Office white noise

What is office white noise?

Office white noise is a steady, low background sound played through speakers to make conversations harder to overhear and less distracting. In offices it is usually called sound masking, and it is most often used in open plan areas.

How sound masking helps

Speech is most distracting when it is intelligible. A steady background sound lowers how far speech carries, which improves privacy and focus without making the office feel louder.

Other ways to reduce noise

• Acoustic panels and soft furnishings
• Quiet zones with clear rules
• Pods and small rooms for calls
• Noise-canceling headphones

Where AskCody fits

Moving calls and conversations out of the open area is one of the most effective noise strategies. AskCody makes the small rooms and pods for that easy to find and book from Outlook.

Frequently asked questions

Is white noise the same as sound masking?

Sound masking systems use sound shaped for speech frequencies, which is often more comfortable than pure white noise.

Does sound masking make the office louder?

When set correctly, it is barely noticed and makes the office feel quieter.

 

Related terms

• Open office plan
• Quiet car
• Pod
• Biophilia
• Closed office plan