Role of acoustics in hospital planning

Explore the growing significance of hospital acoustics with Anil Dhamdhere, GM Engineering at Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai, in an exclusive interview with Healthcare Radius.

- Anil Dhamdhere

Why is acoustics management important right from the hospital planning stage?

The building design planning and equipment's selection must be in compliance with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), government regulatory guidelines for air water and noise. Also compliance to EPA (Environment Protection Act) guidelines is important to keep pollution under control. The hospital is expected to be a quiet place and its location is considered as a silent zone.

However, many hospital buildings are subjected to external and internal noise pollution. External sound pollution can be from environmental disturbances, vehicles, and industry. The Internal pollution is from alarming equipment, trolleys, verbal and telecommunication and medical equipment's. It is possible to limit external disturbance by well-planned buffer zone tree plantation, double wall jacket, use of hollow blocks, large double glass windows. Internal pollution can be limited to greater extent by selecting suitable acoustic enclosure arrangements.

It is important to select equipment's having low noise levels below 65db and further acoustic arrangements to be made to bring down sound level within acceptable limits as per hospital design criteria i. e. 40 dB during nights and 50 dB in day time.

Are there any sound-proofing materials that hospitals must consider investing in?