Sound masking and building architecture go hand in hand. Many industries are losing out on the benefits of sound masking by tolerating poor architectural designs. 

The design of a room, hallway, office, or public space can greatly impact sound, background noise, and speech intelligibility. Sound masking, through unique technology, can help improve these problems. 

Building Systems Solutions explains how sound masking and architectural design can help each other make more comfortable spaces. 

The Basics of Sound

To understand how sound masking and architecture work together, you need to understand the basics of sound. 

The technical definition of sound is a vibration that spreads and moves as an acoustic wave through a transmission medium, such as a gas, liquid, or solid. Sound can reverberate off other objects, which is how sound can travel through a room. 

Architecture & Sound

Architectural elements can control how the sound moves throughout the room. Examples include a performance arts theater or a sound recording studio. 

Performing arts theaters are designed to help sound project to the furthest point in the theater, allowing actors’ voices and instruments to carry throughout the space. 

Sound recording booths are designed to minimize excessive sound so that the recording equipment picks up only the desired sound. 

The ABCs of Architectural Acoustics

Substantial research exists regarding architectural acoustics, the science and engineering of achieving good sound in a building. 

The research states that acoustical satisfaction cannot be complete without the ABCs of architectural acoustics:

  • A for Absorption: sufficient absorption in the space

  • B for Blocking: Sufficient isolation of the space

  • C for Control: Control of background sound levels in the space

This is complicated work and must be assessed and developed on a case-by-case basis. There are no one-size-fits-all solutions to architectural acoustics. 

Sound Masking & Architecture

Sound masking reduces the impression of sound and improves acoustic privacy, including speech privacy. It is an effective solution to mask excessive noise in spaces like open offices and public spaces. 

By implementing specific architectural techniques and combining them with a custom sound masking system, open spaces in buildings can be more acoustically comfortable for workers, customers, or visitors. 

Some architectural techniques include using sound-absorbing materials, specific ceiling designs, and finding alternatives when there is not enough space available for sound transmission. 

In addition, using carpet, foam padding, or fiberglass insulation can help dampen sounds. 

Speech Privacy

However, even with these in place, some spaces will need more speech privacy. Speech privacy is quantified by the Speech Intelligibility Index (SII), a method of calculating speech intelligibility using various sound levels and modulation transfer functions. 

The higher the SSI rating, the better the communication in an open space – a rating of 0.75 means a good communication system. 

That’s where sound masking comes into play. Adding a sound masking system designed specifically for a building increases speech privacy. 

It can help make undesired conversation and noisy distractions less audible and can protect private conversations between people.

Make Architecture Work for You With Custom Sound Masking

Sound masking can benefit any industry. If your office space or building was not designed with speech privacy in mind, or recent renovations have increased noise levels, consider implementing a sound masking system. 

Building Systems Solutions is a passionate team of individuals who have dedicated many years to improving sound and speech privacy. 

Using premier Soft dB products, we can create a system that will help employees concentrate, reduce background noise, and protect private conversations. 

For more information or to request a quote, give us a call at 763-502-1515.