Sound masking is a dynamic acoustical treatment which means that you can adjust it as per requirement unlike the static acoustical effect of carpets, walls, and ceilings. If you add sound masking technology to an open office space you can triple the effective distance between workers. Sound masking reduces sound to waves having equal energy on every frequency. This means the technology is effective in creating speech privacy. In simple terms, it negates the effect of people in a confined space speaking and producing a cacophonic effect. This is why the technique is more effective in an office environment. 

The Importance Of Masking Sound

Sound masking is theoretically introducing ambient sound to space to mask disruptive environmental noise. It is a trending solution inside interior acoustics that has been found to adequately, mask distractive noises and increase privacy, productivity, and well-being for room users in a work environment.

However, masking is used not just in an office environment. Almost everyone can use it. If you have ever felt distracted from your official chat by your colleague’s conversation or are afraid that others in the room can hear your conversation or you are distracted by telephones ringing or printers making noise, sound masking can be beneficial for you. Since privacy is a big issue in open offices, the technology is more often than not used there. In addition, in healthcare and relevant service fields, where speech privacy and prevention of a cacophonic environment are of prime concern, this technology can be used. 

Vibration Isolation

Dynamic blockage of sound can help protect sensitive patient information and save the authorities from some legal problems too. It can prevent oral disclosures which is one of the most serious of all risks in such environments. The best part is that installing a sound masking system is a cost-effective proposition. However, there are situations where sound masking preceded by vibration isolation can beget the best results. You can imagine such a scenario in offices, hospitals, factories, etc. where there are sources of vibration. To combat the effect of vibration, you need to isolate vibration at its source. 

Masking Versus Isolation 

Both masking and isolation work to reduce sound, but isolation goes further; it prevents the effect of vibration at the source. The vibration of housings, metal panels, enclosures, etc is a common facet of operations in some establishments including factories. Such vibration is a source of high-intensity noise. Vibration isolation can eliminate or at least reduce such vibration at the source. Airborne noise produced by vibrating machinery and components radiates in all directions. The use of vibration isolators can help to disassociate vibration from the force and thus prevent the formation of acoustic waves. 

A Complementary Function

Sound masking systems can reduce conversational distractions while vibration isolation can help it become more effective by eliminating vibration at the source. Both can help to increase worker concentration, productivity, efficiency, and satisfaction. However, vibration isolation can do more. It can help sensitive instruments in offices and factories work more effectively. So, isolating vibration and masking sound can go hand in hand for the best results in suppressing sound. 

Conclusion

If you are worried about the cacophonic effect of sound in the office, you can go for isolating vibration at the source or masking sound in the office. Both work well. However, you need to hire an experienced service. There are services that have a wide experience in both facets of suppressing sound. Just make sure that you have hired the right one. The advancement of sound masking has sprung up around two aspects such as; the growth of employee health, well-being, and productivity as a theme necessary for workplace design. And, discarding the partitioned, softly-furnished offices and embracing open-plan, sleek, and minimalist ones.