Tips & Products for Soundproofing Commercial Spaces

Sound is a fact of office life: the hum of machines, co-workers' conversation, & passing traffic all find their way to employees' ears. But they each take a toll on concentration, productivity, and health. As you make your office space safer for team members, remember that noise pollution can lead to serious health concerns, such as stress, sleep issues, and even heart disease.

There are different kinds of noise that require different methods to reduce them. This is important to know before you can answer questions such as how to soundproof a commercial space, or what is the most effective soundproofing material to address noise.

Commercial Soundproofing Products

Now you know:

1. Where the noise is coming from
2. What type of soundproofing you need

Let's review what products for soundproofing commercial spaces will work for you.

Sound Reduction Products

Window Inserts

Like storm windows, window inserts add an extra layer to your windows to block sound from coming in. Unlike storm windows, window inserts are installed inside of windows so they can't be seen from the outside and nearly disappear in the window frame.

Designs such as Indow Acoustic Grade window inserts use a compression tube to create a tight seal against sound. This air seal also creates a dead air space between the panel and window, further insulating against sound. They don't damage the original windows, and can be installed in a matter of minutes.

Spray Foam

Spray foam is effective for stopping noise because it stops airflow. Acoustic spray foam fills air pockets so sound vibrations cannot travel through them and it also helps stop echoes.

Spray foam is also expensive and causes permanent changes to the building. Plus, if you aren't careful with use, it can affect your decoupling soundproofing. This is when building elements or layers are connected to sound transfers through them.

Sound Absorption Products

Acoustic Panels

Acoustic panels help absorb noise created inside a room or building and stop it from bouncing around a room. Sound likes to bounce off of solid, smooth surfaces. These panels are soft, foam, or created at odd angles to interrupt the normal echoes created in office buildings.

There are a wide variety of acoustic panels to suit your needs – shapes, sizes, colors, materials. There are even acoustic art panels available where you can upload your own images!

Sound Masking

White Noise Machine

White noise machines make background noise to drown out light conversation and general office noise so nothing stands out. They can help with concentration and office privacy. They are popular in psychologist's offices – helping patients ignore the outside world and feel confident that others can't hear their conversation. The same can apply in office settings.

Conference Room Soundproofing in Downtown San Francisco

Bessemer Venture Partners advise and seed investments for new and growing companies. When people visit their building, they are sharing their most private dreams…and financial statements. Clients should feel comfortable when planning their future. But because of the nearby freeway and the office windows, the conference room was full of "abundant exterior noises".

Bessemer hired Stephanie Kwan to update their space. Kwan works with buildings, from hospitality to office spaces, to make them more comfortable. Bessemer was leasing the building so major construction was out of the question, as were expensive options like window replacement. Kwan decided on Indow inserts because "it was an affordable solution that simply pops into place".

Everyone at Bessemer loved the solution. The inserts made a huge difference in the conference room and they blended in well. They began with inserts in the one room as a trial and have expanded to all rooms facing the freeway.