feature: quiet appliances
The BORA S Pure cooktop with an integrated extractor
Matt Jinks, national sales manager at Liebherr
John Davies, Smeg’s head of marketing
Howard Bogod, managing director of DR Kitchen Appliances, Elica’s
Shhhh………
In open-plan kitchen living spaces, there is no opportunity to physically separate the cooking and living areas and therefore form a sound barrier. As demand for quiet appliances continues to growSimon King looks at how manufacturers are responding to the challenge
F
or many of us, the first lockdowns turned our kitchens into home-offices,
or home-schooling areas, let alone the heart of the home where we cook, relax, entertain and enjoy our meals. With enforced time spent at home we suddenly became aware of just how loud and distracting our household appliances could be. “Whether a roaring kettle disturbing our
Zoom calls, or the spin cycle from our washing machine making it impossible to finish that email, it wasn’t long before we started to think about replacing our existing appliances with a quieter model,” says Poppy Szkiler, chief executive of Quiet Mark. Since the start of the pandemic, Ms Szkiler
said, Quiet Mark certified products have more than tripled from 350 to more than 1,100 appliances; acoustic materials achieving the
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grade have risen from 60+ to 90+ global manufacturing brands, with their number of certified product categories increasing from 50+ to 70+, as manufactures seek to inform their customers that their products are amongst the quietest available. Ms Szkiler said: “Optimising acoustic
comfort within our homes requires a two- pronged approach. One needs to both choose appliances that have low noise levels and are proven to be the quietest of their category, such as kettles, fridge-freezers, washing machines, and introduce more sound absorbing/acoustic enhancing products and materials.” Consequently, Quiet Mark has also seen a rise in its assessment and third party certification of building products such as double or triple glazing, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring, decorative wood acoustic wall panels, and acoustic lighting and furniture.
Poppy Szkiler, chief executive of Quiet Mark
At the end of last year, Quiet Mark conducted a National Noise Report survey, taking a deep dive into the UK’s attitudes towards noise in their home and work lives. Ms Szkiler said: “Over half (57%) of Brits would
like their home to be quieter, with a further 62% noting that they are drawn towards quieter appliances. This is stronger amongst those aged 18-34 (66%) compared to those aged 55+ (54%). “This love for quieter appliances transfers to the cost Brits are willing to pay, with two-thirds (63%) of 18–34-year-olds willing to pay more for quieter appliances.” The survey, which sampled 2,000 UK adults aged 18+ across all regions, also showed that almost four-fifths (79%) of Brits say that
Below: Smeg says that with its FAB28 fridge, customers are getting a quiet operating product
October/November 2022
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