Controlling noise levels in your telemarketing cubicles presents significant challenges. When employees are exposed to excessive noise, they can’t concentrate. If they are on the phone, they may have to struggle to hear the person on the other end of the line. Even worse, the customer may hear the buzz of multiple conversations in the background. This gives a poor impression of the professional atmosphere of your company.

How do you control the sound in your office space? This is actually a complex processes that involves the acoustical performance of every surface including walls, flooring, ceiling, and furnishings. The way your telemarketing cubicles are arranged also impacts overall noise levels. An acoustical designer can help you determine the best materials and layout for maximum noise reduction.

NRC Rating

There are two types of noise control ratings commonly used in the office furnishing industry. The Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) measures how much sound a particular material can absorb in mid-range frequencies. This is measured from least effective (0) to most effective (1). A panel with an NRC rating of .2 would be slightly sound reducing. One with an NRC rating of .7 would be fairly efficient.

One common complaint about advertised rating specs is that they are based on lab results. The actual effectiveness of a panel in real life conditions may be much lower. It’s a good idea to contact the cubicle manufacturer if you have questions about how they calculated their NRC rating.

STC Rating

The Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating of a product reveals its ability to block sound transmission. It is measured in increments from 35-60. The higher the number, the more sound a panel can block. In practice, structure has a lot to do with STC. For example, taller telemarketing cubicles can block more sound than ones with low dividing walls. Cubes that don’t have gaps where the panels connect will also transmit less sound.

How These Ratings Interact

A high NRC works by reducing noise within a space. In other words, a person would experience less sound reverberating off the walls of his/her own cube because the panels absorb it. A high STC works by reducing the transfer of noise into an adjoining space. In other words, the person in the next cube would experience less sound leaking through from “next door” because it is blocked.

Unfortunately, these two ratings are mutually exclusive. Either you can have acoustic panels that absorb sound, or wall systems that block it. Deciding which option is best for your space is, again, best achieved with the help of a professional acoustics consultant. Otherwise, you may end up paying top dollar for telemarketing cubicles that do exactly the opposite of what you intended.

Do you cherish creativity in your employees just as much as you value productivity? Herman Miller systems furniture allows you to craft a workplace atmosphere that inspires both with their My Studio Environments collection. A studio is more than just an office – it’s where new ideas are born and innovative imagination is allowed free reign.

Frosted, patterned glass partitions give each mini-studio a soft glow. The circular interior layout offers a comfortable, cocoon-like personal space. The walls “float” just above the floor on short metal supports to reduce any feeling of claustrophobia. You can choose from a wide range of options for paint, laminates, and panel cladding for the My Studio line. This allows you to promote your brand image and create just the right mood for your office.

These 6’X8’ cubicles were designed with the goal of making each employee’s space feel as large as possible. That’s an excellent selling point for both employers and end users when office real estate is at a premium. These Herman Miller systems furniture modules are made up of components that are fairly easy to reconfigure. This means your cubicle setup can evolve along with your workforce.

In a departure from the traditional open cube, workers have the option of closing a door to reduce interruptions and increase concentration. Each user can also set up his/her computer screen so it isn’t immediately visible to people passing by. Since today’s employers screen internet usage via tracking software, this modicum of “IRL” privacy is a simple courtesy most workers will appreciate.

My Studio – Sustainability and History

Canadian designer Douglas Ball had this to say about his Herman Miller systems furniture creations, “I want people to come in on Monday morning and be happy that they’re there.” His love of the compact, functional spaces in personal sailing vessels and recreational vehicles translated into the My Studio collection. The manufacturer has built on this design with an eye toward sustainable practices at each point along the line.

Steel is the main component of these cubicles – it makes up 59% of the total materials used. This metal is, of course, fully recyclable at the end of the product’s life cycle. In total, 69% of the components in this collection can be reprocessed. 30% of the raw materials used in the My Studio line are pre or post consumer recycled content. The powder-coated finishes and water based adhesives used in this furniture keep potential indoor airborne pollution to a minimum.

Teknion systems furniture is now showcased in two eco-friendly buildings in California. The company’s newest construction project in Santa Monica joins the existing San Francisco location in taking home the gold for being green. Both showrooms have earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at the gold level.

That means the buildings meet strict standards for:

• Energy and water efficiency
• Low carbon dioxide emissions
• Sustainability in the methods and materials used during construction

Currently, the LEED program is fully voluntary. So, kudos to this office furniture company for setting an example other businesses operating in California should follow. The full Teknion systems furniture line is also manufactured following eco-friendly standards. All of the company’s facilities are ISO 14001 certified and have implemented a comprehensive EMS (environmental management system). Their focus on green showrooms is just another step toward making every process sustainable – from sourcing to sales.

Office Furniture Innovation Continues

Teknion isn’t lagging behind when it comes to offering customers new choices. Among their most recently developed products is the Visio task chair. This seating option is touted as coming closer than any other chair to the ideal of “one-size-fits-all”. The company has studied ergonomic standards from around the world to come up with the features provided on this high tech piece of equipment.

They also took into account anthropometric statistics. That’s a fancy way of saying they figured out how to make a chair that can adjust to fit a very broad range of body sizes, shapes, and weights. Here are some of the adjustment knobs and levers available on the Visio:

• Seat height and depth
• Arm height, depth, width, and rotation
• Headrest tilt for height, depth, and angle
• Back tilt along with tension adjustment and synchronized back/seat tilting

The back of the Visio is covered with a breathable Flexweave fabric that cradles the user while providing just the right level of support. So far, they have 5 colors on offer: black, brown, tan, white, and blue. Of course, these color options have much fancier names in the brochure!

Because of this company’s commitment to the environment and to end user comfort, you have two reasons to feel good about investing in Teknion systems furniture.