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Hearing is Believing
We may have different views on what makes the perfect work environment, but we can all agree that unwanted noise isn't part of the equation. Whether it's an office, school, hospital or even your home, sudden, loud or variable noises are irritating and distracting. But did you also know it's bad for you?
A Harper’s Bazaar article, “How City Noise Is Slowly Killing You”, cites a study in which “clerical workers in a noisy room were less motivated to complete cognitive tasks and had elevated stress hormone levels, compared to those in a quiet room—but they didn’t feel particularly stressed.” Essentially, we have a physical reaction to unwanted noise. So, that office mate who likes to put her phone on speaker or the man two desks away with no concept of what an "inside voice" is could be raising more than your temper.
Managing Noise with Flooring
There are many things you can do to minimize noise in your environment. The simplest, of course, is cutting down on the things that make noise, but that's not really an option when it comes to people.
Other considerations are the layout and interior finishes you're using. Both greatly impact the noise level of a space, and perhaps the largest finishing is your floor. Put that to work for you and see what a difference it makes.
Other considerations are the layout and interior finishes you're using. Both greatly impact the noise level of a space, and perhaps the largest finishing is your floor. Put that to work for you and see what a difference it makes.
Workplace Acoustics Study
The open office might be an ongoing design trend, but office workers around the world say noise hinders their productivity and concentration. Download this report on the effects of noise in the workplace and how companies can solve for acoustics.