Enhancing acoustic environments in healthcare: a case-study of Les Viviers Hospital

In healthcare settings, the creation of a conducive acoustic environment is vital.  A well-designed acoustic landscape plays a crucial role in supporting patient well-being, ensuring privacy and facilitating communication among staff. Patients in hospitals often face challenges in achieving restful sleep due to excessive noise from various sources, including conversations among staff, beeping machines, and the movement of equipment. This constant noise can lead to annoyance and fatigue, ultimately impacting the care they receive. Research indicates that patients are more susceptible to anxiety and stress than healthy individuals, and a noisy hospital environment intensifies this vulnerability. Additionally, excessive noise can disrupt communication between healthcare providers and patients, increasing the risk of medical errors. All of the above reinforces the necessity for healthcare facilities to prioritize acoustic design in their planning.

Integrated design for logical solutions

The Sweco design team employs a human-centered approach to ensure acoustic comfort that meets contemporary standards through realistic solutions. An integrated approach from the very first steps of the design process reconciles acoustic comfort with sustainable construction and aesthetic building solutions.

It is important to mention that no clear and overarching standard is available for hospital acoustics in Belgium. Older existing standards use outdated scale units and quality expectations. However, our design team aims to present the client with a normative framework with clear goals. For the brand new Les Viviers Hospital, our acoustical experts produced an extensive paper, clearly quantifying the minimal acoustical objectives based on the existing standards, using present scale units and quality expectations. The objectives were realized through both architectural and technical solutions.

An additional element in Hospital Les Viviers was the layers method, grouping functions to optimize operational efficiency and total cost of ownership. This concept also allows for differentiation with regard to acoustical comfort, as each layer has specific requirements. An integrated solution consisted of using the technical volume/layer as a noise barrier for the hotel/motel layer. On a smaller scale, within the hospital, noisier functions are separated from sensitive areas as patient rooms.

Thoughtful planning, combined with specific measures, effectively reduces noise and vibration from medical equipment. Imaging machines, such as MRI scanners, are particularly sensitive to low-frequency vibrations and generate significant noise (>100dB). These were installed on the ground floor away from sensitive areas, in spaces designed as “box-in-the-box” construction.  The double wall construction functions as a mass-spring-mass system, resulting in improved airborne noise isolation.  Additionally, the slabs are designed to minimize vibration transmission, preserving the functionality of critical medical equipment.

It is important to mention that no clear and overarching standard is available for hospital acoustics in Belgium. Older existing standards use outdated scale units and quality expectations. However, our design team aims to present the client with a normative framework with clear goals.

Lieve Van der Spiegel, team manager acoustical engineering

Acoustics, the silent contributor to a healing environment

The integration of thoughtful acoustic design in healthcare settings is an essential aspect of the healing environment, supporting patient well-being and enhancing the overall quality of care. By addressing noise management, sound insulation, and the careful selection of materials, the Les Viviers Hospital will foster healing, promote privacy, and facilitate effective communication among staff and patients, contributing to a more positive healthcare experience, and leading to improved patient outcomes and satisfaction.