Acoustic Comfort Strategy

Service description

1. 01

   Who this service is for

   This service is designed for operations managers, HR directors, and facilities teams who know their open-plan office is too loud but have not yet been able to quantify the problem or prioritise a response. It is equally relevant for organisations moving into a new space who want to address acoustic risk before staff move in, rather than after complaints accumulate.

   We work exclusively with businesses, which means we understand the constraints that shape real decisions: budget approval cycles, phased rollouts, and the need to keep disruption to a minimum during working hours. Every recommendation we make is grounded in that operational reality.

2. 02

   What the assessment covers

   We begin with a structured acoustic walk-through of your office, taking decibel readings at representative workstations using a handheld meter. Staff do not need to pause their work; the process is entirely non-intrusive. We identify primary noise sources, map how sound travels through the space, and assess speech-privacy risk zone by zone.

   The walk-through is followed by a detailed strategy document, delivered within three business days of the on-site visit. That document includes panel and soft-surface placement recommendations, a zone-separation strategy covering both physical and behavioural interventions, and cost-tiered options so your team can act at whatever investment level is currently feasible.

3. 03

   Calibrating the right level of intervention

   Not every acoustic problem requires the same solution, and not every organisation has the same budget. Our cost-tiered approach — low, medium, and high investment — means you receive a plan that is genuinely usable, not one that assumes unlimited resources. Each tier is described with enough specificity that your facilities team can evaluate it against current procurement cycles.

   For organisations that also need a formal speech-privacy compliance review, we offer that as an add-on to the standard engagement. If your project ultimately requires a stamped acoustic engineering report for construction or permitting purposes, we will identify that need clearly and refer you to an appropriate specialist.

4. 04

   How acoustic and seating work layers together

   Soft seating inherently adds acoustic absorption to a space, which means our Acoustic Comfort Strategy and our soft-seating zone design work are closely complementary. When both are commissioned together, we produce a single coordinated plan rather than two documents that must be reconciled separately. The result is a more coherent set of recommendations and a cleaner implementation path for your team.

   This integration reflects a broader principle in how we work: interventions that address multiple problems simultaneously are almost always more effective than those designed in isolation. We flag these opportunities wherever they exist in your space.

5. 05

   What you receive at the end

   The deliverable is a written acoustic improvement plan structured around your specific floor, your measured readings, and your identified noise sources. It is not a generic checklist. Each recommendation is tied to a location, a rationale, and a cost tier, so the document can move directly into a facilities or procurement conversation without requiring further interpretation.

   Pricing scales with floor area, and the scope of the walk-through and documentation scales with it accordingly. For larger floor plates, the plan covers the full footprint with the same level of specificity as a smaller engagement. You will know exactly what you are receiving before the engagement begins.

6. 06

   Preparing for the on-site visit

   To make the most of the half-day on-site session, it helps to have a current floor plan available and to identify in advance any zones where noise complaints have been most frequent. If your team has already gathered informal feedback through surveys or manager conversations, sharing that with us beforehand allows us to weight the walk-through accordingly.

   No specialist preparation is required from staff. We ask only that the office be occupied at a typical working density during the visit, so that our decibel readings reflect real conditions rather than an artificially quiet environment. The more representative the conditions, the more accurate the resulting plan.

What the service includes

• Structured acoustic walk-through with decibel readings
• Identification of primary noise sources and propagation paths
• Speech-privacy risk mapping by zone
• Panel and soft-surface placement recommendations
• Zone-separation strategy (physical and behavioural)
• Cost-tiered intervention options (low, medium, high investment)

How an engagement unfolds

1. 1

   Discovery call

   We begin with a 30-minute call to understand your organization's size, current challenges, timeline, and priorities. This shapes the scope and ensures we propose only what you actually need.

2. 2

   Scope and proposal

   Within 3 business days we send a written proposal with a clear scope, deliverable list, timeline, and fixed fee. No hourly billing surprises.

3. 3

   On-site engagement

   Our senior consultant arrives on the agreed date, conducts measurements, observations, and interviews, and photographs every relevant zone. Staff disruption is kept to a minimum.

4. 4

   Analysis and documentation

   We analyse findings, produce annotated floor plans, specifications, and strategy documents, and apply a thorough internal review before sending anything to you.

5. 5

   Delivery and walkthrough

   We present findings and recommendations in a structured walkthrough meeting — in person or by video — and answer questions from your team. One revision round is included.

Price

Gross prices are for guidance only. You will receive an exact quote before work begins.

Frequently asked questions