Conference rooms are important business spaces that demand the highest standards. Conference attendees need to be able to hear the presentations and discussions clearly and the speakers will be keen that their message gets across without any distractions. Similarly, many events in conference rooms, boardrooms or meeting rooms are confidential and what is discussed often needs to be kept within the confines of the room. This makes the soundproofing of such rooms absolutely essential. Noise intrusion from outside the conference room can distract delegates and speakers alike and seriously impact the quality of the event. Information leaking out from the conference or boardroom, meanwhile, could have serious consequences.
Problem areas in conference room soundproofing
One of the main areas of concern when considering how best to soundproof a conference room is the ceiling. Typically, modern offices are built to an open plan and office enclosures added as needed. These wall partitions often do not extend above the suspended ceiling and sound can easily be transferred across the ceiling void above the roof tiles. This out of sight area can all too often be overlooked when it comes to soundproofing conference rooms. The standard ceiling tile does not provide good sound insulation but there is a range of products that can help. Specialist ceiling tiles come with an increasing level of sound insulation, from a standard office range to tiles more suited to private offices and even interview room quality. These Acoustic Screens units are aided by specialist treatments for air grilles and lighting. The open area between the wall partition and ceiling can also be addressed. Here, acoustic ceiling barriers can be installed, which effectively continue the wall partition over the suspended ceiling and up to the soffit. This is a very effective way of dealing with noise transfer over the wall partition through the ceiling void.
Tackling the wall partitions
In some cases the internal wall partitions themselves do not provide an adequate level of sound insulation. Thankfully, this can be addressed by the addition of suitable sound absorbing panels to the walls. These units come in a number of colours and finishes to ensure a discreet and attractive finished solution. Such solutions are designed, not only to prevent sound entering or leaving the room, but also to improve the acoustic qualities and promote speech intelligibility. These are key factors in producing an environment that is conducive to productivity and concentration.