Noise protection is essential to achieving a comfortable environment in which we can carry out our activities without being distracted by what surrounds us. Often we find ourselves overwhelmed by the sounds and this leads to an increase in stress and a loss of concentration especially within the working environment. To achieve an optimal sound level in an enclosed area, two factors need to be taken into account:
– the reverberation time
– the spatiality of the environment
The first consists of a parameter used to calculate the diffusion of sound in interior spaces. Generally in such situations we are faced with an environment determined by diffuse sound fields and unlike free fields where sound is almost completely absorbed, in these fields the walls reflect most of the incident sound. The reflections consist of numerous sound waves that come from different directions that follow each other so quickly that they cannot be perceived as distinct echoes from each other. The spatiality of the environment corresponds instead to its dimensional characteristics. If in this case it becomes difficult to intervene on the dimensions of the various rooms, it is instead easier to reduce the reverberation time by inserting sound-absorbing walls.
The benefits of sound-absorbing walls allow the creation of a qualitatively optimal acoustic environment, which allows drastically reducing noises coming from outside the room and at the same time reducing those produced inside. In an office, for example, even talking between colleagues can be distracting. It has been noticed that in less noisy environments, conversations between people become more silent in order not to alter the state of quiet created in the room. In addition to the voices, the sounds coming from electronic devices, from discontinuous services, such as flushing in the bathroom, and continuous function services, such as the ventilation system, contribute to the increase in noise. In this case, the sound-absorbing walls can also minimize the interferences, improving the environment and contributing to productivity in the workplace. It has been estimated that in noisy working environments, productivity falls by 15%, thus going to hit both the individual and consequently the entire company.
Other features to consider for the installation of sound-absorbing walls are:
– the extent of the wall on which you want to apply
– the design
It is very important to calculate the size of the wall on which you want to put the sound-absorbing wall. The more this will be extended, the greater benefits will come from its installation. Furthermore, the aesthetic side should not be overlooked, which also contributes to the construction of a relaxed and productive environment. You can then play on different colors of sound-absorbing walls or on the decoration of the same, achieving two benefits at the same time, the reduction of noise and the positive effects of the colors of the environment on the people who use it.