Acoustic panels are the most frequently chosen solution to improve sound comfort in the office. They are relatively inexpensive, can be installed without renovation, and produce a visible effect. The problem is that the effectiveness depends not only on the panel itself, but primarily on how many of them there are and where they are placed.

Types of panels and their application

Wall panels are the most universal solution. They are mounted at the height where speech reflects, which is roughly at the head level of a sitting and standing person. They work well in meeting rooms and along long, empty walls.

Ceiling panels and islands act on the largest reflection surface, so they usually yield the most. They are particularly effective in rooms with large volumes and high ceilings.

Screens and partitions mounted between desks break the direct path of sound between workstations. They do not quiet the entire room, but they visibly improve comfort in the immediate vicinity.

Free-standing elements allow zones to be divided without interfering with the structure and work well where the office layout changes frequently.

What determines effectiveness

Three factors are the most important. The first is the surface area of the absorbing material relative to the volume of the room. A few panels in a large room will not change anything noticeably. The second is the installation location, meaning the proximity to the sound source and reflecting surfaces. The third is the thickness and construction of the material, which determines which frequencies are absorbed. Thin elements mainly deal with high pitches, while low frequencies require greater depth.

How to read parameters

Manufacturers provide the sound absorption coefficient measured in several frequency bands. It is worth looking at the entire range, not just a single number, because human speech falls mainly within the mid-range bands. When comparing solutions, it is also helpful to check in which configuration the measurement was performed, since the same material mounted directly on the wall and at a distance from it behaves differently.

Typical mistakes

The most common include: too small an amount of material, installation in decorative instead of functional places, and treating panels as the only solution in a situation that requires isolation, not absorption. If the problem is confidential conversations, a panel alone is not enough.

Summary

Acoustic panels work, provided that you choose the right amount of them and place them in the correct locations. Start with the ceiling and large wall surfaces, look at parameters across the entire frequency range, and remember that absorption solves the problem of reverberation, not confidentiality.