Many offices nowadays suffer from excessive levels of noise, caused by a variety of factors, some of which can be easily addressed.

We have produced a questionnaire which allows us to numerically evaluate your noise problem and give you a score as to how effective our solutions will be.

In the past the biggest problem with paying for a quieter office was that it was difficult to quantify what sort of improvement you might expect for your investment. Too many factors which could not be changed would affect the overall result, and the client risked the possibility of spending a substantial amount of money for very little discernable improvement.
For example take the purchase of sound absorbing desk top screens. On the face of it these seem the ideal choice. Not too expensive and dual purpose ( sound and vision) , and easily fitted with minimal disruption. In addition, if you move premises they go with you, unlike fixed sound absorbing systems such as suspended acoustic ceilings or specialised carpeting.

But the problem, is that whilst these screens can absorb 75% of the sound that hits them, it will have no effect on all of the other sound waves which miss them, which will be substantial.  Whilst your screen may be doing its best in its little environment, all of the hard and reflective surfaces in your office will be doing their best to make the improvement the screen has made seem of no consequence.  At this point the client, not wishing to waste any more money on  something which has  made no appreciable difference, decides to just live with the noise.

But a carefully calculated attack on the problem based on the findings from the questionnaire can produce real quantifiable improvements in the sound quality of your office or workspace.  Getting the optimum results mean improving the areas which make the most difference, rather than just picking an area because it is easy, less disruptive or cheap. So even though we may specialise in office furniture, it may be that sound absorbing screens or office chairs filled with sound deadening material may not give you the most improvement or the best return on your investment.

Areas which are often overlooked by an office furniture dealer, trying to help their client with an office noise problem are firstly the fundamentals, such  as installing a suspending ceiling, or changing the existing tiles to a sound absorbing variety.
Even softer carpeting with a sound absorbing underlay can make a massive difference.  Also adding panels to large flat reflective areas of walls and ceilings can make a huge difference for a surprisingly small  amount of money.
However the office furniture dealer does have quite a few solutions of his own.

Apart for the sound absorbing screens and chairs , a number novel solutions has appeared in the last few years. How about fabric based reception counters, or reception seating made from sound absorbing foam.  Storage  doors can now be made with a sound deadening coating, and tall tambour cupboards can be foamed and upholstered. Mobile sound deadening screens can be wheeled around the office to improve localised problems as they occur.
Even window blinds can now be produced which actively absorb and diffuse sound waves.
As mentioned previously it is not the  individual measures you adopt, but the combination of measures you take on board, based on a professional analysis of the problem, which will really make the difference.

If you would like to know more or want to arrange a consultation then please give us a call.