Many offices are using open plan office layout resulting in superior use of space and better communication flow. However, the 50 million employees working in those cubicles are challenged by poor acoustic characteristics of the open plan.

Conventional walls have now given way to modular workstations, more workers are making use of the same space, and everybody is seated near one another. But you will also see that, the latest building methods, absorptive actions, and quieter office equipment have considerably lowered the surrounding sound level and office noise has been reduced considerably.

Sound masking, which is also known as 'white noise', has been quite a successful solution. A system for sound masking contains speakers engineered to produce background noise throughout a facility. The humming sound that it produces is generally compared to the sound of gently blowing air.

Sound masking has many benefits the most significant of which is reduced distractions with conversations and a more relaxed working environment. Sound masking can be easily set up and fits easily into new or existing facilities regardless of size. It provides a very efficient and affordable way to tackle acoustic troubles without having to perform structural modifications.

One example of sound masking occurs when you attempt to talk over the sound of running water. If you run water in the sink in your kitchen, it will be difficult to talk to someone in the next room since the sound of the running water actually increases the sound in your room. You will be aware that your partner is speaking but not know what is being said.

At this point, we should discuss the definition of a "noise floor". This term is used by sound engineers to describe the ambient sound level in your environment. If it is too high, you might be annoyed by the "background noise". Conversely, if it is too low, typical sounds such as people talking in the distance might become a nuisance.

Masking provides privacy and produces a noise floor adequate to conceal noises and low enough for ease, generally in the bracket of 42 to 48 dBA. By doing so, such systems are able to effectively cover distracting sounds without themselves becoming a distraction.

It is said that about 50 million Americans do their job in open plan offices, and suffer considerable interruption as a result. Cubicles usually make better use of space and improve communication flow, but they are an acoustic challenge. The main benefit of sound masking includes reduced conversational distractions, and a more relaxed working atmosphere. Thus, privacy can be achieved via masking, which establishes a noise level sufficient to hide intrusive noises, but sufficiently low so as not to be bothersome. Modern buildings with absorptive walls and quiet machines have decreased the ambient level of office noise, reducing interruptions considerably.