New research from Oscar Acoustics has revealed a lack of clear responsibility for acoustic performance across UK building projects, with responsibility spread between architects, contractors, facilities managers, clients and acoustic consultants.
More than one in four construction professionals (27%) identify unclear responsibility, including acoustics falling between different teams, as a major barrier to better acoustic accessibility. A third (33%) also say that acoustic design continues to be regarded as a specialist addition rather than a core requirement.
The research, commissioned by Oscar Acoustics, was conducted by Censuswide among 500 UK construction professionals and 250 UK architects.
Responsibility remains fragmented
When asked who typically raises acoustic performance on projects where it is formally considered, construction professionals identified a range of different roles. Contractors and fit-out teams were most frequently cited, at 44%, followed by architects or lead designers (41%), facilities or building managers (37%), clients or asset owners (35%) and specialist acoustic consultants (34%).
The findings indicate that no single profession consistently takes the lead on acoustic performance, with responsibility varying considerably between project teams.
This lack of clear ownership may also contribute to acoustics being considered too late in the design process. Nearly six in ten architects (57.2%) say it does not receive proper attention until RIBA Stage 4, Technical Design, or Stage 5, Construction, while fewer than one in 25 construction professionals (3.6%) say it is considered at the initial client briefing stage.
Multiple barriers to better outcomes
Responsibility is just one of several factors preventing greater consideration of acoustic accessibility. Cost and budget constraints were also frequently cited barriers among construction professionals, at 37%, closely followed by a lack of training or knowledge within project teams (36%) and a lack of client awareness or demand (34%).
A further 32% cited insufficient guidance or industry standards, while 26% identified the absence of a regulatory requirement for acoustic accessibility.
The results indicate that there is no single barrier to progress. Instead, cost, knowledge, client demand, guidance and project responsibility are all influencing the extent to which acoustic design is considered.
But the implications extend beyond project delivery. Poor acoustic environments are estimated to cost UK businesses more than £40 billion[1] each year through lost productivity, sickness, staff turnover and customer dissatisfaction. Meanwhile, Oscar Acoustics’ research among 2,000 UK office employees also found that people lose an average of 26 minutes of productive time each day due to noise, while 45% would consider leaving a job because of it.
Greater structure and guidance
The research also asked construction professionals what single change would most improve acoustic accessibility.
Mandatory acoustic standards within building regulations and better guidance and design tools were the most frequently selected measures, both at 19%. These were followed by greater client awareness and demand (16%), recognised certification for acoustically inclusive buildings (16%) and clearer ownership of acoustic design within project teams (15%).
Among architects, mandatory acoustic standards were the most frequently selected measure, at 22%, followed by recognised certification at 19% and clearer inclusion of acoustic design within the RIBA Plan of Work at 16%.
Ben Hancock, Managing Director of Oscar Acoustics, said: “The findings show that responsibility for acoustic performance remains fragmented across project teams. Architects, contractors, clients and facilities managers can all have a role, but there is no consistent point of responsibility. When everyone is partly responsible, there is a risk that nobody is truly owning it.
“Cost is the most commonly cited barrier, but it is closely followed by a lack of training, client demand and guidance. And, with poor acoustics already estimated to cost UK businesses more than £40 billion a year, the greater cost is in failing to address it.
“The industry needs clearer ownership from the outset: naming who is responsible costs nothing, but it gives acoustics a defined place in the project and ensures that someone is accountable for seeing it through. When combined with better guidance and standards, this would make acoustic design a core part of project delivery rather than something addressed once key decisions have already been made.”
A standard to work towards
Sownd Certification, developed by Sownd Affects and independently tested by the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR) at the University of Southampton, is the world’s first framework recognising spaces with proven acoustic performance as audio-inclusive.
The certification assesses spaces across three tiers. Bronze covers core acoustic foundations, with Oscar Acoustics products automatically meeting the requirements for Bronze certification. Silver and Gold add staff training, operational protocols and integrated technology. Metrics include reverberation time, background noise and speech clarity, each one measurable and assignable to a named person on a project team.
