Commercial Architecture January 2018 - 51

PROJECT

flooring

working to implement sound control and mitigate

surface technology that offers noise-reducing qualities

ment of carts and other equipment along these sur-

sound transmission, as both play key roles in creating

without sacrificing cleanliness or ergonomic comfort

faces, however, often create loud noises that increase

a healing space.

for the user.

sound levels throughout the facility and impact patient satisfaction. Opting for a carpet or other fibrous

IMPACT ON PATIENTS, STAFF

BEYOND CARPET AND TILE

material that absorbs sound, on the other hand, can

A comfortable acoustic environment is vital to sup-

In the healthcare environment, flooring that is hygien-

raise concerns of cleanliness as well as increase risks of

porting the safety, health, healing, and well-being of

ic and easy to clean is a top priority, prompting most

tripping and catching when rolling carts.

patients and providers. Patient physiological health

designers to select hard-surface materials for durability

Recent breakthrough technology has resulted in a

can be negatively affected by poor acoustics, inhibit-

and cleanliness. Constant foot traffic and the move-

third option-resilient flooring-that garners the hy-

ing the healing process and increasing their chances
for hospital readmission.
High noise levels can lead to patient annoyance,
sleep disruption, elevated blood pressure, and decreased healing rates, according to an article in the

International Journal of Cardiology. In terms of overall mental and emotional health, acoustics can have a
notable impact on how comfortable and secure a patient and their family members feel in the healthcare
setting. Loud noises that startle patients or disrupt
sleep can have long-term effects, while softer sound
transmission can present a lack of privacy and also
cause discomfort, according to the Center for Health
Design.
Likewise, patient-care teams also feel the impact of
poor acoustics. When completing tasks in a space
with a high level of noise, providers may have to exert

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more energy to listen or be heard, which can cause
fatigue and burnout.
Speech intelligibility is also imperative in a healthcare environment, and extraneous sounds can impede providers' abilities to understand and quickly
respond to a variety of auditory signals, such as those
generated by conversations, alarms, and other equipment, which directly affect patient care and human
error.
Furthermore, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) standards require individ-

Headquarters
Plants & Sales Offices
Sales Offices

ual patient information, communicated orally, written, or digitally, must remain private. When the
healthcare environment is finished with materials
that reflect sound or is designed without acoustics in

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mind, discussions between patients and providers can
easily carry into other areas and be overheard by an
unintended audience. Poor acoustic design also increases the risk of noncompliance with federal priva-

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cy regulations.
Different design strategies and technologies can
be used to quiet the healing environment and minimize the transmission of sound from adjacent spaces.
Products such as acoustical ceiling tiles and acoustical
wall panels aim to protect patients and providers
from extraneous noise by absorbing sounds from a
variety of sources rather than reflecting them back

www.tacocomfort.com

into the environment.
Another often-overlooked component is flooring
CIRCLE 219

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture January 2018