Commercial Applications of Noise-Canceling Curtains: Enhancing Workspaces

Most of us could use a little more peace and quiet in our lives. We’re constantly bombarded by noise in our daily commutes, offices, and homes. It may not always seem extreme, but even moderately loud noises can cause hearing damage over time. When we’re ready to mitigate our exposure, we turn to acoustical treatments and soundproofing products.

One of the most versatile products out there is a quality set of noise canceling curtains. They are incredibly effective and can support office noise reduction efforts in ways that many other materials can’t. If you don’t know much about noise canceling curtains, you’ll be surprised to learn how many applications call for them.

Today, we’re going to focus on commercial applications of noise canceling curtains. How they work, and where we can implement them for maximum benefit. 

How noise canceling curtains work

Just like traditional curtains, noise canceling curtains can be suspended from rods or hooks in nearly any place you need a little extra privacy. Unlike those traditional curtains, the noise canceling variety soaks up sound waves and blocks a tremendous amount of light. They function on multiple levels.

Noise canceling curtains are made from dense, absorbent material that provides acoustic and aesthetic benefits for both residential and commercial spaces. Some of their most impressive use cases can be found in commercial applications. Utilizing them in your place of business can deliver some significant benefits.

Benefits of noise canceling curtains

We’ve already touched on the fact that exposure to loud noises can damage our hearing, but the effects of noise exposure don’t stop there. In fact, chronic exposure to noise can raise stress levels, negatively affect our ability to focus and concentrate, and lead to mistakes and decreased productivity. Each of these effects can be mitigated through the use of noise canceling curtains.

Soundproofing measures, in general, can help reduce the amount of noise we’re exposed to, whether those noises originate from inside or outside the space. Let’s take a quick look at how introducing noise canceling curtains into our work spaces can help us become happier, healthier, and more productive people. 

Protecting our hearing

When work spaces are too loud, there is a proven link to employee hearing loss down the road. Extremely loud noises can damage hearing almost immediately, but even moderately noisy spaces can contribute to hearing loss if we are exposed for too long. In any office, noise canceling headphones may serve to solve the problem for some, but there are good reasons to implement a more global solution.

A high level of exposure is enough to cause hearing loss and tinnitus over time, which in turn can increase our chances of developing a number of additional ailments, including dementia. Hearing health is incredibly important, and minimizing noise exposure is the only real way of proactively protecting it.

Reducing stress

Exposure to loud sounds is also known to increase stress levels. Nearly all of us have experienced times where some type of offensive noise has driven us nuts, so we can easily understand this concept. 

When the body experiences an overload of stress, that stress can manifest in the form of an array of different conditions, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and strokes. Stress is no joke, so taking steps to reduce stressors is a move in the right direction when looking after our overall health.

Increasing communication and productivity

No boss or business owner is happy when their employees are unproductive. Unfortunately, many times they unknowingly contribute to lower productivity than they’d like by failing to address noisy spaces. Chronic exposure to noise can lower employee satisfaction and productivity in a couple of ways. 

First, increased stress levels due to extended noise exposure can make it much harder to focus and concentrate. This often translates into missed deadlines and mistakes. When quality work is key, our ability to focus can make or break the business. Luckily, improving sound quality is one of those productivity improvement techniques that really works well.

Another negative impact of ambient noise is that it can lead to miscommunications. If those miscommunications translate into missed deadlines and missed expectations, productivity can suffer. Absorbing ambient sound waves removes them from the equation and allows for better communication. Here’s why.

When we have to fight to hear each other, we often speak more loudly or even yell. This only exacerbates the problem and makes the space louder. It also creates a scenario where privacy can be a concern. Privacy in the workplace is often mentioned in surveys exploring employee satisfaction metrics, so protecting that privacy sends a great message of support to your workers.

Commercial Applications of Noise Canceling Curtains

If the noise in your workplace exceeds the minimum allowable levels of noise throughout the average work shift, OSHA requires that you implement a hearing conservation program or noise mitigation plan. The threshold for noise in the workplace equates to 85 decibels averaged over 8 working hours. Even if employees only work 4 hour shifts, if noise exposure exceeds 85 decibels over a time-weighted average, you’ll need to address it. Here are some ways to use noise canceling curtains to introduce professional level noise control in the workplace. 

Blocking outside noise

If your office is on a busy thoroughfare, you may experience a lot of noise that seeps in through the windows. Since windows are difficult to treat with traditional soundproofing materials, using noise canceling curtains in place of traditional curtains on road-facing windows can pull a lot of weight. 

They are dense enough to absorb much of the noise that makes it through your window, preventing those errant sound waves from rattling around the room. They also prevent interior noises like speaking voices and keyboard clacking from reflecting back into the room and gaining steam through reverberation. This combination eliminates outside noise and improves room acoustics at the same time.

Noise canceling curtains can improve office lighting as well. They are a wonderful way to keep harsh rays of sunshine from blinding your workers or casting glares over computer screens. They are great at both mitigating noise exposure and toning down the summer sun. There’s a lot to love.

Separating shared workspaces

If you’ve got your crew working in a large, shared workspace, noise can quickly get out of hand. Not only that but shared workspaces often lack privacy, which can make it hard for one team to accomplish their tasks when nearby conversations creep into their space.

Creating designated working areas with noise canceling curtains allows each team to focus on their goals without interruption. It also creates cozy environments that can be more conducive to efficient teamwork.

Blocking off noisy machinery

If your employees routinely operate loud machinery in their work, separating that machinery from the rest of the space with noise canceling curtains can take the edge off. It also conceals industrial looking machinery and creates a more streamlined and aesthetically pleasing appearance.

This concept doesn’t apply only to big, loud machinery. Even things like AC units, hydraulic pumps, and other mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems can contribute enough noise to deem them a nuisance. Utilizing noise canceling curtains here provides the same benefits you would expect with that larger, louder machinery.

Why choose noise canceling curtains?

Many of the benefits we’ve covered can be accomplished through a number of noise reduction office products. We can block outside noise from traversing windows by opting for new double or triple-pane windows, but that can get expensive quickly. Portable soundproof cubicles for offices can be used to separate workers in shared spaces, but they aren’t incredibly customizable and can’t be used for a whole lot of other uses. We can even build soundproof enclosures around noisy machinery to separate them from the rest of the workspace, but relocating them in the case of a remodel or new machinery purchase can be a real hassle. You may have a better option.

Noise canceling curtains provide these benefits without engaging in big construction projects or purchasing expensive building materials that serve a singular purpose. Plus, they are mobile enough that they can be easily moved and repurposed at the drop of a hat. They’re an excellent choice for all kinds of commercial applications, and you won’t break the bank by going this route.

Where to purchase noise canceling curtains

If you’re thinking of hitting a home decor store for some thick curtains, know that you will likely be underwhelmed by their performance. To get truly great sounding spaces, you’ve got to use professional materials. Purchasing true noise canceling curtains from a reputable provider will give you the performance and support you need to achieve your goals.

If you’re ready to learn more about how a good set of curtains can improve the sound in your workplace and protect the hearing of your workers, give us a shout. We have experience in designing noise treatment plans in all kinds of spaces. Whether you need help learning how to reduce noise in a shared office space to improve workplace comfort or are creating a serene residential space for you and your family, we’ve got you covered.