How smart firms are using sound control to save time and money

Understanding the benefits and downfalls to noise in an office environment and how through design we can address and control sound wave projection through careful planning of wall partitions and employee workstations.


3 minute read

25th February, 2020 | Remarcable

Noise is all around us. From the humming of a fridge to the roaring of a busy street, noise is around us wherever we are. As a result, it can be easy to overlook the importance of sound, since we are so accustomed to it. With the open office trend reigning at the moment, the question being asked is 'How is noise affecting work?'.

Noise, or sound, is simply waves that travel through the air at different frequencies and then eventually into our ears. The space we are in can drastically affect how our ears receive the sound. If you've ever stood in a room with an echo, the room's space and design are exactly why an echo occurs. Sound doesn't immediately dissipate upon impact with surfaces but rather attempts to bounce off it. As sound bounces, we can end up hearing the same sound twice, which is how echoes occur and why offices with lots of flat and hard surfaces can get very loud.


The volume of sound is measured in decibels (db). The volume of sound is surprisingly important when it comes to how it affects us. A quiet conversation, which is around 50 decibels is too quiet and we pick up on the lack of sound and be distracted by it if we are trying to work.


However, at 85db or higher, such as the ambience of a busy road, is too much noise and will cause a distraction for that reason. However, noise is necessary for our brains to function at their best. While a quiet breeze and occasional page turn on your holiday in Lisbon is relaxing and comforting, this is not the same for when we're working. We need sound stimulation at work to keep us alert and productive, very much the opposite of our aim on a quiet holiday. The sweet spot for noise levels is around 70db, which allows for enough noise to keep the brain active, alert and creative, without distracting it. Getting a decibel meter, or simply a microphone is a great way to figure out how loud your office is.


Let's consider the specific type of noise that your office struggles with and how to counter it. If you're in an open office space, perhaps conversations are the main source of volume. The Lombard effect (Lombard, 1909) describes that the volume of conversation will steadily get louder as people gradually speak louder in order to speak over the noise, thereby increasing it more. If the noise is primarily external, perhaps a busy road, measures to block off external sound will need to be made. Controlling and limiting noise in space is important, especially if it is to your business' benefit. By controlling sound within your office space, you can see productivity, creativity, and wellbeing improve in your whole team.


Firstly, by setting limits on the source of the sound, you immediately reduce noise the moment it occurs. In acoustic design, speakers are placed pointing away from flat surfaces, to avoid noise bouncing around and creating echoes and increased volume. While it's unlikely that your office has studio speakers in it, we can take some of the ideas from it. Acoustic panels can be a great solution since they will absorb and dissipate some of the sounds before it reaches our ears. Perhaps you could position employees so that they are not facing each other and thereby no one will be in direct line of someone else's voice.
If external noise such as cars or a busy street is the main source of noise, first check the state of your current building. If your building has any holes or cracks, sound will easily seep through. Start by ensuring your building is in good condition. If external noise remains an issue, consider investing in acoustic barriers to place between you and the source. These can be items such as acoustics fencing if you've got the space to place them, or more sound insulated windows, to block off the noise from entering your building.


An unusual way to counteract unwanted noise is actually to make more noise. It seems counterintuitive, but making noise of your own helps to mask the unwanted sound. Music is one way to do this since it will be a closer source of noise than external noises. Some offices that are nearby to construction sites have even gone as far to play construction site audio through their office system, which counteracts the real noise and makes our ears perceive the real noise as quieter! Controlling the sound and noise level within your office space is integral to ensuring that your team has the best opportunity to succeed. Sound is often overlooked in design, but when it is thought about carefully, it can have a surprisingly large effect on reducing noise pollution in your space leading to happier and more productive teams.


Good Reads

Design

Wellness, Harmony, Personality: Design Trends 2024

Forget the rigidity of minimalism and the din of maximalism. 2024 whispers a softer, bolder design language. Imagine spaces that embrace your unique rhythm, sparking joy, soothing your soul, and celebrating meaningful style.

Design

Five ways to cultivate sustainability this holiday season

Like our designs that are rooted in nature and wellbeing as well as economic principles that make sure our clients increase their bottom line, we believe it's important to be both practical and healthy. We know... it's much easier said than done. Here's how we suggest you can blend both over the festivities this holiday season, in ways that are far from unattainable.

