Sound masking in Fingo's
open-plan office in Malle
For more than 75 years, Fingo has been a leading manufacturer of hollow-core floor slabs in Belgium. In its open-plan office in Malle, several teams work together in one open space. Conversations in one team distracted the other, despite the acoustic ceiling that was already in place. Form Design found the right solution: sound masking from Soft dB, tuned per team and installed in a single day.
Challenge: teams disturbing each other in an open-plan office
Fingo contacted Form Design with a clear question: could extra acoustic panels bring more calm to the workplace? The pain points:
- Conversations between colleagues could be understood far across the office.
- Teams working side by side constantly disturbed each other.
- A full acoustic ceiling was already in place, but the space still wasn’t calm.
- Comfort and privacy in the meeting room also needed to improve.
Our approach: analyse first, then advise
Alex came to see the space and listened to the employees’ experience. The analysis was clear: reverberation was not the problem, as the acoustic ceiling was already doing its job. The problem was intelligibility. In a space that is already quiet, every conversation stands out. Extra panels would have made little difference.
Instead of adding more material, Form Design recommended sound masking. That gave Fingo a solution that really works.
Acoustic solutions at Fingo
Soft dB sound masking per team
Form Design installed 22 speakers across the open-plan office. A soft, even background sound makes conversations unintelligible at a distance, without making the workplace any louder. Seven sensors, spread across the teams, measure the sound and adjust the masking level for each team. That way, every zone gets exactly what it needs.
Meeting room: sound masking and an acoustic photo frame
The meeting room was also fitted with sound masking, so that what is discussed inside cannot be understood outside. An acoustic photo frame adds extra absorption and gives the room a personal touch straight away.
Installation and fine-tuning in one day
The complete installation and the fine-tuning per zone took a single day. No new walls, no major works and hardly any disruption for the employees. The speakers are invisibly integrated into the ceiling.
Result: calm and concentration in the open-plan office
- Conversations from other teams are no longer intelligible.
- Better concentration and fewer distractions in the workplace.
- More privacy in the meeting room.
- The system automatically adapts to each team.
- Installed in one day, without renovation work and without any visible intervention.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Form Design not install extra acoustic panels at Fingo?
Because a full acoustic ceiling was already in place. It already limited reverberation, but conversations remained intelligible. Extra panels would have made little difference. Sound masking makes conversations unintelligible at a distance and so tackles the real problem.
How does sound masking per team work?
Sensors measure the sound in each zone and automatically adjust the masking level. At Fingo, seven sensors are spread across the teams, so that each team gets the right amount of masking.
How long does it take to install sound masking?
That depends on the space. At Fingo, with 22 speakers and 7 sensors, installation and fine-tuning took a single day, without major works.
Does sound masking also work in a meeting room?
Yes. With sound masking in the meeting room, what is said inside cannot be understood outside. At Fingo, this was combined with an acoustic photo frame for extra absorption.
