During an office build out, there are many factors that need to be taken int account: furniture, HVAC, appliances, power, phone and data requirements, just to name a few. However, there’s one factor that often gets overlooked—privacy. A 2014 study found that employees lost up to 86 minutes of productivity per day due to noise distractions. However, sound masking systems can help. Using noise generators and emitters can increase privacy, reduce liability, and even increase employee satisfaction.

Why should I install sound masking in my office?

Sound masking provides 3 main benefits when installed in an office: increased privacy, employee satisfaction, and reduced liability.

Increased Privacy

In open concept offices, ambient noise and audible conversations can be a significant source of distraction. It's common for one conversation to carry across the space and interrupt others, making it harder for employees to focus. By using sound masking, you can reduce speech intelligibility, addressing those privacy concerns and reducing how audible unwanted noises are.

Improved Employee Satisfaction

Sound masking in retail environments can provide privacy for clients and improve customer satisfaction.

Those same overheard conversations can also be a concern for employee satisfaction and retention. A UC Berkeley study of 25,000 office workers found that of all the environmental factors (general maintenance, office layout, furnishings, etc.) speech privacy was the factor they were most dissatisfied with. Using sound masking is an affordable way to address speech privacy concerns and improve employee satisfaction.

Reducing Liability

One of the more hidden benefits of sound masking is reducing the potential liability resulting from privacy breaches. The Personal Information Protection and Privacy Act (PIPEDA) requires that methods of protection are taken to safeguard against accidental breaches of privacy, including physical measures—which can include sound masking. Any environment where sensitive information is being talked about can be a good candidate for sound masking systems, as it reduces the chance sensitive information can be overheard and makes it harder to accidentally breach privacy laws, therefore reducing liability from it.

Sounds pretty simple: I just need to play white noise?

While sound masking sounds very simple in principle, it’s a lot more than just 30 seconds of white noise on a loop. In order for sound masking to be effective, the noise needs to occupy the right frequency range. Sound masking noise does not have as much high-frequency content as white noise, and is much less grating to listen to.

A proper sound masking system needs to be able to provide even coverage across an entire space. This requires taking many factors into consideration: room size, ceiling height, furnishings, acoustic treatments and more, while also changing levels in order to provide a consistent sound field. Sound masking systems allow speakers/emitters to be grouped into zones, which allows spaces with similar acoustics to be grouped together and tuned, providing a consistent experience.

Use Cases for Sound Masking

Sound masking is employed across various environments where noise management, privacy, or focus is critical. Here are some specific environments where having sound masking can improve privacy, productivity and the overall workplace environment.

Open-plan Offices: In open offices, conversations and background noise can be highly distracting. Sound masking helps reduce the intelligibility of speech and lowers distractions, improving concentration and productivity.
Private Offices & Conference Rooms: It enhances speech privacy in meeting rooms or executive offices by preventing conversations from being overheard, particularly in settings where sensitive information is discussed.
Call Centers: By masking background chatter, sound masking helps agents focus on their calls, improves caller experience, and minimizes cross-talk.
Hospitals: Sound masking helps protect patient privacy, especially in waiting rooms or open treatment areas, by reducing the audibility of conversations between doctors and patients. It also improves the overall acoustic comfort, lowering stress in environments filled with alarms, machinery, and voices.
Law Firms & Accounting Offices: These places require confidentiality, so sound masking helps ensure sensitive client information discussed in one room isn’t overheard elsewhere, maintaining compliance with privacy standards.

Installing Sound Masking

Sound Masking systems come in a few different varieties, including in-ceiling or in-plenum. While both can increase privacy, which system you use can effect how well your system works, and how many emitters you will need.

Direct sound masking uses small loudspeakers installed throughout the ceiling. The loudspeakers, which are also called emitters, broadcast the sound masking signal directly into the office environment. The major advantage of direct-field sound masking is that it can be completely confined to the areas where it is required, and independent spaces, or zones, can more precisely receive the desired sound masking level.

A ceiling-mounted sound masking emitter from MPS Acoustics

Another method for sound masking is indirect sound masking. With indirect sound masking, upward firing loudspeakers are placed below the ceiling deck in what’s known as the plenum space. The sound masking signal is broadcast against the ceiling deck and then reflects downward (often through ceiling tiles) and into the office environment. The major advantage of indirect sound masking is the ability to keep your masking system completely hidden, maintaining the aesthetics of the space while allowing you to individually tune the loudspeakers according to the plenum space’s variables, like HVAC ductwork or extensive cabling infrastructure.

For the best possible performance, working with an AV integrator is your best bet. AV integrators use specialized tools to determine the ideal emitter placement and tuning, and can customize your system to work with your other AV technology. They also often provide post-installation support, ensuring that the system remains fine-tuned and effective as the space evolves.

How Proper Sound Masking Installation Transforms Workplace Environments