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  1. Comfort
  2. Sound masking

Sound masking

Features>Comfort>79. Sound masking

79. Sound masking

Complete silence can be just as distracting as loud environments as they highlight sudden acoustical disturbances and decrease speech privacy. Sound masking provides a low level of background noise that can help lessen the contrast in the case of an aural interruption.

This feature aims to mitigate uncomfortable acoustic disruptions and increase speech privacy by providing low background noise through the use of sound masks.

Part 1: Sound Masking Use

All open office workspaces use the following:

a.90 Sound masking systems.
Part 1: Stakeholder Charrette

Prior to the design and programming of the project, all stakeholders, including at a minimum the owner, architects, engineers and facilities management team meet to:

a. Perform a values assessment and alignment exercise within the team to inform any project goals as well as strategies to meet occupant expectations.
b.1 Discuss the needs of the occupants, focusing on wellness.
c. Set future meetings to stay focused on the project goals and to engage future stakeholders who join the process after the initial meeting, such as contractors and sub-contractors.
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Applicability Matrix

Core & Shell Tenant Improvement New Construction
Part 1: Sound Masking Use - O O
Part 1: Stakeholder Charrette P P P
Commercial Kitchen Schools Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
Part 1: Sound Masking Use - - - - -
Part 1: Stakeholder Charrette P P P P P

Verification Methods Matrix

Letters of Assurance Annotated Documents On-Site Checks
PART 1 (Design)
Sound Masking Use 		Architect
PART 1 (Protocol)
Stakeholder Charrette 		Policy Document

90

U.S. General Services Administration Center for Workplace Strategy Public Buildings Service. Sound Matters: How to Achieve Acoustic Comfort in the Contemporary Office. Washington, D.C.: 2012: 11, 29, 32, 33, 36.
79.1.a

The General Services Administration's Sound Matters recommends that sound masking should be considered a technique to achieve acoustic comfort in contemporary offices.
79.2.b

The General Services Administration's Sound Matters recommends sound masking at 40-42 dBA for private offices.
79.2.a

The General Services Administration's Sound Matters recommends sound masking at 45-48 dBA for open plan workspaces.
Features>Comfort>79. Sound masking