1. room-in-room systems for the office - why actually?

In the following article, we'll highlight the three most commonly used room-within-a-room systems to combat sound and reverberation. But first, you should know why room-within-a-room systems are gaining importance these days and are a part of almost every modern office.

Driven by modern changes in the world of work and the development of new ways of working, concepts such as open-plan offices, new work, and multispace offices gained more popularity in recent decades, replacing classic room designs with many individual offices. With the new offices came primarily acoustic problems: noise, sound, and echo. Sound and reverberation spread unhindered over large open spaces, preventing concentrated, undisturbed work. 

Also, the Corona-induced consequence of more virtual calls and phone calls with those in the home office leads to increased noise in the office and a lack of screened areas for phone calls. The modern post-covid office must take into account that each employee will have at least 2-5 calls per day. So the office space will be used in a fundamentally different way and suitable retreats will need to be created to accommodate this. 

Due to the above-mentioned problems, various measures are now being used in open-plan offices to actively reduce noise and improve sound insulation in the office. In this article you will find the 10 best measures for a better sound insulation in the office. Here are three of the most important ones to absorb sound and minimise the reverberation effect.

1. Acoustic absorbers

Acoustic elements provide better sound insulation. Any furniture - curtains, carpets, cabinets, tables and chairs - is capable of intercepting reverberation in the room. Long, bare paths, in particular, transport reverberation unfiltered. These poor room acoustics can be improved by moving tables and cabinets, and by purchasing rugs and curtains.    

2. Room dividers

Partition walls and table tops can be used as room dividers. The spatial separation not only creates quiet zones, but also actively absorbs sounds and reduces noise. On top of that, the room dividers create privacy, enabling concentrated work.   

3. Acoustic panels
   

Ceiling sails and wall absorbers consist of special panels that swallow disturbing reverberation. They prevent reverberation from being reflected over walls and ceilings. They are commercially available in various designs and can be added on in hindsight.

So much for the theory. But anyone who has ever worked in an open-plan office or coworking space knows that these measures only help to a limited extent. Noise, which is mainly caused by phone calls and conversations among each other, is not completely shielded. 

For optimal and effective sound insulation, existing rooms must be modified and new rooms must be created. Therefore, we have taken a closer look at the three most common room-in-room systems and explain which advantages and disadvantages they entail.

3. room systems for the office through glass partitions

Advantages of the room-in-room system of glass partitions

Partition walls made of glass create separate areas and at the same time ensure an open room climate. Light can shine through and spaces appear brighter and larger. There are chic glazing design options that can enhance an office space. Condensations and thick glass protect well against sound. Generally, the thicker the glass, the better the sound insulation. Privacy is partially guaranteed. The spoken word does not get through and you remain visible to other colleagues, which can be an advantage in the office.

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Disadvantages of glass partitions in the office

As with drywall construction, the installation of glass partitions usually means an intervention in the building structure, which leads to short-term working noise and dirt. Glass partitions can also result in high humidity and poor air quality. This is another reason why you should think about an external air supply or integrate a window in the room. The cost is significantly higher than dry construction but quite similar to mobile room systems.

4. mobile room-in-room system: telephone booths and meeting boxes

Originally, mobile room-in-room systems were shelters and office modules from the early 1970s and were used for the construction industry. Almost 50 years later, they are no longer containers, but converted telephone and meeting boxes or think tanks - where important phone calls, meetings and focused brainwork is done. Especially due to new work concepts such as coworking, new work and open-plan offices, mobile room systems in the office are gaining more and more popularity. Flex desk models and decentralized work, i.e. the concept of freely selectable seating in work and rest zones, have made them an indispensable part of the modern office world.   

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What are the advantages of mobile phone and meeting booths?

In addition to their flexibility and free positioning on the surface, mobile room systems for the office offer the advantage that they can be set up without interfering with the premises. Especially for fast-growing startups that often change offices, it makes sense to rely on mobile systems right from the start. They can be moved around at will and simply dismantled and set up when moving. This not only saves new construction and acquisition costs, but also potential costs for demolition and disposal of the old room systems.

Thanks to specially developed soundproof walls and acoustic felts, telephone and meeting boxes are highly soundproofed and hardly let any noise in or out. They do not require a professional connection - a standard power outlet is quite sufficient. High-quality telephone and meeting boxes come fully equipped with ventilation by several fans, integrated lighting, as well as interior equipment (furniture, monitor holder, sockets, USB and LAN connections).

What are the disadvantages?

Mobile room-in-room systems sometimes cost more than the previous two solutions, but are reusable and more sustainable. Another reason for the high costs is distribution through dealers (instead of direct sales by manufacturers) with whopping dealer margins. Added to this are assembly and delivery costs. Usually there are long delivery times of 4-12 weeks. It should be checked in advance whether the static requirements of the office space can withstand the weight of the meeting boxes.