Noise Control in Hospital Corridor Using Evidence Based Design

A joint research group was formed to evaluate the effects of flooring and ceiling choices on controlling “corridor activity noise” in an occupied hospital. Beside noise control within the corridors, the sound absorption also played an important role in isolating sound from room to room and from nurses‟ station to patient rooms. In the present study, noise levels (recorded as percentile level Ln, equivalent sound pressure level Leq, maximum levels Lmax, and minimum Level Lmin) have been logged at selected corridor positions for 2 material choices: 1) with carpet and standard acoustical ceiling, or 2) with hard flooring (vinyl tile) and high performance acoustical ceiling. Subjective perceptions by both patients and healthcare professionals have been investigated. This study was conducted by the Center for Health Design (CHD) and Palomar Pomerado Health (PPH) in San Diego, California. The acoustic measurements were performed by CMSalter Associates, and materials and acoustic data analysis were provided by Armstrong World Industries. Results showed that noise levels increased when carpeting was substituted by hard surface flooring materials which reduced the sound absorption in the corridor. As expected, the patient/medical professionals‟ perceptions of annoyance and distraction were increased. However, if a high performance acoustical ceiling is also substituted along with the hard surface flooring, the rise in noise level due to the flooring change alone is negated, which results in (1) equivalent or slightly lower noise level and (2) equivalent or improved subjective perceptions by both patients‟ and staff‟s feedbacks.