32
feature
retail, commercial & industrial
why the 2030 EPC deadline makes acoustic specification non-negotiable
Ben Hancock, Managing Director at Oscar Acoustics explores why the future of workplace design isn’t about abandoning open plan but moving towards ‘intentional planning’, where sound is designed as carefully as light and layout to give employees choice over how they work, not just where...
Modern workplaces are failing their most important stakeholders: their people. Despite substantial investment flowing into ESG-compliant retrofits, a critical element keeps getting overlooked. It’s not ventilation or lighting, which routinely attract budget and attention. It’s acoustics, a fundamental pillar of productive and healthy workspaces. This oversight is substantial. Our recent report, ‘Shaping Future-Ready Workspaces’, gathered insights from over 2,000 respondents and uncovered a troubling pattern: one third of UK office workers actively avoid coming into the office because of noise and over half of employees report that noise levels
impact their wellbeing. This is a serious business issue where acoustic design delivers a measurable commercial advantage. The stakes are rising. Employee expectations for wellbeing and inclusivity continue to intensify and regulatory bodies, like the new Fair Work Agency, which comes into effect this month, will be applying increasing scrutiny. Creating sound environments that work for everyone is now an essential requirement for any business serious about attracting and retaining top talent. The scale of the retrofit opportunity With impending energy laws requiring 80% of London’s office space to be
updated to at least EPC Grade B by 2030, organisations have a major opportunity to integrate acoustic design. However, many will miss the chance, choosing to cut acoustics to reduce upfront costs. This ignores the impact on the bottom line. Our research shows that over half (56%) of UK corporate workers find their office noisy, with key complaints including difficulty concentrating (47%), irritation (36%) and stress (30%). In response, 41% of employees wear headphones, hindering collaboration, while over a third work from home just to escape the racket. This directly impacts productivity and talent retention, with eight in ten employers admitting to losing
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
