As your building’s commercial HVAC system switches on and off throughout the day, it can generate intolerable levels of noise.
As your building’s commercial HVAC system switches on and off throughout the day, it can generate intolerable levels of noise. One way to ensure that your employees aren’t distracted and affected by noise pollution is to consider the design of your premises. Although that is a solid way to start, it isn’t the only solution you have. Here are some of your other options when you are looking to safeguard your employees and protect their hearing.
Upgrade to Quieter Commercial HVAC Systems
Your existing commercial HVAC systems might have served you well for years or even decades by now. However, just because your company has been in business for over twenty years doesn’t mean you need to rely on HVAC systems from the 1990s. One way to spare your employees from noise pollution is to upgrade to quieter, more efficient modern systems. It’s entirely possible that your system is too large for your space, or in some cases, too small. Finding the right commercial HVAC system doesn’t need to be complicated, either. One possibility to consider integrating variable refrigerant flow, or VRF technology.
Consider Where Ducts and Fans Go
Renovating your office space is another great way to modernize your building and relieve pressure on your commercial HVAC system. Your employees will also be more comfortable in a brighter office with newer technology – especially when phones aren’t ringing, or when computer fans blow more quietly. These two examples are major culprits when it comes to increasing the amount of noise pollution in an office setting. However, you also need to pay some attention to the placement of ductwork and fans. These two components may contribute to increasing the levels of noise that will interfere with employee productivity and affect their health.
Find Ways to Absorb Sound
Look at the different rooms of your building. What do you see? Metal and glass are beautiful and elegant components of modern office design, but they also tend to allow noise to echo. Decorating your office can absorb and deaden sound, which means that you will have a much quieter space to help offset noise from your commercial HVAC unit. Such decorations include carpets, paintings, and office plants, which can oxygenate rooms and help your employees and workers think much more clearly and feel much better.
Add Quiet Zones
Depending on the industry your company is a part of, excessive noise might be unavoidable. However, in a typical office setting, you can designate specific areas to be quiet zones. These zones can provide employees with some privacy when they need to make or answer phone calls, and these can also be places for employees to converse and communicate without the need to talk loudly and disturb others working nearby.
Crockett Facilities Can Help!
Crockett Facilities Services, Inc. (CFSI) is committed to helping building owners, property managers, engineers, and facility professionals lower their operating expenses through HVAC preventive maintenance. We can develop a cost-effective, customized preventive maintenance plan for your commercial building that will provide you with peace of mind, improved comfort, and energy savings.
To learn more about the importance of HVAC Preventive Maintenance, please contact us at 202.600.2787 or mford@crockett-facilities.com. Our PM contract customers receive priority service with 24/7 emergency service in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC.