Noise is one of the most common workplace comfort issues, especially in open-plan offices, commercial buildings, clinics, schools, laboratories and industrial support areas. It can come from conversations, printers, meeting rooms, HVAC systems, machinery, alarms, nearby roads, construction activity or building services.

Even when noise is not loud enough to cause hearing damage, it can still affect concentration, privacy, communication, stress levels and productivity. This is why companies should not only think about noise as an occupational exposure issue. They should also consider whether the sound environment is suitable for the type of work being carried out.

RMT provides noise testing in the UAE as part of its environmental testing services. Using sound level meters and appropriate measurement methods, RMT helps companies understand whether workplace noise levels are suitable, whether employees are being affected by distraction, and whether improvements are needed to support comfort, safety and performance.

What poor noise conditions do to a workplace

Poor acoustic conditions can affect employees even when the noise does not seem extreme. In many workplaces, the issue is not one very loud source, but a combination of background conversations, phone calls, equipment, printers, doors, HVAC noise and activity from nearby areas.

In offices, poor noise conditions can lead to:

• reduced concentration;
• difficulty completing focused work;
• lower productivity;
• increased stress and frustration;
• reduced acoustic privacy;
• difficulty holding confidential conversations;
• more interruptions between employees;
• fatigue from constant background noise;
• complaints from staff about distraction.

Noise can also affect communication. In areas such as clinics, receptions, control rooms, laboratories, classrooms and meeting rooms, poor acoustic conditions can make it harder to hear instructions, discuss sensitive information or communicate clearly.

For companies, this matters because noise-related complaints are often linked to space planning, equipment location, office layout or building services. Without testing, it can be difficult to know whether the problem is caused by people, machinery, HVAC systems, poor acoustic finishes or the way the workplace is arranged.

Why good noise control is important

Good noise control helps create a workplace where people can focus, communicate and work comfortably. The aim is not to make every workplace silent. The aim is to make sound levels suitable for the activity taking place.

An open-plan office, meeting room, call centre, laboratory, reception area and industrial workspace will each have different acoustic needs. A busy collaborative space may tolerate more activity noise, while a focused office area may need lower background noise and better acoustic privacy.

Good workplace noise control helps companies:

• improve concentration and productivity;
• reduce staff complaints about distraction;
• support employee wellbeing;
• improve privacy in offices and meeting rooms;
• create better conditions for focused work;
• reduce stress caused by constant background noise;
• support occupational health and safety assessments;
• identify equipment or building systems creating unnecessary noise;
• demonstrate that workplace comfort concerns are being properly assessed.

Noise testing is valuable because it provides measurable evidence. Instead of relying only on opinions such as “this area feels noisy,” companies can understand the actual sound levels, where the problem is occurring, and what may be causing it.

Ideal workplace noise values

For normal office comfort, RMT uses a benchmark of approximately 45 to 50 dB(A) LAeq,T in open-plan office areas, particularly where acoustic privacy and concentration are important.

This benchmark is useful for assessing whether an open-plan office environment is suitable for focused work. The measurement should be taken using A-weighted sound level readings, which reflect how the human ear responds to different frequencies.

The term LAeq,T refers to the equivalent continuous A-weighted sound level over a measurement period. In simple terms, it gives an average sound level over time, which is useful because workplace noise often rises and falls throughout the day.

As a practical guide:

Open-plan offices requiring focus and privacy:
Approximately 45 to 50 dB(A) LAeq,T

Quiet rooms, private offices and meeting rooms:
Generally expected to be quieter than busy open-plan areas, depending on use

Reception areas and collaborative spaces:
May tolerate higher levels because of speech and visitor activity

Print rooms, plant areas and equipment spaces:
May be higher and should be assessed based on comfort, exposure and source control

Industrial or machinery areas:
Should be assessed separately for occupational noise exposure where relevant

BS 8233:2014 provides guidance on sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings and includes design considerations for internal acoustic environments. For open-plan offices where privacy is relevant, the 45 to 50 dB range is commonly used as a comfort benchmark.

ADOSH office ergonomics guidance also recognises workplace noise as an office-environment issue, noting that noise can reduce productivity and increase stress.

Why decibel readings alone are not enough

Noise testing is not only about recording a number. Two workplaces may have similar average decibel readings but feel completely different to employees.

For example, a steady background noise from ventilation may be less distracting than intermittent conversations, ringing phones, doors closing or printer noise. Sudden or unpredictable sounds can be more disruptive than a constant sound level.

A proper workplace noise assessment should consider:

• the measured sound level;
• how long the noise continues;
• whether the noise is steady or intermittent;
• whether the noise affects concentration;
• whether speech privacy is affected;
• whether employees report distraction or stress;
• whether the source is equipment, people, layout or building services;
• whether the area is meant for focused work, collaboration or public interaction.

This is why RMT’s noise testing focuses on both measurement and workplace impact. The goal is to help companies understand whether the sound environment supports the work being done.

How to improve noise conditions in different situations

Noise problems can have different causes. The best solution depends on whether the issue comes from office layout, equipment, conversations, HVAC systems, poor acoustic finishes, external noise or industrial activity.

If open-plan office noise is affecting concentration

Open-plan offices often create distraction because employees are exposed to conversations, phone calls, meetings and movement throughout the day.

Possible improvements include:

• creating quiet rooms for focused work;
• introducing enclosed meeting or call rooms;
• separating collaborative areas from focused work areas;
• using acoustic screens or partitions;
• improving acoustic ceiling tiles, wall panels or flooring;
• reducing unnecessary background noise from equipment;
• reviewing desk layouts and team placement;
• creating clear behavioural expectations for calls and conversations.

This is especially important in workplaces where employees carry out technical, administrative, financial, design or concentration-heavy tasks.

If printers, scanners or office equipment are too noisy

Printers, scanners, shredders and other shared equipment can create frequent bursts of noise. This can be particularly distracting when equipment is located close to desks.

Possible improvements include:

• relocating printers away from workstations;
• placing equipment in enclosed print rooms;
• using acoustic doors or partitions;
• reducing unnecessary equipment alerts or tones;
• choosing quieter equipment during replacement;
• separating high-use equipment from focused work areas.

This type of issue is common because companies often place shared equipment in central areas for convenience, but this can create constant disruption for nearby staff.

If meeting rooms are disturbing nearby employees

Meeting rooms can become a noise problem when sound leaks into open offices or adjacent rooms. This can affect both concentration and privacy.

Possible improvements include:

• improving door seals;
• reviewing wall and ceiling acoustic performance;
• adding acoustic panels;
• relocating high-use meeting spaces away from quiet work areas;
• using booking rules for noisy calls or large meetings;
• creating enclosed collaboration spaces;
• checking whether gaps around doors, ceilings or partitions allow sound leakage.

This is particularly important where confidential discussions take place, such as HR, finance, legal, healthcare, management or client-facing environments.

If HVAC or building services noise is causing complaints

Air-conditioning and ventilation systems can create background noise from diffusers, fans, ducts, pumps, compressors or plant rooms. In the UAE, where HVAC systems operate heavily, this can be a common workplace concern.

Possible improvements include:

• checking fan speeds and system settings;
• inspecting noisy diffusers or grilles;
• reviewing duct vibration or rattling;
• checking whether plant rooms are properly isolated;
• maintaining pumps, fans and motors;
• reviewing air balancing;
• investigating whether noise is structure-borne or airborne.

HVAC noise can be difficult to diagnose without testing because it may vary by time of day, occupancy, cooling demand or equipment operation.

If external noise is affecting the workplace

External noise may come from roads, construction, nearby industrial activity, aircraft, deliveries or building maintenance work. This can affect offices, clinics, schools, hotels and commercial buildings.

Possible improvements include:

• reviewing window and façade performance;
• improving seals around windows and doors;
• using internal acoustic treatments;
• relocating sensitive work areas away from exposed façades;
• scheduling noisy work outside key operating hours where possible;
• discussing repeated external noise issues with landlords, contractors or building management.

External noise can be especially disruptive in areas used for calls, meetings, teaching, treatment, consultation or focused work.

If noise is linked to machinery or vibration

In industrial facilities, workshops, laboratories or technical areas, noise may come from machinery, pumps, compressors, generators, rotating equipment or testing systems.

Possible improvements include:

• identifying the specific source of noise;
• maintaining or repairing faulty equipment;
• isolating noisy machinery;
• using acoustic enclosures;
• separating staff workstations from noise sources;
• reviewing operating schedules;
• assessing occupational exposure where relevant.

Where noise levels are high enough to raise hearing-risk concerns, companies may need a more detailed occupational noise exposure assessment rather than only an office comfort assessment.

Why companies in the UAE should test workplace noise

Noise testing is especially valuable in UAE workplaces because modern buildings often combine open-plan layouts, hard surfaces, glass partitions, high occupancy, strong HVAC demand and mixed-use spaces. These features can create acoustic problems even in new or high-quality offices.

Companies should consider noise testing when:

• employees complain about distraction;
• staff report difficulty concentrating;
• conversations can easily be overheard;
• meeting rooms disturb nearby workstations;
• printers or equipment are located near desks;
• HVAC systems create constant background noise;
• a workplace has recently been fitted out or redesigned;
• there are complaints about stress or fatigue linked to noise;
• a company needs evidence for an ergonomics or health and safety review;
• machinery, plant or construction activity may be affecting employees.

Noise testing gives companies a clear basis for action. It helps identify whether sound levels are appropriate, where the main sources are, and what practical improvements should be considered.

Noise testing by RMT in the UAE

RMT provides professional noise testing services in the UAE for offices, commercial buildings, healthcare facilities, laboratories, schools, warehouses and industrial workplaces.

Our noise assessments help companies understand whether workplace sound levels are suitable, whether employees are being affected by distraction or poor acoustic privacy, and what improvements can be made.

By measuring noise conditions properly, businesses can reduce complaints, improve concentration, support employee wellbeing and create a more productive working environment.

For companies in the UAE, noise testing is a practical way to show that workplace comfort is being managed professionally and that employee concerns are being taken seriously.