Sound masking systems

Sound masking adds a quiet, engineered background sound to a space so that nearby conversations become harder to understand and less distracting. We design sound masking systems for offices, clinics, banks, government counters and other spaces where speech privacy matters, oversee installation and tune each zone so the result is effective without being noticed.

Modern offices are often too quiet. Efficient HVAC, hard finishes and open layouts mean a conversation three desks away is perfectly clear. People are distracted by speech they can understand far more than by sound in general, and in healthcare, legal, financial and HR settings, overheard conversations are a privacy problem. Sound masking addresses this by raising the background sound level just enough, with a carefully shaped spectrum, that speech loses intelligibility over distance.

What we design and build

• Masking systems for open offices, private offices, meeting rooms, reception areas and corridors.
• Zoning so each type of space gets its own level and spectrum.
• Speaker layouts for open ceilings, suspended ceilings and spaces with no ceiling plenum.
• Paging and background music over the same speakers where wanted.
• Scheduling so masking ramps up in the morning and down at night.
• Integration with the building automation system and, where required, muting on fire alarm.
• Tuning and verification measurements, with records you can use when the space changes.

A typical system is simple: a controller generates the masking signal, amplifiers drive it to loudspeakers above the ceiling or mounted in it, and each zone is set to its own level. The diagram shows the parts.

How it works

A sound masking project is short compared with most electrical work, but the tuning at the end is what decides whether it succeeds. The stages connect like this.

1. We start with why. Is the problem distraction in an open office, confidentiality in offices and exam rooms, or conversations carrying from a reception counter? Each needs a different target, and sometimes the answer includes ceiling, wall or layout changes as well as masking.
2. Measure the existing space. We measure background sound levels with the HVAC running, note ceiling types, plenum depth and obstructions, and walk the layout with you to find the areas where privacy matters most.
3. Design. We divide the space into zones, lay out speakers to give an even sound field, size the controller and amplifiers and decide how paging, scheduling and alarm muting will work. Where the system connects to building power or other building systems, the design follows the electrical and fire codes that apply.
4. Installation. Speakers, cabling and the controller are installed by qualified low-voltage or licensed electrical contractors, under permit where the work requires one. We review the installation against the design.
5. Tuning. With the space in normal use conditions, each zone is set to its target level and its spectrum is equalised to the target curve, measured at many points.
6. Verification and handover. We record final levels and settings, explain the controls and schedule, and leave records for when the layout changes.

What to have ready

• Floor plans and reflected ceiling plans, with the planned furniture layout.
• A list of rooms and areas where confidentiality matters.
• Details of any existing paging, background music or masking equipment.
• Contact for the fire alarm contractor if the system needs to mute on alarm.
• Planned move-in dates, since tuning works best with furniture in place.

A typical case

A professional services firm moves into a renovated floor with an open office in the middle and private offices around the edge. Within weeks, staff complain that they can hear every phone call, and partners say conversations in their offices carry into the corridor. Measurements show a very low background level, because the new HVAC is quiet. The design puts the open office, the private offices and the corridors on separate zones. The open office gets a level that reduces distraction without being noticed; the private offices and corridors are set to help keep conversations inside the rooms. Some of the offices also need door seals and the walls extended to the deck, which masking cannot replace. After tuning, the firm has records of each zone's setting for when the floor is next reconfigured.

What you get

A design package with zone plans, speaker layouts, equipment schedules and a sequence describing paging, scheduling and alarm interfaces, sealed by a licensed professional engineer where required. After tuning, you receive a record of measured levels and settings for each zone, and practical guidance on what to do if complaints arise or the space changes.

The tuning record lists each zone, its target, the measured level and spectrum at each test point, the controller settings and the schedule. It matters more than it looks. When a tenant adds a wall, moves a team or changes the ceiling, the record shows what the zone was set to and why, so the system can be adjusted to the new layout instead of being turned up or down by guesswork. It also gives you a baseline to compare against if someone later says the system is too loud or has stopped working.

Who it's for

• Offices with open plans, glass-fronted offices or thin partitions.
• Clinics, dental offices and pharmacies where patient conversations must stay private.
• Banks, law firms, HR departments and government counters.
• Property managers and tenants fitting out a new floor.

To learn more, read how sound masking works, speech privacy in open offices and tuning a sound masking system. For alarm interfaces, see voice evacuation and two-stage alarms.

Common questions