The commissioning of audio equipment must be done accurately at all times so that the ultimate result is achieved. For optimum operation of the Sound Masking there must be good coverage of the sound. The correct commissioning of sound masking systems is therefore of great importance. Commissioning must be accurate for correct operation. If the volume is too high, the Sound Masking will add too much sound to the room in question and will have the opposite effect. However, if the volume of the Sound Masking system is too low, it will not offer any benefits.
Design Sound Masking
First a good layout design must be made based on a floor plan, the ceiling heights and the type of room and the requirements for sound masking and broadcasting and / or music. The space is divided into zones. The zones are determined by the type of room, the acoustic elements, the ceiling height and the type and use of the area. Examples of different zones are: open offices in zone 1, private offices in zone 2 and corridors in zone 3. If different sections of an open office have different ceiling heights, they may also have to be classified separately. The advantage of dividing into zones is that each zone can be adjusted individually based on the requirements for the specific zone. Zones consist of one to six lines from the control module. Each run can support a maximum of 60 emitters or 1000.66 feet of CAT cable. Emitters are planned according to a grid pattern in which the distance is determined by the height of the ceiling.
Installation Sound Masking
First, the control module is installed in a patch cabinet or mounted on the wall with the supplied holder. After the module is mounted, each zone must be set to the highest decibel level to ensure good audio output while the emitters are being installed. The emitters can now be installed. To do this, the ceiling tiles must be removed according to the design. Use the first ceiling tile to create a template by drawing an X on the back of the tile. Then, using the supplied hole saw, drill a hole through the center of the X, and therefore through the center of the tile, and into the ceiling tile (s) below, with the front panel up. Then mount the emitters in the holes and use the emitter slip rings to attach the emitters to the ceiling tiles. While the holes are being drilled, other members of the installation team can lay the cables above the ceiling. Connect the emitters to the Sound Masking system by using the input and output ports on the back of the emitter and connecting the already connected wires in the right places. The first emitter is connected to the home run cable, connected to the control module, all subsequent emitters are connected. After the cabling has been correctly connected, the tiles can be placed in the ceiling again. Now that the emitters are installed, the decibel levels for each zone can be determined using the control module. The recommended volume setting depends on the type of room that the zone occupies. For open office spaces, for example, this should be between 45-48 decibels and at private offices 38-42 decibels. The installation can be optimally adjusted through measurements.
Correctly commissioning a Sound Masking systeem
For the commissioning of a Sound Masking system in the right way, Tau gives you a number of tips.
- Do make a template from the first ceiling tile. When you create a tile to use as a drilling template, you save time and you can drill multiple ceiling tiles at the same time.
- Do use a sound meter to adjust the volume during commissioning. If no sound level meter is available, each control module has recommended volume settings listed in the installation manual.
- Do follow the layout design, but be flexible with the exact placement of the emitters. Emitters can be moved up to 60 cm in any direction to accommodate existing functions in the space.
- Do use the wide variety of mounting brackets and other options, for every ceiling type, for rooms without an acoustic tile ceiling.
- Do pay attention to the inputs and outputs of the emitter during installation. The cable from the previous emitter must go into the input and the cable to the next emitter in the output. If a schedule is given, follow the displayed pattern.
Extra tips from Tau
A number of things are not recommended during the commissioning of a Sound Masking system. Tau gives you some examples.
- Don’t use damaged cables anywhere in the chain, as this will affect emitters further down the line.
- Don’t place just one emitter in a private office, because the user may then be able to easily distinguish where the sound is coming from. Uniform sound coverage is essential for a comfortable working space. This can be guaranteed by using at least two emitters in the private office.
- Don’t make a layout design without knowing the interior plan. It is of course not the intention to install emitters where they cannot be mounted or have no function.
Tau is here for you
Need advice while purchasing, installing or commissioning of Sound Masking or another audio setup? Or do you, as an end user, want an installation carried out by one of our dealers? Tau has an enthusiastic team of audio specialists, they are happy to help with questions. Tau Audio Solutions BV also offers the possibility to commission Sound Masking systems and other audio equipment on site. Contact us via contact form or +31 50 549 9090.
Want to stay informed about this and other audio news? Sign up now for our newsletter.
