The need for an ideal acoustic ceilings condition remains a paramount challenge to many healthcare facilities today.
Thanks to the technological advancements evolving all across the globe, the healthcare sector is also not left behind. Aside from the addition of new practices and treatments, the overall design of the facility, especially the need to promote acoustic comfort while delivering quality health services, remains essential.
So, how can the construction industry get ahead of modern science and pull out a solution that contributes positively to quality healthcare? There is none but a simple answer: the acoustic ceilings.
The design of healthcare facilities influences the delivery of quality services. A high level of noise within the environment negatively impacts the patients and the staff rendering therapeutic services.
From elevated blood pressure to decreased oxygen saturation and sleep disruption to the heart and respiration rate, these adverse outcomes disrupt the usual healing process and increase the patients' need for rehospitalization.
As for the staff, excess noise can disrupt the usual intellectual activities and therapeutic processes required to render excellent healthcare services. They experience emotional exhaustion and increased fatigue, stress, work pressure, and annoyance on most occasions.
In a bid to avoid these adverse outcomes, it is essential to consider the acoustic ceilings comfort of the healthcare facility while delivering quality health services.
After all, the guidelines by the World Health Organization postulated that the recommended maximum level of sound for a patient's room should be 30 to 40 dB(A).
Similarly, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends a maximum noise level of 40 dB(A) in a hospital.
No wonder it has been discovered that when a patient gets enough restorative sleep through reduced noise, the need for pain medication falls. At the same time, the overall medical outcome of the patient also improves.
Ceilings may be the last thing to consider when delivering an excellent acoustic ceilings condition to a healthcare facility. However, they remain crucial to providing quality service in the environment.
Research reveals a high correlation between the type of ceiling in a healthcare environment and the state of a patient's well-being, recovery, and even the hospital's sanitation.
As a result, the design of any healthcare facility should fit the acoustic goals and meet the needs of the selected targeted audience.
For a healthcare facility to meet the acoustic goals, designers should consider a three-step approach to ensure an excellent acoustic condition in the environment.
First, there is the need to consider acoustic ceilings absorption in the facility. How loud is the noise level? Does it conform to the guidelines of the World Health Organization?
Next is sound insulation. The walls of the facility should extend to full height. It must be from the floor to the roof to meet the occupants’ needs.
Finally, the healthcare facility needs to determine the hospital's background noise source. Choosing the source of the background noise and finding an effective solution can help improve the acoustic conditions of the environment.
When selecting ceiling tiles for a healthcare environment, we often consider hygienic control. Although this is highly essential, designers should also consider other performing factors relevant to the facility. These factors include:
The healthcare sector holds safety and hygiene in high esteem. Since the transmission of pathogens and other germs can compromise patients’ immune systems, it is highly essential to keep surfaces clean and disinfected.
The CDC Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities showcases specific disinfection and sterilization practices to keep the healthcare environment safe for all occupants. Hence, selecting the right ceiling panel is crucial to meet all hygienic standards.
These standards include washability, anti-microbial, fire safety, anti- mold, and other seismic requirements. For instance, if a room requires ISO 14644 cleanroom environments, USG Middle East offers tested and highly-standardized ceiling tiles that meet ISO 14644 requirements.
Color theory in a healthcare environment elicits various emotions from the occupants. It influences the way staff, patients, and visitors think and behave. When creating a holistic acoustic ceilings healthcare environment, utilizing colors that produce a calming and therapeutic effect is essential.
For instance, the colors utilized for psychiatry patients' waiting rooms or pediatric care centers evoke strong emotions. Colors such as white, blues, pale greens, brown, or other natural colors create a cozy and restful environment. Meanwhile, colors such as red can overstimulate rooms such as laboratories or MRI rooms.
Also, colors can help visitors in finding their way around the facility. The ISO has color codes standards (ISO 3864-1) that illustrate proper signage (colors, signs, and graphics) to reduce accidents and public injuries within the facilities. In addition, research has revealed how high contrast helps elderly patients with deteriorating visions.
Exposure to lighting positively impacts patients' healing and recovery process. Research also reveals that it reduces mortality rates, alleviates pain and stress, and improves overall health outcomes. As a result, it is essential to select acoustic ceilings with high light reflective value (LR) to increase light exposure and create a friendly environment.
The design of hospital rooms doesn't have to be dull. Designers can utilize creative patterns as well as colorful shapes to provide visual cues to patients. USG Middle East offers ceilings of such designs and conditions without compromising the acoustic feature.
Over the years, USG Middle East has successfully manufactured and supplied various healthcare settings with acoustic ceilings tiles. Most products are lightweight that offers exceptional noise reduction and suitable light reflection. Some of these products include:
The Sonata Healthcare Acoustic Ceilings have a cleanable and durable surface that repels molds and conforms to ISO standards (ISO 14644-1: 2015).
The Halcyon Healthcare Acoustic Ceilings is a fiberglass substrate with water repellant features designed to withstand disinfectants, reflect high light, absorb exceptional sound, and remain durable.
The benefits of acoustic ceilings far outweigh the dangers posed by other tiles in the healthcare industry. Give USG Middle East a trial today and let your healthcare organization have a fantastic experience.
