acoustics


“That means the ceiling plane is the


perfect location to add this sound absorption; and metal, as well as mineral, tiles can meet this requirement. “Acoustic ceiling tiles with antimicrobial


treatments help to control contamination and their robust surfaces allow strict cleaning regimes to be followed without them sustaining damage.


performance may have to be made to accommodate all of these requirements, particularly in clinically- specialist areas.” Acoustic solutions have been


developed for most surfaces, primarily internal partitions, wall linings, floors and ceilings and fire protection partitions. Armstrong’s Bioguard Acoustic tiles


are an example of the very-latest ceiling solutions and are widely used in health and care environments, as is Ecophon’s range of sound-absorbent ceiling and wall panels solutions; and British Gypsum’s Gyptone, Rigitone and Gyprex boards. The impact of these is covered in


British Gypsum’s dedicated White Book Health Sector Guide for specifiers. Sexton said: “When applied to room


surfaces or objects, sound-absorptive materials reduce the reflection of sound that strikes them, which helps to make a space seem less ‘echoey’ or, more technically, less reverberant. “The ceiling plane is often the only


one of substantial size, and relatively unobstructed, where sound absorption can be introduced. “However, sound-absorptive


materials are most effective at controlling reverberant sound when distributed between several room surfaces or objects rather than just being applied to one.”


“Choosing the most-appropriate


product for an area is also a key task as the balance of acoustical performance, durability, infection containment and control, as well as accessibility, is critical.”


New technologies It is these important factors that are behind the development of the latest healthcare acoustic surface solutions and the drivers for specification. “When selecting products for


acoustical performance; it is important to understand the type of performance required,” said Spicer. “High sound absorption may be


required to control the reverberation within a ward or open space, but there may also need to be some sound attenuation or sound blocking to mask noise from floors above or from adjacent rooms or services within the void. “Health Building Note HBN 00-10


Design for flooring, walls, ceilings, sanitary ware and windows should also be consulted to understand the category of the room and the finish required. “A compromise on the acoustical


30 healthcaredm.co.uk


The future Moving forward, he envisages products further developing to meet the continuing priorities arising within the health sector. He said: “New technologies will


further improve self-cleaning/easy-clean surfaces with antimicrobial


performance, while also improving sound absorption and attenuation. “The evolution of products for


healthcare will follow all requirements, both acoustically and practically without compromise.” The Ecophon spokesman added:


“Hospitals are becoming busier and noisier and so products will continue to be required and to evolve. “The requirement for cleaning and


decontamination is always a key consideration and will continue to be so alongside a requirement for more- robust impact-resistant finishes. “The link to Biophilic design may also


result in more nature-based solutions within soundscaping and the use of colour and visual images on acoustic products.”


References:1http://www.cisca.org/files/public/A coustics%20in%20Healthcare%20Environments _CISCA.pdf


www.british-gypsum.com www.armstrongceilings.com www.ecophon.com


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