Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1255991
July/August/September 2020 I 61 FIGURE 3: Because sound masking speakers need to be placed near the listeners, not the talkers, speakers are placed above the ceiling tiles and the sound is being emitted where the listeners are sitting, denoted by the light blue area in this photo. Some of the main reasons for sound masking include the reduction of distractions, privacy of speech, conformance to laws (i.e., HIPPA), and anti-surveil- lance measures. Attributes of a sound masking system include the following: • A steady, continuous sound that is random and has no information content. • Even coverage in open areas. • Has a spectrum (frequency response) that is effective in masking the target tran- sient sound and speech. • Relatively low level of sound typically. • Sound level is high enough to reduce distractions and • Wall • Duct • Door • Pipe • Raised floor • Computer keyboard Spot sound masking speakers come with the noise generator inside the speaker, volume control and a power supply. These are good for receptionist areas, pharmacist's desks, outside a patient's room or anywhere there cannot be someone listening in on the conversation. Designing a full sound masking system is complicated and requires information about the make, type and dimensions of furniture, wall, ceiling, plenum distance, plus on-site tests and customer expectation information. The best way to accomplish a design is with an on-site survey where specific information and customer expecta- tions are made up front. While there are so many vari- ables to sound masking, one thing that is always required is that the sound masking speakers are placed near the listeners, not the talkers. This is illustrated in Figure 3. speech intelligibility but low enough not to be a distraction in and of itself. • The masking sounds normal for the environment that it is in. There are various types of sound masking signals that include, but are not limited to: • White noise • Pink noise • Other colored noise • Custom spectrum • Nature sounds • Fountains • Music • Voice babble • Random speech samples Different types of sound maskers include: • Desktop (personal) • Pedestal • Above ceiling (indirect radiating) • Below ceiling (direct radiating) • Window