Quiet Mark has said that more manufacturers are starting to prioritise sound-driven design, placing its importance up there alongside the visual look and performance of the product.
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Quiet Mark – the independent global certification programme associated with the UK Noise Abatement Society charitable foundation – reported that the number of products it has certified has more than tripled from 350 to over 1,100 appliances.
Poppy Szkiler (pictured), chief executive of Quiet Mark, said that optimising acoustic comfort within homes requires a two-pronged approach.
“One needs to both choose appliances that have low noise levels and are proven to be the quietest of their category, such as kettles, fridge-freezers, washing machines, and introduce more sound absorbing/ acoustic enhancing products and materials,” Szkiler said.
Consequently, Quiet Mark has also seen a rise in its assessment and third party certification of building products such as double or triple glazing, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring, decorative wood acoustic wall panels, and acoustic lighting and furniture.
Szkiler said: “The pandemic helped to restore the value of quiet back into society. People have developed a greater appreciation of the importance of quiet in their lives and its vital role in their sense of wellbeing.
“When lockdowns were first imposed, a wave of silence spread across the planet. Noise levels dropped by 50% globally as man-made noise from air traffic, road travel and construction were brought to a halt. There were reports that birdsong seemed louder than ever and this reconnection with the sounds of nature provided an antidote to our fears during those strange and unprecedented times.”
At the end of last year, Quiet Mark conducted a National Noise Report survey, which revealed half (57%) of Brits would like their home to be quieter, with a further 62% noting that they are drawn towards quieter appliances.
Szkiler said that visitors to Quiet Mark’s website, www.quietmark.com, are invited to browse certified products by different room categories.
“Kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms are amongst our most visited categories,” Szkiler said. “You’ll find not only a wide range of SDAs and MDAs, but also vacuum cleaners and floor cleaning products, laundry products including washing machines and tumble dryers, and heating products such as boilers and heat-pumps.
“In bathrooms we have assessed and certified quiet toilet flushes, electric toothbrushes, showers and water boost pumps. And in the bedroom, in addition to glazing and flooring products, you can find a selection of hair dryers and even alarm clocks.”