![]() ![]() It may be used to mask unwanted noise such as intermittent sound from machinery (within the overall limits and spectra). The masking sound spectrum (National Research Council of Canada's COPE curve) is generated to be comfortable and elevated in level to be conducive to acoustical privacy in the built and occupied environment and can be specified up to 48dBA (Warnock in Acoustical privacy in the landscaped office in 1973). ![]() Sound masking is an effective solution in masking intruding noise. Similarly, hospitals may employ a sound masking system in public areas to safeguard patient medical histories and achieve compliance with local regulations. For instance, a psychiatrist would not want those in the waiting room to overhear a private conversation with a patient, so sound masking is provided in the waiting area, but not in the psychiatrist's office. Sound masking is provided in the area where conversations should not be heard – not necessarily in the area where the conversation is taking place. Public spaces – sound masking is useful for reception areas, pharmacies, waiting rooms, and financial institutions.Sound masking can be provided in adjacent private offices, or in hallways outside of private offices, to ensure that confidential conversations remain confidential. In these cases, sound can easily travel through partitions or over the walls. ![]() Many times, walls are lightweight and do not extend to the ceiling deck, but only to the ceiling tile. Private offices – private offices and other enclosed spaces often appear to provide privacy but do not.Open offices can benefit from sound masking because the added sound covers existing sounds in the area – making workers less distracted and more productive. Open office plans – open offices can be either too quiet (where someone dropping a pen in the next cubicle is distracting) – or too noisy (where the conversations of others in the office make it impossible to concentrate).Various organizations (ASTM, ASA/ANSI, GBI, LEED, ASHRAE, WELL, etc.) define unique categories for labeling acoustical zones with purpose and/or function. Sound masking systems are often relied upon as a basis of design with Sound Transmission Class (STC, as supported by ASTM E336) or Noise Isolation Class (NIC, as supported by ASTM E336) to ensure an appropriate level of privacy between contiguous rooms. However, there is a fundamental misconception in the deployment of a sound masking system in treating areas where there is a failure to appreciate the difference between the perception of privacy and speech privacy. Sound masking systems How is Sound Masking Different Than White Noise?Ī sound masking system can be used to reduce the impression of intruding sound (reducing annoyance, distraction) and improve acoustic privacy (including speech privacy). No single technique is effective in addressing every sound transmission path (direct, reflected, diffraction, transmission) and each varies in performance on a case-by-case basis. C for Control – Control of background sound levels in the developed environment.B for Blocking – Sufficient isolation of the developed environment.A for Absorption – Sufficient (but not in excess) absorption in the developed environment.The three principal parameters are as follows (known as the 'ABC's' of architectural acoustics): It is significant and prioritizes modifying the background sound (in contrast to background noise) however, there is substantial evidence produced and published by Banneker (BBN) and Kavanaugh (et al., 1962 Speech Privacy in Buildings) indicating that acoustical satisfaction within a space cannot be guaranteed without consideration of the three principal parameters of architectural acoustical design, formalized and established in the early 1900s by Sabine. Sound masking means controlling background sounds in a developed environment. ![]()
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