Sound absorption – reduces echo and reverberation in the office
A more focused and professional sound environment in the office
In office environments, sound absorption is often the most effective measure for reducing echo and creating a functional sound environment. Modern offices are characterized by open floor plans, glass partitions, hard floors, and a scarcity of soft surfaces. This causes sound to reflect between walls, ceilings, and furnishings, leading to long reverberation, increased noise levels, and a poorer working environment. With the right sound-absorbing solutions, acoustics can be significantly improved, creating better conditions for concentration, conversation, and collaboration.
What is sound absorption?
Sound absorption means that sound waves are captured by porous materials and converted into heat energy, which reduces reflections in the room. This is clearly different from sound insulation, which aims to prevent sound from spreading between rooms, and vibration damping, which reduces vibrations and structure-borne noise from, for example, installations and technical equipment. Sound absorption is therefore used to improve the acoustics in the room where the sound originates, not to stop sound leakage.
Common problems with echo and reverberation in offices
Echo and long reverberation are common in open-plan offices, meeting rooms, corridors, and common areas. Conversations merge, background noise is perceived as stressful, and concentration is impaired. In environments where telephone meetings, video conferences, and collaboration are part of everyday life, poor acoustics can quickly have a negative impact on both efficiency and the working environment.
How sound-absorbing solutions work
Sound-absorbing products are placed on surfaces where sound reflections are strongest. When sound waves hit the absorbent material, they are slowed down, which shortens the reverberation time and creates a more controlled sound environment.
Sound absorption on walls
Wall absorbers capture reflections at ear level and improve speech intelligibility in offices, meeting rooms, and corridors.
Sound absorption on ceilings
Ceiling absorbers are often the most effective basic measure in open office environments where large surfaces contribute to significant reverberation.
Sound-absorbing curtains
Curtains dampen reflections from glass partitions and windows and serve as a soft complement in modern office environments.
Sound-absorbing room dividers
Room dividers combine screening and sound absorption and are particularly useful for creating zones in open-plan offices.
Why choose sound absorption in offices?
Sound absorption provides an immediate improvement to the working environment without any building alterations. The solution is flexible, scalable, and easy to adapt as the business changes. The result is noticeable through improved speech clarity, lower perceived noise levels, and increased comfort. In some office environments, sound absorption can be combined with sound insulation or vibration damping to address more complex noise problems.
Well-thought-out advice for best results
The size, layout, and furnishings of the office affect how reverberation is perceived. Smaller rooms can be improved with a limited number of well-placed absorbers, while larger and open spaces often require a combination of ceiling, wall, and freestanding solutions. A common mistake is to use too little sound absorption or to concentrate the measures on the wrong surfaces. By distributing the measures evenly, a long-term, functional, and professional sound environment is created.
Sound absorption is therefore a fundamental measure for reducing echo in office environments and creating a more focused, pleasant, and efficient workplace.