Project: waiting room with reception in a hospital
Size of room: 1210 m3
Acoustic issues: High reverberation times; limited level of privacy when communicating; mental fatigue for medical staff and those using the area.
In hospitals and medical centres, proper acoustic design can play an important role in supporting the safety, health and well-being of both patients and medical staff. Therefore, ensuring an adequate level of confidentiality in healthcare settings is a fundamental prerequisite for carrying out day-to-day activities, with respect for, and attention paid to, everyone using the area.
The acoustic-correction project in question concerns a waiting room with adjoining reception area, around 1200 m3 in size, located within a healthcare facility. By analysing sound levels early on in the project, the reverberation time before treatment and results obtained after the installation of Caruso Acoustic sound-absorbing panels were calculated. The following table shows the reverberation time (RT) calculated in the room before acoustic treatment and the subsequent reverberation time after the Silente sound-absorbing panels were installed.
| Average reverberation time without panels | Average reverberation time with panels |
| 2,65 s | 1,01 s |
The average reverberation time calculated in the room before panel installation was around 2.65 s. Assuming 36 Silente on-wall sound-absorbing panels measuring 240x120x5 in size were installed, the average reverberation time would decrease from 2.65 s to 1.01 s (at an average of 250-2000 Hz), with a sound level reduction of 4.20 dB. For each project, Caruso Acoustic’s technical team carries out an accurate acoustic analysis to determine the number of sound-absorbing panels required to create a comfortable acoustic environment. Distributing acoustic panels in a carefully considered way allows sound to propagate properly throughout a room, enabling effective and context-appropriate communication.
Improper acoustic conditions can interfere with, and have a negative impact on, the physical and psychological well-being of patients. Because of this, the issue of acoustics in healthcare facilities is a complex and multifaceted matter that requires careful planning and layouts aimed at achieving specific objectives, including: supporting the well-being and privacy of all users, and facilitating communication between staff while respecting current standards and regulations. The proposals developed and designed by Caruso Acoustic are perfect for improving acoustic conditions in medical practices, healthcare settings and hospitals thanks to their versatility and the number of different ways they can be customised, based on specific project requirements, ensuring the utmost flexibility when installed.