the pitfalls of – and solutions to – noisy commercial spaces
Whether it’s keyboards clacking at the office, the dinging of the till at the shop, or the splurts and sputters of the coffee machine at the local café, commercial environments provide a soundtrack to our daily lives that we sometimes barely notice. But just because we don’t notice it doesn’t mean it’s not there and it certainly doesn’t mean it’s not having an effect.
Workers, customers, clients and whole businesses are at the mercy of their surrounding soundscape to an extent. Noise can have a large impact on our health, mood and decision making, which is why it’s so surprising that sound is rarely a factor when designing the layout of a commercial space.
an inescapable soundscape
The impacts surrounding excess noise are becoming increasingly clear; it can lead to higher stress levels, a rise in heart rate and blood pressure and an increase in the likelihood of heart problems.
UK regulations suggest that a safe level for workers to be exposed to is 87 decibels – around about the volume of a dialling tone. That relatively tranquil level of noise can be hard to find in commercial spaces.
In shops, for example, you can expect to hear the sound of shoppers and music echoing between hard surfaces. Excessive noise often creates a negative shopping experience, making it more difficult to engage with staff and harder to think straight when trying to make a purchase decision.
Giving shoppers cause for discomfort is hardly a recipe for success and could result in long term negative associations with the brand, making repeat business less likely.
Offices face similar problems when it comes to noise. Staff well-being is compromised, and again the business’s bottom line can suffer.
Our research found that 65% of office workers believe that noisy workplaces prevent them from completing tasks in a timely and accurate manner, and 66% feel less productive than when they’re working at home.
To put it simply: noisy environments are bad for business.
balancing out acoustics in commercial spaces
There’s a number of ways that businesses can lessen the impact of noise. Redesigning the architecture to limit the opportunity for sound to reverb and bounce off hard surfaces might reap rewards, but it’s likely to require extensive construction work and an extended pause in operations while the work is completed.
Less drastic changes, like noise dampening rugs and acoustic screens, might be quicker solutions, but to the detriment of the aesthetic. Modern commercial spaces are expected to reflect a business’ visual identity and personality, so finding soft furnishings to match this brand image can be time consuming and expensive.
SonaSpray: acoustic balance without design compromise
There are quicker and more cost effective ways to design out sound in your commercial space. Oscar Acoustics’ range of SonaSpray products provides a quick and versatile solution that offers the best of all worlds.
SonaSpray is an acoustic spray that can be applied to almost any surface, substrate or shape. It’s quick to apply and absorbs sound instead of reflecting it, meaning noise spends less time reverberating around a space. As a result, it immediately transforms a noisy space into a calmer, more welcoming environment.
Even better, it offers a seamless finish that doesn’t compromise the design of your space, so you can turn down the volume while keeping up the style. With SonaSpray, businesses can protect the well-being and productivity of their staff while providing customers and clients with the best possible commercial experience.
To learn more about how SonaSpray could transform your commercial space into a friendlier environment for workers, customers and clients alike, get in touch.