We’re Finally Going to Soundproof the Office

It’s best to reveal our bias upfront – we’re fans of sliding glass office partitions. We’ve been working in this business for decades now and have countless anecdotes of satisfied glass office cubicles customers. At the same time, we do frequently encounter some “push back” to glass offices, especially in larger, open office spaces. The common examples are:

• If the dividers aren’t sound proof, noise travels too frequently through one side of the glass partition to the other.
• Where the glass office rails meet the ceiling or floor, even the smallest crack can allow sound to sneak through the gaps.

These are real, and often deal-breaking issues. The number of cases we’ve encountered of folks installing glass office systems (not with us, ha!) and ending that relationship because of these issues and unsealed gaps and crevices is significant. But the good news is we’ve considered all of this – long ago – and our glass office systems solutions are a fantastic addition to any business setting.

Glass Thickness and Type – It Matters!

Soundproof glass office walls come in a range of types and thicknesses. There are way too many to review, so we’ll focus on the top four.

1. Single-Pane – Depending on the amount of noise, single-pane glass with a sound transmission class rating of 27-30 dB stops some noise, but not a lot. Single-pane glass partitions are great, but only for offices with a small number of people.
2. Thicker-Pane – Glass office walls with a thicker pane in the range of 36-38 dB are a step up from single-pane, and are appropriate for offices with over 10 people.
3. Double-Glazing – Moving up the ladder, double-glazing glass office cubicles jump to a 40-45 dB rating and are an excellent option for busy offices that also require private, noise-free spaces.
4. Acoustic-Laminated Glass – The granddaddy of the four, acoustic-laminated glass office partitions can block up to a whopping 49 dB. For comparison, this is on the level of a very well-sealed drywall partition and appropriate for any setting with a considerable amount of ambient noise.

Do Quick Solutions Exist?

Most folks assume a glass office looks and is installed in the exact same manner. The quick response is – NO! Not to be overly aggressive, but we write “no” emphatically because solutions come in all shapes and sizes in the glass cubicle universe.

We work with “quick solutions” and consider them important to mention because sometimes folks just need a quick solution for a reduced period of time. Here are two of the most common quick solutions:

1. Movable Glass Office Partitions – As the name sounds, these glass room dividers can be easily moved around the office to create a more “soundproof” space. Now, this solution can only muddle sound to a certain degree as they are not professionally sealed. So do consider this if the goal is to completely block (or heavily minimize) sound in a specific area.
2. Freestanding Dividers – Similar to movable glass partitions, these are perfect for segmenting areas quickly and temporarily. They’re very easy to move and relocate, but again, are temporary solutions.

Regardless of the solution your office requires, there is a sliding glass office partitions system for you. Make a checklist of what’s distracting and bugging your team, and contact us today.