Acoustic Comfort in the Office: How to Reduce Noise with Zen Acoustic Products
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Noise is the invisible enemy of productivity in modern offices. Overlapping phone calls, colleague conversations, printers, constant notifications—noise levels in open-plan spaces can reach up to 85 decibels, equivalent to heavy urban traffic. The result? Stress, fatigue, and a dramatic drop in concentration that costs companies thousands of euros every year.
The good news is that acoustic comfort is not an unattainable luxury: with the right solutions, noisy environments can be transformed into quiet, productive, and pleasant workplaces. Steelbox, through its Zen Acoustic Products line, offers Italian-designed solutions that combine superior technical performance with minimalist aesthetics—perfectly suited for today’s workspaces.
The Noise Problem in Modern Offices
Statistics on workplace noise are alarming and reveal a universal issue affecting millions of employees:
86% of workers in open-plan offices complain about excessive noise, identifying it as the main source of distraction during the workday. And this is not just perception: scientific studies show that noisy environments reduce productivity by 66% on tasks requiring deep concentration, such as data analysis, complex writing, or programming.
Acoustic stress increases by 27% in environments with poor noise control, contributing to a significant decline in both physical and mental well-being. Workers exposed to constant noise exhibit higher levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), greater fatigue, and a higher risk of cardiovascular issues.
On average, employees lose 1 hour per day due to acoustic distractions—phone calls interrupting workflow, conversations breaking concentration, sudden noises forcing people to reread documents or redo calculations. When multiplied by the number of employees, the annual cost for a mid-sized company can exceed €100,000.
Why Open-Plan Offices Are So Noisy
Open-plan offices, originally designed to promote collaboration and flexibility, have unintentionally created a systemic acoustic problem. Large uninterrupted surfaces, high ceilings, hard floors, and smooth walls all reflect sound instead of absorbing it, creating continuous reverberation that amplifies every noise.
In an untreated open space, reverberation time can exceed 2 seconds, whereas optimal acoustic comfort requires it to stay below 0.6 seconds. This gap transforms ordinary conversations into pervasive background noise that travels across the room, making focused work nearly impossible.
What Is Acoustic Comfort?
Acoustic comfort is the condition in which the level and quality of sound in a space allow people to work, communicate, and rest without disturbance or fatigue. It doesn’t mean absolute silence—it means intelligent noise control: reducing unwanted sounds, improving speech clarity in collaborative areas, and ensuring acoustic privacy where needed.
Acoustic comfort is measured using precise technical parameters, defined by international standards such as ISO 3382 (room acoustics):
Reverberation Time (RT60):The time it takes for a sound to decay by 60 decibels after the source stops.Optimal values for offices: 0.4–0.6 seconds.
Sound Pressure Level (SPL):Measured in decibels (dB), it indicates noise intensity.Recommended levels: 35–45 dB for focused work, 45–55 dB for collaborative zones.
Acoustic Absorption Coefficient (αw):Indicates a material’s ability to absorb sound, ranging from 0 (total reflection) to 1 (total absorption).
Benefits of Acoustic Comfort
Investing in acoustic comfort generates measurable benefits that more than justify the initial cost:
+35% productivity on tasks requiring deep focus.Workers in acoustically treated environments complete complex projects faster and with fewer errors.
–27% perceived stress, measured through well-being surveys and cortisol levels.Quieter environments reduce mental fatigue and improve overall mood.
+48% concentration during complex cognitive activities.Reduced acoustic distractions make it easier to enter a “flow state,” the mental condition of peak productivity.
–15% sick leave related to stress and fatigue.Good acoustic conditions contribute to employee well-being, reducing burnout and psychosomatic issues.
Sound Insulation vs Sound Absorption
It is essential to distinguish between sound insulation and sound absorption—two concepts often confused but serving very different functions:
Sound insulation prevents noise from passing through walls, doors, or partitions, acoustically separating two environments. This is the solution required for meeting rooms, private offices, or phone booths.
Sound absorption reduces reverberation within a space by absorbing sound waves and preventing them from bouncing off hard surfaces. This is the key to improving acoustic comfort in open-plan offices, common areas, and shared spaces.
Zen Acoustic Products focuses specifically on sound absorption—the most effective approach for enhancing comfort in modern workplaces.
Zen Acoustic Products is born from the fusion of minimalist Italian design and advanced acoustic technology. The result is a collection of sound-absorbing solutions that not only solve technical issues but transform noise control into a distinctive aesthetic element of the workspace.
Every Zen product is designed to integrate seamlessly into any environment—from classic corporate interiors to contemporary coworking spaces—without compromising the visual identity of the room. Clean lines, balanced proportions, and refined finishes make Zen panels true design elements, not merely technical accessories.
Technical Features
High Absorption CoefficientZen Acoustic panels reach αw values up to 0.97 in the frequencies critical for the human voice (500–2000 Hz), ensuring effective reverberation reduction and immediate improvement in speech intelligibility.
Sustainable MaterialsMade from recyclable materials and produced through low-impact manufacturing processes, Zen products align with Steelbox’s commitment to genuine sustainability. Environmental certifications ensure safety, quality, and compliance with the strictest European standards.
Long-Lasting DurabilityItalian craftsmanship guarantees long-term resistance, acoustic stability, and easy maintenance. Choosing Zen means investing in solutions that maintain their performance for decades.
A Free Professional Acoustic Design Tool
Steelbox has developed the Zen App, a free application that allows designers, architects, facility managers, and companies to accurately calculate the acoustic requirements of any space and correctly size Zen Acoustic solutions.
How It Works
Enter the room dimensions: length, width, and ceiling height. The app automatically calculates the total volume and surface area.
Select the room type: open space, meeting room, break area, private office, coworking. Each category has specific target acoustic parameters.
Start the test: follow the steps using the dedicated measurement kit.
Receive a custom report: the app indicates the required sound-absorbing surface and calculates the expected reverberation time after treatment.
Invest in Productive Silence
Acoustic comfort is not a secondary detail—it is a key factor in productivity, well-being, and corporate success. Zen Acoustic Products offer Italian-designed solutions that transform noisy offices into quiet, elegant, and high-performance environments. With certified technical performance, minimalist aesthetics, and the convenience of the Zen App for precise calculations, designing acoustic comfort has never been easier.
The Steelbox team provides free consulting for complex acoustic projects, including site inspections, professional measurements, and tailored design
solutions.Contact us to discuss your project.
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