Design

Engaging Dentistry Design like you've never seen before: the Craft behind the Magic

The question on the table was ‘How can we help showcase dental aligners in a way that makes them approachable, yet remain on-brand with Banning’s practice quality and interiors?’ As the top Interior Architecture and Design firm in London for Healthcare Spaces that are strategically crafted to outperform the competition, we were excited to answer it with a one-of-a-kind art installation that we can now share.

Design

A Tenancy Maintenance Guide: Your 3 Keys to Keeping Your Business Running Smoothly

We understand the excitement (and stress) of running a successful business, and all the risks that come with it. To say that maintaining a business can feel like a constant juggling act would be an understatement; managing customers, boosting your marketing, retaining your staff, and chasing ambitious goals are all in the mix, and usually at the same time. Here's the keys to keeping it all together...

Design

New Tenancy Holders; jot down these considerations now or beware the costs

With years of experience in the field, experiencing the best and most ideal of spaces, as well as the ones we are disappointed to see go so poorly, our team is happy to share the know-how you need to help protect your wallets, fuel your progression, and most importantly, help you take your vision forward with as little hiccups as possible.

Design

Colour Palettes for Increased Performance and Wellbeing: 2023 Design Trends You Can't Miss

As people seem to long for a return to a more natural, human-centric way of life with a sense of community and unity, we believe as leaders we must increase our awareness of self, others, and our environment to come together in unity and find a balance. As design has a great impact on our emotions and well-being, utilising impactful design elements like colour can help us achieve this.

Design

Strategising Wellbeing in Workplace Design

‘This January felt different, the motivation is not there; work and wellbeing is falling behind.’ This feedback got us thinking… has the workforce ignored wellbeing for too long? Begin strategising with these pinpointed key areas that can be approached individually or combined in a plan to help boost wellbeing in your workspace.

Design

Fortes Case Study

Bespoke is our signature styling, in this recent case study for Fortes Hair & Skin Clinic we break down the importance of bespoke elements and how they can be utilised as brand messaging and unique selling points.

Design

Colour Psychology - Think Pink!

Having a deeper understanding of the colour psychology behind the colour pink and how it can best be used in commercial and healthcare interior design.

Design

Homework Space Case Study

Understanding the process of designing a successful co-working space, what to consider and what design elements are a must to capture the brand identity, message and concept.

Design

Circadian Rhythm in Design

Understanding what our internal circadian rhythm is and how it affects our wellbeing to know how we can incorporate circadian health within commercial interior design to maintain optimal levels of productivity.

Design

2D vs 3D Space Planning

Space plans are a fundamental element of any interior design process; they have great advantages in providing an accurate visualisation of the exact dimensions of the intended physical design of a space. Floor Plans can be made on both 2D and 3D bases providing different results which has been broken down in simple format for your understanding.

Design

The Importance of Detail throughout Design

Expanding far beyond aesthetics, we at Remarcable mean a method of expression that communicates a story through strategy carefully tailored to magnify the micro details and fully optimize their attributes’ capacity at creating a long-lasting impression in a single short interaction and it is all in the details.

Design

Co-working, Hybrid Model, WFH what is best for my company? pros and cons

With so many work models out there it can be hard to decide which one works best for your company as there is no ‘one size, fits all’ when it comes to office space to match your company values, size, and growth. We have broken down the pros and cons to co-working space models to help you best decide.

Design

How to put patients at ease and add value to your private clinic

There is a lot of fear at the moment around our health due to the pandemic and people are avoiding booking their dentist checkups. We share with you some ways you can ensure the safety of your clinic and reassure your patient's safety to return back to their overdue appointments.

Design

How can your space design set you apart from your competitors?

Commercial interior design is changing, we are in an age where technology and design innovations are booming and our environments need to keep up with the trends. We have filtered together three main factors in design that will set your company apart from its competitors; because first impressions are lasting impressions.

Design

Guide to maintaining a good work environment

With over 20 years of experience in office fit outs and maintenance we have listed 6 quick and easy tips for you to consider in maintaining your office environment and equipment.

Design

How to make meetings more bearable

Reimagining the idea of attending and entering a meeting room through our 4 main focus areas in designing strategic office spaces that benefits our wellbeing.

Design

Remarcable’s Artsy Take On Dentistry

An in depth view of our thoughts and processes for designing a commissioned project centred around wellbeing and innovation within dentistry design.

Design

Work Rest Replenish Perform

The importance of break out areas in the workplace and how to best design these to meet our human needs of connecting with nature.