FEATURE Silence is
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that a lot more of us can do our jobs from home than children to contend with. Here, Quiet Mark discusses how selecting accredited acoustic fl
Noise in the workplace annoys us – a lot. A British Journal of Psychology study found that, whether reading or writing, background noise is a productivity killer. It can be a cause of stress in our bodies, which can lead to significant health issues. It can also reduce strategic and creative thinking, making even the simplest of work tasks more difficult. Workers can be up to 66% less productive when exposed to just one nearby conversation.
But noise isn’t a problem which only occurs in our offices. A chorus of background noises in our homes- such as other people’s telephone conversations, kitchen appliances, and outdoor sounds like traffic- can all combine to make our homes as loud, if not louder, than our offices.
Thankfully, there is a solution. In 2012, Quiet Mark - the international approval award programme associated with the UK Noise Abatement Society charitable foundation - embarked on a journey to help improve everyday acoustics with a positive, relevant consumer champion campaign for the use of quieter technology in our homes, workplaces, living spaces and outdoor environments. It encourages companies worldwide to prioritise noise reduction within the design of appliances, machines and building materials, and find solutions to noise problems.
Image shows NOX SOUNDPROTEC ECOLAY+ Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring, accredited by Quiet Mark.
Image shows Interface Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring - Textured Woodgrains - Antique Maple (Ashlar), accredited by Quiet Mark.
A recent report by Morgan Stanley, showed that only 34% of UK workers who could go back to the office have actually done so, and many businesses have publicly stated that they will extend the option to work from home indefinitely. This raises a very important question: How conducive are our domestic soundscapes to work productivity?
The intensity of sound is measured in dB, which measures sounds on a numeric scale. The average office is about 50 to 60 dB, which isn’t particularly quiet. Each time dB increases by 10, we perceive it as a doubling of noise. At 65 dB, noise becomes irritating and affects our wellbeing.
22 | Tomorrow’s Retail Floors
In addition to their expert team of acousticians’ rigorous testing of, and accrediting, household appliances, Quiet Mark has recently launched its Acoustics Academy platform. This is aimed at equipping and empowering architects and home builders with a guide to expertly-verified acoustic solutions for every building application area.
In addition to approved specialist materials, such as windows, ceiling and wall panels, and doors, you’ll also find acoustic flooring, on
acousticsacademy.com, by leading brands including Interface, Karndean Designflooring and NOX Corp.
www.acousticsacademy.com
Poppy Szkiler, Quiet Mark’s CEO/Founder, said: “When Quiet Mark tests or verifies acoustic flooring, we take into consideration the variety of factors that can affect the sound quality of the spaces where it is installed.
www.tomorrowsretailfloors.com
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