May 3, 2023 - As an acoustic consultant, you understand the importance of creating comfortable and productive environments for your clients. However, one aspect that is often overlooked is the impact of noise on speech privacy, concentration, and well-being. Fortunately, sound masking offers a simple and effective solution to this problem.

A sound masking system outputs a low-level, unobtrusive sound that reduces speech intelligibility and distractions caused by other sounds in a workplace environment. It “masks” other noises, much like white noise but with a more pleasant and natural sound specifically engineered to cover the average human vocal range.

Benefits of sound masking for acoustic consultants:

Enhanced speech privacy: A study by the University of Utah found that sound masking can reduce the intelligibility of speech by up to 95 percent, making it more difficult for people to overhear private conversations in open-plan offices.

Reduced distractions: Numerous studies have found that sound masking can improve cognitive performance by an average of up to 48 percent, making it easier for people to concentrate on their work.

Improved acoustic comfort: A survey by the American Society of Interior Designers found that 70 percent of respondents believed that acoustic comfort was important to workplace productivity, and 56 percent believed that it was important to overall well-being.

Competitive advantage: A report by MarketsandMarkets projects that the sound masking market will grow from $592 million in 2019 to $778 million by 2024, indicating a growing demand for these solutions in various industries.

As an acoustic consultant, incorporating sound masking solutions into your design recommendations can help enhance speech privacy, reduce noise distractions, improve acoustic comfort, boost staff productivity, and differentiate yourself from competitors.

By understanding the benefits of sound masking, you can offer a more comprehensive and effective solution that helps your clients optimize their unique workplace environments.