In bustling modern offices, managing the distractions caused by ambient noise is crucial for maintaining staff productivity, privacy, and comfort. The role of sound masking in this context cannot be
understated, and proper coverage is critical.
The negative effects of inadequate sound masking coverage
A study by the Acoustical Society of America found that inadequate sound masking can lead to a 15 percent decrease in productivity due to noise distractions. One of the common pitfalls
in sound masking implementation is inadequate coverage resulting from too few loudspeakers (also called
sound masking emitters). This leads to
inconsistent levels of ambient noise across different office areas, which can be distracting and counterproductive. A well-designed sound masking system should employ the right number of emitters
to ensure uniform coverage, thus enhancing speech privacy and reducing noticeable variations in noise levels.
The cost of compromise
In bid situations, facility owners or contractors might request fewer loudspeakers to cut costs. However, this compromise significantly impacts the system’s effectiveness. A survey
by the National Institute of Building Sciences indicates that retrofitting sound masking systems due to initial under-specification can increase costs by up to 25 percent. Reduced loudspeaker numbers
lead to spotty sound masking uniformity, which in turn affects speech privacy in poorly covered areas. This issue often results in system integrators being called back for adjustments, with the likely
solution being the addition of more loudspeakers or a reduction in overall speech privacy.