Tag Archives: feature

Covid-19 Office Environment

COVID-19, the “New Normal” Workplace, and the Benefits of Sound Masking

Whether it’s an open-office with communal workspaces or a more traditional layout with cubicles and private offices, workplaces need to adapt to a new, pandemic-driven reality.

Open office-architecture will remain. But with the implementation of staggered work schedules to regulate onsite headcount—and thereby foster proper distancing—a lack of office-acoustic consistency will result.

Reduced/irregular office occupancy means noise distractions, speech privacy, and employee comfort will likely become MORE problematic, not less.

More-traditional offices with cubicle layouts are installing partitions between staff members, whether Plexiglas, modular wall systems, or moveable screens. These options—which are solid surfaces to allow for easier disinfecting—are acoustically reflective and will dramatically alter an office environment’s overall acoustics, making noise distractions, speech privacy and employee comfort challenges even more prominent.

COVID-19 and the “New Normal” Workplace – How Can Sound Masking Help?

With inconsistent—and more disruptive—office acoustics because of onsite employees with staggered schedules and the installation of more acoustically reflective surfaces, sound masking helps by introducing a consistent level of background sound to reduce noise distractions, increase speech privacy, and increase employee comfort.

No matter the extent to which office architecture might evolve because of COVID-19, the potential for noise distractions, lack of speech privacy, and insufficient employee comfort will remain.

When employees endure more-frequent distractions, lack speech privacy, and feel less comfortable, overall business productivity suffers.

And the problems aren’t going away, which is why sound masking remains an easily installed, cost-effective and necessary solution.

Plus, with so many relatively empty offices because of the work-from-home mandates that are so common in today’s environment, now is the perfect time to consider installing a sound masking system in your office.

Learn more about the many ways Biamp’s industry-leading, next-generation Cambridge sound masking solutions will benefit your workplace.

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Lencore Continues to Spread False Fire Code Claims

Sound Masking and False Fire Code Claims

Lencore (a U.S.-based provider of sound masking solutions and one of Biamp’s sound masking competitors) has heightened their push to spread the claim that the National Fire Protection and Signaling Code 72 (NFPA 72) requires all standalone sound masking systems to be comprised of UL2572 listed components.

Lencore’s claim is false — pure and simple.

The facts:

  • Standalone sound masking systems DO NOT need to be UL 2572 listed. NFPA 72, in its entirety, does not dictate requirements for standalone sound masking systems.
  • Control units used in the deployment of Mass Notification Systems, such as Emergency Communications Systems, are required to be UL 2572 listed. Standalone sound masking components ARE NOT subject to this requirement.
  • Some local Authorities Having Jurisdiction or building codes may still require that a sound masking system be disabled in the event of an emergency. QtPro and DynasoundPro products both have hardware provisions for such connections. No special UL listing is required for the components to facilitate such a connection because the life safety system initiates and supervises the relay circuit to disable the sound masking signal.

For more facts about what the NFPA 72 does and does not require with regard to sound masking installations, check out the following information:

It’s important to note that Biamp has integrated Cambridge sound masking technology into its SageVue 2.1 browser-based monitoring and management platform. Now AV technology managers can use the same powerful, IT-friendly tools and customizable user interface to efficiently monitor and administer Cambridge equipment alongside Tesira®, Devio®, and Crowd Mics™ systems.

Lencore’s i.NET sound masking technology does not provide the ability to integrate system monitoring and administration into a centralized AV system control platform…yet another huge advantage in Biamp’s favor.