SonaSpray acoustic ceiling finish in ‘Downstairs at dMFK’ ©Ed Reeve
Step into most offices and you’ll see lighting levels are calibrated, air flow is strategically considered, spatial zoning is carefully mapped. Yet, acoustics, the design element with potentially the biggest impact on how people actually experience these workspaces, is far too often overlooked during the design and specification stage. The numbers from Oscar Acoustics’ recent study paints a compelling picture. Poor acoustic design is costing UK businesses weeks of productivity per employee annually. Office workers report losing 26 minutes daily to noise disruption. That’s almost half an hour every workday and more than a month lost a year per employee. Scale that up across UK PLC, and the issue becomes hard to ignore. This is a fundamental problem shaping
how people work, how they feel and whether they choose to stay in their jobs. Almost half of employees identify excessive noise or lack of quiet spaces as their primary productivity blocker. Nearly two-thirds struggle to concentrate, and one in three say they deliver lower-quality work because of acoustic conditions.
The human toll extends beyond
productivity. Poor acoustics cause fatigue, stress and anxiety along with headaches. Perhaps most telling, almost half of office workers have considered leaving their job due to noise, while two-thirds of job seekers now actively value acoustic comfort when evaluating potential employers. Yet despite more than half of employees describing their workplace as noisy, less than one in ten employers have invested in acoustic treatments. It’s no wonder that most people feel their employers don’t take noise seriously. There’s a clear disconnect between the scale of the problem and the employer response to it. When acoustic design is done well, spaces
become more comfortable, communication flows naturally and people perform better. When it’s neglected, even the best- designed office becomes a place people want to escape from. The solution isn’t complicated. Acoustic design needs to be built in, not bolted on. It should be as fundamental to your specification as lighting, ventilation and physical accessibility.
JZ19
Frameworks like Sownd Certification
from Sownd Affects provide measurable standards for audio-inclusive spaces; giving architects and clients a clear benchmark for acoustic performance that goes beyond design-stage predictions. Audio inclusivity matters to everyone,
particularly the 30% of people who are noise-sensitive, including neurodiverse people and those with hearing challenges. Creating spaces where everyone can thrive isn’t just good design practice; it’s becoming a baseline expectation. For architects, specifiers and construction
professionals, the case for acoustic design is clear. Debate. The question is whether we’re ready to treat it with the same rigour we apply to other aspects of building design. Right now, the gap between what people need and what they’re getting is hitting businesses financially and damaging employee wellbeing. Good acoustic design can close that gap.
If you’re interested in finding out more about audio inclusivity, visit: https://
www.oscar-acoustics.com/sownd- certification/
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