Flooring


control of acoustics is essential to prevent the escalation of background noise in communal spaces and to create a more inclusive environment for those experiencing problems with their hearing. Inclusivity is, of course, also important under the Equality Act 2010, which states that buildings should not disadvantage occupants irrespective of their age or abilities.3


Good acoustic performance When working to improve the acoustic performance of a space, it is useful to understand the different ways in which sound behaves depending on which floor and wall surfaces have been chosen. Sound behaves in different ways depending on the type of floor and wall surfaces in the room. This can be described as follows: l transmission - sound flows through and between materials; in a room we usually think of sound passing through glass, walls and doors


l absorption - sound energy is lost when sound waves come into contact with, for example, walls and floors and is not reflected back into the space


l reflection - this can be imagined in terms of sound ‘bouncing’ back into the room when it meets a wall or floor surface. If the surface is smooth, the angle of incidence is the angle of reflection, ie the direction the sound will move in


l diffusion - rough surfaces also reflect sound back into the space, but scatter the noise in all directions.


Hard interior surfaces, such as floors, can reflect rather than absorb sound. This causes noise to bounce around, overlap, echo and reverberate. Reverberation causes noise to prolong and echo in the environment, meaning it takes longer before the sound stops.2 There are two types of sound –


Figure 1. The Lombard effect


airborne and impact. Airborne sound, such as speech and music, travels through the air. Impact sound occurs when one object impacts another, resulting in the generation and transmission of sound into the floor below – even through solid structures and cavities. Footsteps are a good example of this. How loud this sound is depends on how hard the impact was, what made the impact and the type of structure that is being impacted. Good sound absorption in a room is therefore key to tackling problems with excess noise. It reduces sound transmission to adjacent spaces as well as managing the sound levels generated in the receiving room. A quietly comfortable room should ideally have floor surfaces that mitigate the impact sound of traffic such as footsteps and the movement of equipment. The acoustic performance of a


building will vary according to the nature of the subfloor and the choice of floor covering. In a new building, the specifier will choose the subfloor and will be clear about what type of flooring is needed on top to achieve acoustic requirements. Under Building Regulations: Part E – Resistance to the passage of sound, organisations designing and constructing a care home will have obligations relating to the acoustic performance of the floors.4


The standard thickness of a solid subfloor, for example, is 75 mm. A block and beam system is used, which means there will be gaps in the concrete that air can travel through which can be an absorber of sound.


Of course, acoustics is a specialist field and an acoustician will consider the elements discussed in the design of new buildings and when tackling problems of noise through refurbishment. Many care homes occupy older buildings, whilst


Qualifications in Activity Provision


It is increasingly recognised that Activity Provision can make a signifi cant contribution to well-being and quality of life, and the Care Sector reports a need for specialist training for their staff in this area. NAPA is delighted to offer two courses that meet the needs of the specialist activity workforce.


NAPA off ers: Level 2 Award in Supporting Activity Provision in Social Care (QCF) accredited by OCN London


This knowledge only course is provided through distance learning with telephone tutor support.


Level 3 Certifi cate in Activity Provision in Social Care (QCF) accredited by OCN London This higher level course is knowledge and competence based. The student will be supported throughout this distance learning course to research the assignments, write narrative comparisons and evaluate their day to day work.


For further information please visit our website www.napa-activities.co.uk


March 2020 • www.thecarehomeenvironment.com 41


I have grown in confidence through the NAPA course.


The course has certainly made a difference to the


provision in our home.


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