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Office Sound Masking - Making A Peaceful Work Environment

by Frank Barnett

In the area of business nowadays, the most vital thing is communicating the most important information. On the other hand, in all those wall-free and door-free office spaces, employees are frequently being distracted by being forced to listen to everything whether they need to or not. This high noise level has extremely negative effects on their productivity.

Most jobs require intense work along with teamwork, cooperation and interaction, because of this businesses should invest in office sound insulation systems. These systems ensure that information is only heard by those that are meant to hear it. Privacy of speech is essential to confidence and cooperation in the workplace, and sound masking is essential to privacy.

On-site management sometimes use sound insulation providers to integrate insulation into their existing structures in order to protect their employee's speech privacy, which promotes a healthy work environment.

However, the products offered now are very different from the ones used years ago. Even office sound masking systems that were in use only a few years ago are now obsolete. Now, many different types of systems exist along with manufacturers. These days, the least expensive, most effective sound masking systems are called "direct-field" systems.

One of the criteria that a manager must consider when picking out a sound masking system is the superior quality of the sound he's buying. Nearly all office sound masking businesses have demo on their products. They also offer access to a walk through for customers. Take full advantage of this; older "indirect field" systems need fine tuning and ongoing maintenance, so they don't often produce relaxing sounds.

The easy part is the effective sound masking. The ideal systems for this will give effective speech privacy along with a tranquil work environment. For example, you may use a working lawn mower to give speech privacy, but this is certainly not a nice sound to hear!

Before finalizing the deal, you should make sure that you listen to the sound. Always go for a masking system that gives a soft, non-directional, consistent sound and which does not have any identifiable repeats or loops. Preferably choose one with multiple channels, rather than an older-style mono system.

If an older system style is chosen more costs for ongoing maintenance and tuning will be endured. Annual recalibration is required for the indirect field systems as well as tuning whenever furniture is moved. The newer, direct-field systems, however, have no need for tuning.

Listening is integral to your job, but loud environments can be distracting and detrimental to one's work. Jobs usually require intense teamwork, and as such a good solution would be sound insulation systems, which would reduce noise and increase speech privacy. The office sound masking technology is rapidly increasing. When purchasing such a device, it is important to test the audio quality. Demonstrations are common before purchases, anyway. Remember to choose a newer masking system with a soft, non-directional, steady sound and no repeats or loops. Multiple channels are also good. A placid work environment with privacy and white noise is what these devices offer.

Published September 22nd, 2008

Filed in Business


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