The Real Acoustic Conditions Inside Call Centers

Unlike other environments, call centers are dominated by continuous speech noise.

Typical Noise Levels Before Any Solution:

• Individual agent speaking: 65–70 dB
• Nearby agents: 70–75 dB
• Full call floor: 75–85 dB

👉 The issue is not just loudness—it’s the fact that:
 Every sound is another conversation competing for attention.

Why Speech Noise Is More Disruptive Than Other Noise

Speech is uniquely problematic because:

• The brain automatically tries to process it
• It is difficult to ignore, even subconsciously
• It interferes directly with listening tasks

In a call center, this creates a constant conflict:

• Agents must listen to customers
• While filtering out multiple nearby conversations

How Noise Impacts Call Center Performance

1. Reduced Call Clarity

Customers can hear background voices, which:

• Reduces professionalism
• Causes frustration
• Leads to repeated information

2. Increased Call Duration

Agents often need to:

• Ask customers to repeat information
• Confirm details multiple times

👉 Even a small increase in call time can significantly impact overall productivity.

3. Higher Error Rates

Misheard details can result in:

• Incorrect data entry
• Miscommunication
• Escalations

4. Agent Fatigue

Constant exposure to 75–85 dB speech environments leads to:

• Mental exhaustion
• Reduced concentration
• Lower performance over time

Why Traditional Office Dividers Don’t Work

Many call centers attempt to reduce noise using:

• Cubicle partitions
• Desk dividers
• Basic accordion room dividers

However, these solutions fail because:

• They do not block mid-frequency speech noise
• They lack acoustic sealing, allowing sound leakage
• They are designed for visual separation—not sound control

👉 Result: the environment remains acoustically open, even when visually divided.

OSHA Noise Limits – Arizona Work Environments

OSHA Reference Levels:

• 85 dB(A) – Action Level
• 90 dB(A) – Permissible Exposure Limit

Call centers often operate close to:

• 75–85 dB sustained levels

While not always exceeding limits, prolonged exposure contributes to:

• Cognitive fatigue
• Reduced productivity
• Increased stress

The Solution: FoldaSil® ANC-AP33 Acoustic Accordion Partition System

The FoldaSil® ANC-AP33 Acoustic Accordion Partition System provides a flexible way to create controlled acoustic zones within open office layouts.

Key Features:

• High-performance acoustic accordion doors designed for speech reduction
• Improved accordion doors soundproofing for mid-frequency noise
• Integrated sealing system to minimize sound leakage
• Durable commercial accordion doors for daily office use
• Fast reconfiguration for changing team layouts

Before vs After: Call Center Acoustic Improvement

Before Installation:

• Noise levels: 75–85 dB overlapping conversations
• Constant distractions
• Reduced clarity during calls

After Installing ANC-AP33:

• Reduced to approximately 50–55 dB within zones
• Conversations become less intelligible across areas
• Improved call clarity and focus

👉 The result is not silence—it is controlled communication environments.