Office acoustic solutions: From panels to phone booths

Imagine: you’re trying to create a complex financial forecast, but your colleague loudly calls a client. Two meters away, someone laughs hard at a YouTube video. Behind you, a team chats about the weekend. The coffee machine beeps. A smartphone vibrates on the desk.

Welcome to the modern open office.

According to research from the University of Sydney, 86% of office workers complain about noise disturbance. Scientific studies show that conversations from colleagues are the number one source of productivity loss—not traffic, not construction noise, but simply the buzz of other people.

In this article, we dive deep into the science behind office acoustics and showcase the full range of solutions: from €80 wall panels to €15,000 full-fledged prayer rooms and phone booths. Because one thing is certain: investing in acoustics is investing in the brains of your employees.

The Science: How Sound Affects Productivity

The Cognitive Cost of Noise

When our brain hears unwanted speech—even at low volumes—something fascinating and frustrating happens at the same time: involuntary attention.

Neuroscientific process:

1. Auditory cortex detects speech (automatically, can’t be stopped)
2. Wernicke’s area begins processing words (unconsciously)
3. Prefrontal cortex must actively suppress: "Ignore this conversation"
4. Working memory loses 30-40% capacity due to this dual task
5. Result: Tasks take longer, errors increase, frustration rises

Critical insight: It’s not about the volume of sound, but its comprehensibility. A conversation at 50 dB is disruptive, a waterfall at 65 dB is soothing.

The hard data

Impact on various task types:

Physiological impact:

• Cortisol (stress hormone): +35% after 3 hours in a noisy office
• Heart rate variability: Decreases by 18% (indicator of increased stress)
• Self-reported fatigue: +42% end of workday
• Absenteeism: +15% in offices with poor acoustics

ROI calculation:

An employee earning €50,000 generates an average €75,000 in value per year. With a 30% productivity loss due to noise disturbance:

→ €22,500 loss per employee per year

For an office with 50 employees: €1,125,000 annual loss

Level 1: Sound Absorption – The Basics

What Is Sound Absorption?

Sound absorption reduces reverberation and echo by absorbing sound waves before they can bounce back. It makes a space less harsh and echoey, but does not block speech from colleagues.

Key metrics:

• NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient): 0.0 (no absorption) to 1.0 (perfect absorption)
• Ideal Office: NRC 0.60-0.85
• Typical open office without treatment: NRC 0.15-0.25

A. Acoustic ceiling panels

Function: Absorb vertical sound reflections (largest source of reverberation)

Types:

Offyce Recommendation: SilentCloud Collection

Our SilentCloud Collection offers various suspended acoustic ceiling panels

• SkyCube: Cubic islands (60x60cm to 120x120cm), NRC 0.85
• AeroSound: Organic shapes, ideal for lounges/breakout spaces
• EchoSquare: Square panels in grid formation, ideal for open offices
• CelestialRim: Circular panels with LED integration

B. Acoustic Wall Panels

Function: Absorb horizontal sound reflections and dampen specific problem walls

Types:

Offyce Recommendation: TileFlex Collection

Our TileFlex Collection are modular acoustic wall panels with unique cut-out patterns:

• CrossCut: Geometric lines, NRC 0.82
• CurveCut: Organic waves, perfect behind desks
• RingCut: Circular patterns, ideal for meeting rooms
• FlowCut: Fluid shapes for dynamic spaces

Material: Recycled PET felt (sustainable, fire-resistant, shape-stable)

Case study: A law firm in Rotterdam installed 24m² FlowCut panels behind 12 workstations. Reverberation time dropped from 1.2s to 0.6s—speech intelligibility improved by 38%.

C. Acoustic desk dividers

Function: Block direct sound between workstations (neighbor’s speech)

Types:

Office Recommendation: Mute & Econ acoustic partition walls

• Mute Acoustic Partition: 160cm high, NRC 0.80, magnetic feet
• Econ Acoustic Partition: Budget option, 140cm, NRC 0.70

Level 2: Sound Masking – Pink Noise Technology

What Is Sound Masking?

Instead of absorbing sound, acoustic masking introduces controlled background noise (typically pink noise: soft hissing like wind/water) to make speech less intelligible.

Scientific Principle: Our brain struggles to understand speech when the speech-to-noise ratio drops below 5-10 dB. By raising the background level from 35 dB to 45 dB, a conversation at 55 dB becomes unintelligible from 4-6 meters.

Installation:

• Small speakers in ceiling/walls (1 per 10-15 m²)
• Central system generates pink noise (40-48 dB)
• Zoning: different volumes per space

Level 3: Spatial separation – Flexible zoning

Movable Acoustic Partition Walls

Function: Create temporary “spaces within spaces” that block sound

Types:

Office Recommendation: Novu Acoustic Partition

Our Novu Partition Wall combines mobility with performance:

• Sound Reduction: 28 dB
• Height: 200cm (full visual blocking)
• Wheel system: 360° swivel wheels with brake
• Material: Double PET felt layers with air gap
• Configuration: Coupleable up to 6 panels
• Price: €680 per 120cm wide panel

Practical Applications:

1. Open office → Team zones
   • Divide open space into 4-6 team zones
   • Each zone receives acoustic “walls”
   • Result: 22 dB reduction between teams
2. Flexible meeting spaces
   • Create ad-hoc 6-8 person meeting space
   • After use: fold up walls
   • Save on fixed meeting rooms
3. Events/presentations
   • Create temporary auditoriums
   • Office background noise is dampened

Case: An IT company in Amsterdam replaced 3 fixed meeting rooms with flexible Novu walls.
Result: 40% more usable workspace, meeting capacity increased from 18 to 32 people.

