We all know that working or living in a building that has poor mobile reception is irritating. However, what we might not be sure about is just why the signal is as bad as it is.
One of the reasons why mobile signal can be poor is due to the building materials used in the construction of the building. This is particularly true when you are in the middle of the city and you get a good signal when you are outside; yet the moment that you step inside, the signal becomes very poor or in many cases, non-existent.
So, what could cause this to happen? Which building materials are the main culprits when it comes to poor mobile signal?
Wood
Whilst wood might not normally be seen in commercial buildings, it can be used, and wood is one of the main reception blockers out there. Solid wood will reduce a signal by as many as 12 points, whilst plywood is a little easier for signal to get through and will only reduce it by 4 to 6 points.
Glass
It is common to think that because you can see through glass, that means that signal can move straight through it, but this really is not the case. Clear, basic glass can reflect the signal which will reduce it by around 4 points. However, this gets even worse when you have privacy glass instead, as so many commercial buildings do – the rate of loss can be as much as 24-40 points.
Metal
Another material which is well-known to reduce mobile signal is metal. Metal is thought to reduce the signal within a building by as much as 32 to 50 points, making it one of the worst offenders for blocking cellular signal.
Concrete
There is a reason why people say that if you want to build a room which blocks signal completely; then you will want to use concrete. However, in comparison to other building materials, it’s not quite as bad. Expect signal reduction to be, on average, between 10 and 20 points.
How do I make a difference?
Whilst you cannot change what material your building is made from; this doesn’t mean that there is nothing that you can do to make it better. One great way to boost your mobile signal is to install a mobile signal booster in the building. Mobile signal boosters, sometimes called “mobile repeaters”, are designed to take even a weak signal from outside, and amplifying it to ensure that no matter the materials used in construction, you will get the best signal possible.
Thankfully, this is a much more cost-effective solution than having to try and find a new building or change the materials that your current building is made from! And with low cost finance options, this is a viable solution for every business.
If you would like to find out more about how we can help improve the mobile signal within your building(s), don’t hesitate to get in touch.