How to minimise noise in a new office space
If you are moving offices, one of the things which can be over-looked when planning an office move is the amount of noise your new business office space might generate. A growing and thriving business which might be moving to larger offices might not take into account that a new address, possibly within a busy central business district, could mean a noisier working environment for staff.
If noise is a factor in your next office relocation, there are plenty of ways to get on top of it to ensure that employees settle in well to their new office space with the minimal amount of disruption.
The basic rule
If you think that your new office space could be quite noisy, the basic rule on how to combat the noise is to invest in more soft furnishings. In fact, the more sofas and soft furnishings you can put into an office, the better. If the floor is wooden, invest in a new carpet to prevent the office from being echo prone. Even purchasing a few rugs will help if you are reluctant to spend too much cash at the outset. Or, if you are feeling more extravagant, wallpaper and even purpose built artwork can both help to reduce noise levels.
Open plan offices
Many people choose an open plan office space for the simple reason that it is a cheaper way of housing a large number of staff. Open plan offices can also have many advantages – employees are able to converse with one another on work-related issues more easily, and often an open-plan office creates a more homely, welcoming feel. But if you are finding that your new open-plan office is causing noise issues for your staff, one way to solve this is to put up dividing screens between working areas or ‘sails’ which can hang from the ceiling and will help to break up the noise.
Practical cost-effective solutions
Whether your new office is open-plan or not, there are plenty of practical cost-effective solutions to help reduce the noise. You can absorb sound by adding ceiling tiles, or block sound by erecting partitioning, panels and even walls between work areas. It is also a good idea to invest in quieter office equipment, or perhaps locate a particular area away from employee’s desks to locate all your louder electrical equipment such as printers and photocopiers.
For further information on how to space plan your office, check out this free Tenant's Guide to Moving Office.
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