Solving Noise & Vibration Problems
Acoustics & Sound Masking in Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and across Europe
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An intelligent, cost-effective, and eco-friendly approach to optimizing acoustic comfort and privacy in offices.
Have you ever been disturbed at night by the sound of a dripping faucet? Have you noticed that this sound doesn’t bother you during the day? In fact, the daytime sound environment masks these noises that seem unbearable at night. This is a psychoacoustic principle called sound masking. Many major companies around the world use this principle to optimize the acoustic comfort of their office spaces, particularly in open spaces, but also to ensure confidentiality in closed offices. The method involves emitting a soft, neutral, and environment-appropriate sound that helps employees concentrate better, enjoy greater auditory privacy, and no longer hear the details of nearby colleagues’ conversations.
Soft dB’s sound masking relies on green noise, a pleasant and effective sound for masking speech.
Increased Employee Productivity
Sound masking greatly reduces the radius of distraction in open-plan offices. Employees get a lot less distracted by conversations within 5 to 12 meters from where a sound masking speaker is located. It becomes easier to concentrate on tasks and productivity increases measurably.
Lower Office Construction Costs
Sound masking reduces the need for plenum barriers, soundproof doors, and thick drywall layers. It improves the acoustic performance of movable partitions without sacrificing their flexibility. Office construction costs can be reduced by up to 32 euros per square meter.
Better Acoustic Privacy & Comfort
Lack of privacy is the biggest frustration in today’s workplace. Sound masking improves acoustic privacy between adjacent workstations and private meeting rooms by increasing the ambient background sound levels just enough to make private conversations less intelligible.
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Latest Workplace Trends, Industry News, Sound Masking Experts' Insights, in Luxembourg, Belgium and Europe.
We Have Helped European Companies in All Sectors Solve Noise and Vibration Problems for More Than 25 Years
With unrivalled expertise in the field of vibro-acoustics, backed by more than 25 years’ practical experience, Soft dB is proud to offer acoustical engineering services and innovative noise & vibration control solutions in Luxembourg, Belgium, and all over Europe. We employ more than 100 experts, including dozens of engineers, scientists, and PhDs specialized in vibro-acoustics. We pool our collective knowledge to solve any problem related to:
- Architectural acoustics (buildings, open- and closed office layouts, auditoriums, etc.);
- Environmental acoustics (compliance studies, data mapping and studies monitoring the impact on acoustic environments, projections detailing the post-implementation effect of sound attenuation measures, etc.);
- Acoustics & vibration levels in industry and construction (monitoring and assessment of the integrity of structures and equipment, human perspectives, researching effective mitigation measures, etc.);
Confidentiality, Acoustic Comfort, and Reduction of Sound Distractions in Office Spaces
With the creation of more extensive and cost-effective workspaces, acoustics has often played a secondary role in the design phase of offices. However, it has a major influence on the well-being and productivity of employees. Some rooms are also dedicated to sharing confidential information, but it is not always easy to assess and ensure low speech intelligibility outside of these rooms.
Thanks to Class 1 certified instruments developed by Soft dB, our acousticians can, based on indicators found in the standards and norms applicable in your country, evaluate the comfort and confidentiality in your offices.
Measures Against Noise Pollution, Environmental Impact Studies of Noise, and 24/7 Acoustic Monitoring
Whether it is emitted by transport (road, rail, and aviation), industry, or construction sites, outdoor noise is subject to regulations. This is a matter of public health, as environmental noise can have significant effects on human health and well-being.
Soft dB has all the skills to conduct comprehensive environmental studies, including:
- A thorough acoustic characterization of noise sources.
- A modeling of the noise propagation environment.
- The creation of sound maps.
- A classification of sources according to their contribution to the sound environment.
- Mitigation measures aimed at achieving targets imposed by regulation.
Noise and Vibration Control at Industrial Sites and Construction Sites
On an industrial site, there are both acoustic sources, which can affect the comfort and health of employees, and vibratory sources, which can impact the integrity of other systems (equipment and/or structures) and can themselves radiate noise.
In-situ measurements allow for a better understanding of propagation paths and the vibratory and acoustic behavior of any system.
Product Development in Acoustics and Vibrations
Soft dB is heavily involved in R&D projects stemming from vibrational and acoustic problems that cannot be resolved using conventional methods. The significant percentage of employees who have led and/or participated in innovative research projects (including more than a dozen Ph.D.s) not only allows Soft dB to expand its areas of application (vibro-acoustics, aeroacoustics, imaging, etc.), but also enables us to offer solutions tailored to your challenges in the shortest possible time.
We Helped These European Industry Leaders Achieve Better Noise and Vibration Control Across Their Facilities
Compliance With European Noise Regulations
In Luxembourg like in Belgium, machines and systems radiating noise beyond the confines of a site cannot exceed a certain noise level, measured in decibels, in the immediate vicinity of that site. Acceptable noise limits specified in laws, regulations, decrees or other legislative documents are collated under the respective national or regional environmental codes applicable.
