Understanding Sound Masking
By Niklas Moeller
Most evaluations of the acoustic environment focus only on the quantity, or volume, of sound. In so doing, noise control strategies are often pursued in the “Quest for Silence” – the notion that good acoustics are achieved when the sound levels in a space are as low as possible, with zero being the best. However, just as with ergonomic factors such as light, temperature and humidity, there is a comfort zone for the volume of sound, and it is not zero.
The noise floor is the level of continuous sound that characterizes a space at any given time. To be heard, other sounds must rise above this floor. If the floor is too high, the environment will be irritating and tiring. If the floor is too low, conversations and noises can easily be overheard and become distractions, reducing productivity and increasing errors. While noises decay in volume over distance, a low noise floor also means that they can be clearly heard from afar. The noise floor in offices is often so low that voices carry intelligibly over a distance of 30 - 50 feet (9 - 15 meters) or more.
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