While we hope these changes are temporary, it’s important to address how they impact acoustics, specifically as they relate to staff comfort and privacy.
Pre COVID-19 Workplace
- High office occupancy
- No social distancing
- High level of staff activity, conversations, and energy
- Ambient human and inorganic background sound
A comfortable background sound level could be achieved via architectural measures – such as absorbing or blocking materials, along with covering through the use of sound masking.
“New Normal” Workplace
- Reduced office occupancy
- Staggered schedules
- Mandatory physical distancing
- New reflective surfaces and partitions
With less human activity, new desk configurations, and the introduction of modular barriers and partitions, office acoustics may become inconsistent, non-uniform, and less comfortable for staff.
Time for a Review
Facility and design teams should review the acoustics of their reconfigured work environments. Consideration should be given to compensate for a reduced baseline sound level by adding sound masking technology, augmenting existing technology, or rearranging architectural elements to help create a space that is comfortable and private for everyone.
Learn more about the many ways NET100’s industry-leading, next-generation sound masking solutions can benefit your “new normal” workplace. Contact us at: 703-995-5200 or info@net100ltd.com.