Sound absorbers and sound insulation for offices – create a productive and harmonious working environment
In modern office environments, noise is one of the most common causes of impaired concentration and reduced work peace. Open-plan offices, meeting rooms with glass partitions, and shared spaces allow sound to spread and reflect easily. The result is echoes, background noise, and a lack of privacy. With the right combination of sound absorption, sound insulation, and vibration damping, the office environment can be adapted for both collaboration and focused work.
What does sound absorption mean in an office?
Sound absorption is used to reduce echo and reverberation in a room. When sound bounces between walls, ceilings, and floors, speech intelligibility is impaired and the sound level is perceived as higher than it actually is. Sound-absorbing materials capture sound waves and reduce reflections, creating a quieter and more controlled sound environment. This is especially important in open-plan offices, meeting rooms, and shared workspaces.
The difference between sound absorption, sound insulation, and vibration damping
Sound absorption improves the acoustics in a room by reducing reverberation. Sound insulation has a different purpose – to stop sound from spreading between rooms, for example between meeting rooms, offices, or call rooms. Vibration damping is used when sound is caused by vibrations in the building, for example from technical equipment, ventilation, or installations that cause structure-borne noise. In a well-functioning office environment, all three measures are often used in combination.
Common sound problems in office environments
Offices often experience problems with voices spreading over large areas, phone calls disturbing concentration, and meeting rooms where sound bounces between hard surfaces. Glass walls, smooth ceilings, and a lack of soft materials amplify reverberation. Sound from adjacent rooms or technical equipment can also have a negative impact on the working environment if sound insulation is inadequate.
How sound-absorbing solutions work in offices
Sound-absorbing products are placed on strategic surfaces where sound reflections are strongest. By treating both vertical and horizontal surfaces, a more balanced acoustics is created.
Sound absorption on walls
Wall absorbers reduce reflections at ear level and improve speech intelligibility in work and meeting rooms.
Sound absorption on ceilings
Ceiling absorbers are often the most effective basic measure in open-plan offices and larger spaces.
Sound-absorbing curtains
Curtains reduce reflections from glass partitions and contribute to a softer sound environment.
Room dividers with sound-absorbing properties
Room dividers create both visual screening and improved acoustics in flexible office solutions.
Why work with sound in an office environment?
A well-designed sound environment contributes to better concentration, clearer communication, and reduced stress. Sound absorption provides a quick effect without intervention, sound insulation creates privacy where needed, and vibration damping handles disturbances from installations. Together, these measures create an office that supports both individual work and collaboration.
Well-thought-out advice for the best results
The size, layout, and use of the office determine what measures are needed. A common mistake is to focus on only one surface or one problem, even though sound often spreads in several ways at once. By combining the right measures and distributing them evenly throughout the space, you can create a long-term, functional, and pleasant working environment.
Sound absorption, sound insulation, and vibration damping are therefore key tools for creating modern offices where people can work with focus, communicate clearly, and enjoy themselves over time.