Re-framing Acoustics as a Core Element of Indoor Environmental Quality

In Discussion with Saint-Gobain UK Acoustic Development Director, Greg Mocke.

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) has become an increasingly important consideration in the way buildings are designed, refurbished and assessed. As the industry places greater emphasis on occupant wellbeing, productivity and long-term building performance, factors such as air quality, thermal comfort and lighting are now routinely considered during design and refurbishment projects.

Acoustics, however, is often treated differently.

Despite its influence on how people experience and interact with the built environment, acoustic performance is frequently viewed as a standalone technical discipline rather than a core component of Indoor Environmental Quality. As expectations around building performance continue to evolve, there is an opportunity to take a more integrated approach by recognising the role acoustics plays in supporting occupant comfort, wellbeing and experience.

Understanding Indoor Environmental Quality

Indoor Environmental Quality considers how environmental conditions within a building influence the people who occupy it. It encompasses factors including air quality, thermal comfort, lighting and acoustics, which collectively contribute to comfort, wellbeing and overall experience.

While these factors are often discussed individually, occupants do not experience them in isolation. The perception of a space is shaped by the interaction of multiple environmental conditions rather than a single performance metric.

This has led to growing recognition that successful buildings must do more than achieve regulatory compliance or operational targets. They must also support the health, wellbeing and quality of life of the people who use them every day.

Why Acoustics Matters

My interest in acoustics has always been driven by the impact it has on people. Having worked in the acoustics industry for more than 13 years, I have seen how acoustic conditions influence the way spaces are experienced and used. I have also experienced this personally, particularly when trying to concentrate or work within noisy environments. These experiences have reinforced my belief that acoustics is not simply a technical discipline. It plays an important role in shaping how people interact with, experience and perform within a space.

Acoustics has traditionally focused on areas such as noise control, sound insulation and compliance with performance standards. These remain important aspects of building design, but they do not fully capture the relationship between sound and occupant experience.

The way a space sounds can influence how effectively people communicate, collaborate, learn and concentrate. For this reason, acoustics should be considered not only in terms of technical performance, but also in terms of how it contributes to the intended function, usability, and experience of a space.

Acoustic Performance and Modern Buildings

The changing nature of workplaces provides a useful example of how expectations around acoustics have evolved.

Many organisations now require environments that support a diverse range of activities, from focused individual work and virtual meetings through to collaboration, innovation and social interaction. These activities place different demands on the acoustic environment.

Creating successful environments therefore requires more than simply reducing noise levels. It requires an understanding of how sound influences occupant behaviour and how different spaces can support different activities.

As a result, acoustic design is increasingly being considered as part of wider strategies centred on occupant experience, wellbeing and performance.

The importance of Acoustics in Retrofit and Refurbishment

The growing focus on Indoor Environmental Quality is particularly relevant within the retrofit and refurbishment market.

Across the UK, building owners are investing in existing assets to improve environmental performance, extend building life and respond to changing occupier expectations. While many refurbishment projects focus on energy efficiency, operational carbon and regulatory compliance, building performance should not be considered solely through that lens.

Occupier expectations have changed significantly. Whether the objective is to attract employees back into workplaces, improve learning environments, enhance healthcare facilities or create better living conditions, there is increasing recognition that user experience matters alongside technical performance.

This creates an important opportunity.

Refurbishment projects provide a natural point at which building owners, designers and project teams can evaluate how existing spaces perform for occupants and how environmental conditions contribute to comfort, usability and wellbeing. By considering acoustics alongside air quality, lighting and thermal comfort from the earliest stages of design, project teams can take a more holistic approach to Indoor Environmental Quality.

Rather than viewing acoustics as a finishing element, there is value in recognising it as part of a broader strategy to improve how buildings function for the people who use them.

A More Integrated Approach to Building Performance

There is growing consensus across the built environment sector that successful buildings require a balanced approach to performance.

Energy efficiency, operational carbon, air quality, thermal comfort, lighting and acoustics all have a role to play in shaping occupant experience and supporting building outcomes. The challenge is ensuring these factors are considered collectively rather than in isolation.

As the industry continues to transform existing buildings through retrofit and refurbishment, there is an opportunity to place Indoor Environmental Quality at the centre of the conversation. Doing so encourages a more holistic view of performance that recognises both technical outcomes and human experience.

Acoustics should not be viewed as a standalone technical consideration. Alongside air quality, lighting and thermal comfort, it forms part of the broader conditions that shape occupant experience and building performance.

By reframing acoustics as a core element of Indoor Environmental Quality, the industry can create environments that not only meet technical requirements, but also better support the people who use them every day.