Placement matters almost as much as quantity. A panel in the right spot removes a strong reflection; the same panel in a corner nobody hears may do very little. In open offices, start here:
- baffles or clouds over the desks, where most of the sound reaches the ceiling
- dividers between team zones
- panels on columns and the end walls of the floor
Spread them out
Absorption works best spread across several surfaces rather than all on one wall. Treating two facing walls stops sound bouncing between them (flutter echo). If you only treat one of a pair of parallel walls, alternate panels on each so no strip of bare wall faces another.
Height
In open offices most of the sound energy reaches the ceiling, so hang ceiling products evenly over the occupied area, not just in one zone. Keep them clear of sprinklers, lights and air diffusers.
Wall or ceiling?
For open offices we suggest roughly 30% of the treatment on walls and 70% on the ceiling. In larger rooms the ceiling is the biggest surface you can treat, and the closest to every listener.
Try the 3D layout builder to arrange panels on your wall before you order.