CEILING SYSTEMS
The author says: “Aesthetic appeal is another key consideration in healthcare facilities, where the overall room design needs to enhance, rather than diminish, the experience of its users.”
OWA’s Cloud acoustic baffles have been used extensively in collaborative workspaces within the new Paterson Building at The Christie in Manchester.
as they offer exceptional design flexibility and enhanced durability, can also help reduce maintenance costs. Constructed from robust metal such as galvanised steel or aluminium, metal ceiling tiles can be fitted with a sound-absorbing fleece backing and an acoustic pad to effectively maximise sound absorption, and are available in a wide range of perforations to achieve different levels of acoustic performance.
Simon Humphrey and OWA
Simon Humphrey is the Technical manager for the UK-based arm of global commercial ceilings manufacturer, OWA. With over 25 years’ experience working in the interior building products sector, he plays a key role in supporting OWA’s customers with the specification and design of acoustic ceiling systems, and has helped deliver schemes across all sectors, including healthcare. OWA itself is a leading name in the manufacture and supply of acoustic ceiling systems, including both metal and mineral wool options, and advanced systems for improved hygiene and fire safety.
Hygienic solutions Acoustic performance is a key consideration for the effective design of healthcare buildings, but must be viewed alongside the other significant challenges. These include fire safety, sustainability, cost, the reduction of ongoing maintenance requirements, and – of course – hygiene. It’s important to choose ceiling tiles that are durable enough to withstand regular cleaning, but it is also advisable to look for specialist solutions that can also offer enhanced hygiene through the use of specialist coatings that can inhibit the spread of bacteria and fungi. Such products can bring benefits to all areas within a healthcare setting, but are particularly suited to use in theatres, laboratories, and other cleanrooms. Open plan areas can provide a specific challenge in terms of sound and acoustics, but through the careful consideration of acoustic ceiling systems, it is possible to create zones of different acoustic performance and listening conditions. The use of acoustic ceiling rafts,
canopies, baffles, and wall absorbers, can be extremely effective, as they can be designed and positioned to complement the soundproofing effects of dividing a room using furniture and partitions. It was the use of our own acoustic baffles which helped create a calm and creative working space in the new Paterson Building at The Christie, a leading specialist NHS cancer care centre in Manchester. Designed by the Manchester office of BDP Architects, the new Christie Paterson cancer research facility is directly connected to the hospital, and was built after the existing building became unusable following severe fire damage in 2017. Acoustic ceiling baffles have been used throughout in the collaborative workspaces. Here, the clean lines of the vertical baffles are assembled to create a striking round shape, which have then been clustered together to evoke a cloud formation. As well as providing a stylish addition to the interior ceiling design, the use of the acoustic ceiling baffles has helped to improve the acoustic comfort of the workspace. This has been achieved by reducing reverberation and reflected sound to improve speech clarity and eliminate unwanted noise pollution. To deliver this contract, OWA UK worked closely with BDP Architecture, BDP Interiors, and BDP Acoustics, specialist contractor, John Atkinson Acoustics, and main contractor IHP, the joint venture between Vinci and Sir Robert McAlpine.
Privacy is especially important in settings where patients and clinicians interact one to one, not least for confidentiality; here again acoustics have a key role.
70 Health Estate Journal November 2024
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