Luxembourg Noise Regulations
In Luxembourg, the two primary regulations governing environmental noise emissions are:
- Grand-ducal regulation of 13 February 1979 on noise levels in the immediate vicinity of business establishments and construction sites;
- Grand-ducal regulation of 16 November 1978 on sound levels for music within establishments and their vicinity.
Soft dB can help you with administrative procedures such as an environmental permit application, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), or a request seeking authorisation for a classified facility (commodo/ incommodo procedure).
Belgium Noise Regulations
In Belgium, federal regulations addressing noise pollution are as follows:
- Racing sport: Royal decree of 10 June 1976;
- Music: Royal decree of 24 February 1977;
- Measurement of construction equipment: Royal decree of 16 June 1982;
- Household devices : Royal decree of 29 April 2001;
- Equipment for use outdoors: Royal decree of 6 March 2002;
- Placing on the market of machinery: Royal decree of 12 August 2008.
The Flemish, Walloon and Brussels-Capital regions have reviewed some of these regulations and implemented other regulations in the form of orders, decrees or even VLAREM II in Flanders. Here again, Soft dB can help with administrative procedures such as an environmental permit application.
Architectural Acoustics Standards and Norms – Residential, Offices, Entertainment Venues, etc.
With nearly 30 years of expertise and a team of over 40 engineers and Ph.D. holders, we have the capacity to assess standards and norms, and to be involved in selecting criteria for superior sound comfort.
Our engineers have a particular interest in:
- Office Spaces: WELL, BREEAM, ISO 3382-3, and ISO 16283 (other standards considered in our projects include VDI 2569, ASR A3.7, NF S31-080, LEED, etc.)
- Residential: ILNAS 103-1, DIN 4109, decree of June 30, 1999, and NBN S 01-400
- Performance Halls and Auditoriums: ISO 3382-1 and DIN 18041
- Educational Institutions: ISO 3382-2, DIN 18041, DIN 4109, decree of April 25, 2003, and NBN S 01-400
Our experts frequently receive inquiries about the ISO 22955 standard. This standard was not drafted by the ISO/TC 43/SC 2 'Building Acoustics' committee. Since it was not authored by experts in the field, it should not be considered in architectural acoustics studies aimed at enhancing comfort in office spaces
Outdoor Noise & Ground Vibration Monitoring
You can only control what you can measure. Our real-time monitoring solution helps decision makers take the guesswork out of noise and vibration mitigation, regardless of industry or project type. With reliable vibro-acoustic data collected 24/7 and made accessible through a simple web-based dashboard, you’ll always know when and where to take corrective action to remain compliant with applicable noise regulations.
Excessive Noise & Vibration Alerts
Get instantly notified by text message or email whenever any regulatory noise or vibration limit is breached, enabling more proactive noise and ground vibration mitigation measures.
Automated Reports & Insights
Daily automated reports provide you with a quick yet comprehensive overview of project noise emissions and ground vibrations while highlighting key trends and insights over time.
Simple & Secure Web Application
Your monitoring data is securely stored in the cloud and accessible through a user-friendly, visually rich web interface, allowing you to make informed decisions wherever you are.
Our Acoustical Engineering Consulting Services
- Speech privacy and sound masking in office environments
- Compliance with EU regulations and local codes on environmental noise emissions and occupational noise exposure
- Remote monitoring of outdoor noise emissions and ground vibrations
- Implementation of noise and vibration reducing measures
- Acoustical imagery, beamforming, and noise mapping
- Soundproofing solutions for industrial equipment and heavy vehicles
- Custom development of active noise control solutions
- Vibro-acoustics product design and optimization
How Does Sound Masking Work? Watch & Listen Our Virtual Demo
Words alone are not enough to give you an appreciation of how sound masking reduces workspace distractions while improving speech privacy. So we’ve built a quick virtual demo to let you hear and feel what this technology is all about. Although this virtual demo doesn’t come close to experiencing an actual sound masking system demoed in your office, it’ll get you pretty close to grasping the fundamental concept, all from the comfort of your home.
Learn About Reverberation & Reducing Room Echo
In charge of our acoustics consulting office in Luxembourg, Christophe Marchetto, a very friendly mechanical engineer with a PhD in vibro-acoustics, makes it easy for you to learn the essential concepts of acoustics right here, at your own convenience. Are you interested in the science of sound and how it impacts the comfort of your living spaces and working environments? Then you might as well get started with someone who truly knows his stuff. Happy learning!
Need Help With Noise & Vibrations?
Improving the acoustic performance of your spaces requires good knowledge and the right measuring instruments. Taking full control of noise and vibration levels across your site—be it a busy quarry that spans thousands of acres or an oil refinery surrounded by residential communities—starts with our unique field expertise. There is no such thing as a noise or vibration problem that's too complex for our world-class team of engineers.
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