What’s That Sound? How to Address Critical Control Room Acoustics Issues

What do you know about control room acoustics? If you’re like most people, you know the basics. Acoustics affect how the sound responds in a space, and how the space sounds. The noise in any work environment is important to how it functions and the productivity of the employees who work there. When it comes to control rooms, however, the acoustic considerations are even more critical. Take a look at common control room acoustics issues and how to address them before they put a damper on your effectiveness.

Control Room Acoustics and Comfort

We all know what it’s like to try to work in a loud, chaotic environment. It’s hard to concentrate and deal with critical issues that need undivided attention and focus. The comfort of your control room is dependent on many things, but the acoustics is at the top of the list. When your operators are working in close proximity to each other, the noise level is a huge factor. It directly affects everyone’s comfort level and the ability to focus.

Primary Factors in Control Room Acoustics

When you’re talking about acoustics in a control room, there are two primary types of sound. First is that from the production and equipment in the room. It can transfer from the tools and workspace to the rest of the room and beyond. It comes from computers, phones, video and audio equipment, and more. And, it affects the noise level within the control room as well as those working inside it. The other factor is the sound of the people in the room. Voices and conversations, especially if the staff works on the phone, can make the ambient noise rise to uncomfortable levels even in a small control room design.

The Size of the Room

One way to combat noise issues and create desirable control room acoustics is to take into consideration the size requirements of the control room pre-build. Resonances, or the reflection of sound off a surface, are present in every workspace. It’s important to plan their location and spread them out across the room to reduce the impact. Consideration of room height, width, and length ratios can help control the exaggeration of sound due to resonance.

The Room Finishes

In addition to the size of the room, the finishes will help determine the success of your acoustics. Reducing hard surfaces is one way to reduce noise, as is installing carpet and acoustic panels to divert and absorb sound. Ceiling tiles and workspace partitions that absorb sound will also help reduce the noise level in the room and keep it from bouncing around.

Acoustics is both a science and an art. The plan to create an acoustically desirable space for your control room should be at the top of your priority list. To make sure you’re on the right track with your control room acoustics issues, talk to our team of pros at Fountainhead Control Rooms.