Acoustic Furniture: Subtle separation

High-back lounge chairs, acoustic plant stands, and bookshelves serve as subtle sound barriers.

Offyce Recommendation: Sena & Beli

• Sena Acoustic Planter: 120cm high, integrates real plants, NRC 0.75, €480
• Beli Acoustic Column: Freestanding columns (180cm) for zoning, €540

Level 4: Soundproofing – Phone Booths & Focus Pods

Why phone booths are essential

In an average office, 34 phone calls per day per 10 employees are conducted. Without a call booth, this means:

→ 34 interruptions per day for everyone in the area
→ No privacy for caller (compliance risk in sensitive conversations)
→ Forced whispering or moving to stairwells/parking areas

Belcel = most ROI-positive acoustic investment for offices with 30+ employees.

ROI Calculation Sound Cell

Scenario: Office with 80 employees, investment in 4x CallMe M

Productivity Gain:

• On average, 25 phone calls/day disrupt the office
• Average interruption of 3 minutes per conversation for 10 bystanders
• With sound cells: 750 minutes/day productivity regained
• = €68,000/year (750 min × 220 days × €0.60/min labor time)

Payback period: 4-6 months

Level 5: Full isolation – Meeting rooms & prayer rooms

Ventilation is not an optional detail but a requirement for fully enclosed spaces: the Codex stipulates that the CO₂ concentration should generally remain below 900 ppm. What the legislation further requires from your workplace is outlined in Codex Work Well-being.

When Is Full Isolation Needed?

For some activities, 30-35 dB is not enough. Full isolation (35-40 dB) is essential for:

✅ Confidential HR discussions (terminations, medical info)
✅ Strategic management meetings (competitive-sensitive info)
✅ Client calls finance/legal (compliance requirements)
✅ Religious practices (prayer requires full concentration)
✅ Deep work (complex analyses, writing, programming)

All spaces require:

• Sound insulation: 31.5-35 dB
• Ventilation: 3-8 fans (depending on size)
• Lighting: LED + motion sensor
• Electrical connections: Plug & Play units
• Installation: 2-8 hours (no structural modifications)
• Movable: Demountable system

Multifunctional: Meeting room = prayer room

As discussed in our previous article on multifunctional prayer spaces, meeting rooms are equally suitable for:

• Religious practices (see our prayer room page)
• Punch spaces (see punch spaces)
• Meditation/Mindfulness
• Nap Pods
• Therapy/Counseling

Maximize ROI through multifunctional use.

The Complete Acoustic Plan: Hybrid Approach

The best results come from combining multiple levels:

Example: Office with 150 Employees (800m²)

Budget: €85,000

Result after 6 months:

• Self-reported concentration: +52%
• Sick leave due to stress: -18%
• Employee satisfaction: +28%
• Estimated productivity gain: €340,000/year

ROI: 403% in year 1

Read more about office acoustics

• Improving office acoustics — the 4-step plan from measurement to completion
• Office garden too noisy? — eight measures ranked by impact per euro
• Absorption class A to E — how to choose the right acoustic panel
• What does a sound booth cost? — pricing structure, lease, and hidden costs

Frequently asked questions

How many dB reduction do I need?

What is the lifespan of acoustic products?

• Panels (ceiling/wall): 10-15 years
• Call pods/pods: 12-18 years
• Partition Walls: 8-12 years (mechanical wear on hinges)

Can I take acoustic solutions with me when moving?

✅ Phone booths/pods: 100% relocatable (4-8 hours for disassembly + reassembly)
✅ Partition walls: Fully modular
✅ Suspended ceiling panels: Easy to relocate
⚠️ Fixed ceiling tiles: Difficult to reuse

How many sound cells do I need?

Rule of thumb: 1 sound cell per 15-20 employees in knowledge-intensive sectors (finance, legal, consulting)

Calculation:

• Average 2-3 phone calls/day/person
• Average conversation duration: 8 minutes
• Peak time: 11:00-12:00 and 14:00-15:00
• For 60 employees: minimum 3-4 sound cells

Start Your Acoustic Transformation

Offyce guides you from diagnosis to installation:

✅ Free acoustic quick scan (30 min video call)
✅ 3D visualization of your office with our solutions
✅ Full installation within 2-8 weeks
✅ 5-year warranty on all acoustic products

Invest in silence. Your employees and your balance will thank you.

Sources:

1. Journal of Environmental Psychology (2018) – Cognitive performance in open-plan offices
2. Cornell University Workplace Study (2020) – Creative output and noise
3. Steelcase Global Report (2019) – Workplace Satisfaction Survey
4. Perceptual and Motor Skills (2017) – Reading comprehension and background noise
5. University of Sydney (2013) – Noise sources in open-plan offices

Tags: #acoustics #office-layout #productivity #soundbooth #sound-insulation #open-office #workplace-design #offyce #acoustic-panels #meeting-room

Last updated on 24 October 2026 by Stijn Belmans