet the needs of contemporary architectural concepts, DESCOR is flexible and quick to install and replace.
Before and after the custom-designed Masquerade DESCOR acoustic system office installation
Acoustical Baffles for open offices
If you have an open office space, Cloud-Lite® Acoustical Baffles can play a role in its look and feel, with different colors suspended above various office areas designated the location of separate departments — reception, accounting, legal, human resources, etc. These highly effective sound-absorbing products hang from ceilings, bar joists, horizontally stretched cable, or pre-engineered suspension systems.
Arrange Cloud-Lite Baffles to create different architectural effects and reduce noise in open offices
Budget and sustainability
If cost-effectiveness is your main priority, we can usually meet your budget and still produce a great result in your office. Our PVC Ceiling Tiles are budget-friendly and come in nine standard colors. Another cost-effective alternative, our standard-sized Whiteout Ceiling Tile, is eco-friendly. This classic pure white ceiling tile offers effective sound absorption and environmentally sustainable design. Our fabric ceiling tiles also provide an eco-friendly core and a full palette of patterns and colors.
Alternatively, Polyester Board is a pure white, clean, sustainable option in the MBI product line. Poly Board is 100% polyester and made in part from recycled fibers. These panels are pure and 100% recyclable, formaldehyde-free, and contain no chemical additives. A cost-effective product within MBI’s line of acoustical products, Polyester Board is a stock item typically available for quick shipment.
Poly Board ceiling panels are easy to install and reduce office noise
A more conducive environment leads to happier, more productive employee experiences. Whether your needs are design or budget-related, we can help turn down the volume of extraneous noise in your office.