For years employees working in offices have complained about the lack of privacy between their space and other employees' space. A 2001 study by BOSTI Associates concluded that the single biggest impact on both job satisfaction and performance was workers' abilities to focus and get their work done. The design characteristic most affected by that ability was the degree of office privacy. (IIDA.org) In an ASID/Yankelovish study of 1,000 workers, 70 % said their productivity would increase if their offices were less noisy. (ASID.com)
Today the most popular design for offices are open plan because they require lower start up costs and encourage communication and collaboration between employees. An estimated 70% of office workers work in cubicles or open work areas. (ASID.com) A half wall is what divides your space from your employees space. Generally working in an office building the sounds you hear are phones ringing, keyboards clicking, and file drawers opening. Workers also get distracted by other employees talking in the hallway. These noises are the primary cause of productivity loss, absence of workers, and stress. (IIDA.org)
Today the most popular design for offices are open plan because they require lower start up costs and encourage communication and collaboration between employees. An estimated 70% of office workers work in cubicles or open work areas. (ASID.com) A half wall is what divides your space from your employees space. Generally working in an office building the sounds you hear are phones ringing, keyboards clicking, and file drawers opening. Workers also get distracted by other employees talking in the hallway. These noises are the primary cause of productivity loss, absence of workers, and stress. (IIDA.org)
Since employees have been complaining about privacy issues Armstrong decided to survey workers in six major corporations by replacing ceiling systems with more absorbent materials and added electronic sound masking. Armstrong decided to survey the workers again and more than 80% of workers believed they would be more productive if their workspace provided more acoustical privacy. (ASID.com) According to Kenneth P.Roy, Senior Principal Research Scientist with Armstrong Building Products in Lancaster, Pa. "Acoustical privacy is achieved through the A,B,C approach: absorb, block, and cover the noise. (IIDA.org) Absorb sound with ceiling and carpet, block sound with paneled walls, and cover noise with electronic sound masking. (ASID.com)
Electronic sound masking consists of a series of speakers that are installed above the suspended ceiling. The sound that comes out of the speaker is air blowing which is supposed to help drown out other noises within the office. The benefits of this product include: speech privacy, reduced distractions due to noise, and a more comfortable working environment. (Architect.com) Most employees would rather hear the sound of air instead of listening to their neighbor. Another way to keep cubicles quieter is to use acoustical wall panels and ceiling tiles.
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| Electronic Sound Masking device that gets installed above the suspended ceiling. The speaker can also be mounted in the employees workstation or on their desk. Each employee can control the volume of their speaker depending on how loud the noise around them is. |
Solution:
As a designer it is important to inform the client about the various products they can use to block out sound in an office. Some employees are easily distracted by the littlest things such as a phone ringing and there are solutions to help them. Armstrong is one of the company's that sells ceiling and wall panels that are acoustic. These products will help decrease noise in the office and will benefit everyone.
Armstrong walls are acoustical, class A flame spread performance, and have no added formaldehyde or high recycled content which helps make them LEED certified. The acoustical inner core that penetrates the sound is either mineral fiber or fiberglass covered with woven fabric, composed fabric, easy care vinyl, or wood veneer. They absorb 50%-90% of sound that strikes the surface or is transmitted through the walls. Panels are easy to install and can be placed horizontally or vertically. You can order standard or customize your own wall panels. There are plenty of colors and patterns to choose from that will add a nice texture to your wall. These panels are mostly used in offices, schools, and retail buildings. Armstrong also carries many different types of acoustical ceiling tiles that help absorb sound. Check out the Armstrong website at Armstrong.com for more information.
Images:
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| Acoustic Infill Panel that penetrates the sound. |
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| Right Side: Acoustic Wall Panel & Left Side: Acoustic Ceiling Tile Resources & References: |
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