Can Building Acoustics Improve Human Health?

Most often, architects design for the eyes rather than the ears.

However, acoustics, or the science of mechanical waves including vibration, sound, ultrasound, and infrasound, can have a significant on impact Indoor Environmental Quality.

Effective acoustic design can promote occupants’ well-being, productivity, and communications which is important in every building... But acoustics have considerable implications in schools and healthcare facilities, such as hospitals.

According to Julian Treasure, sound expert, ambient noise and sound interference can have dreadful consequences for health and education.

Noise Levels of Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities Has Doubled

The noise level of hospitals and healthcare facilities having doubled since 1972, it is no wonder that the New England Journal of Medicine has described hospital noise levels as “pandemonium”.

For patients, sleep time is interrupted by loud beeps and the sound of people talking at all hours. Sleep is necessary for cell recovery is lost or reduced, lengthening recovery times and leading to increased treatment.

Noise interference can not only be irritating, and cause a lack of sleep, it can impact physician and patient care accuracy.

In a hospital, noise distractions substantially increase dispensing errors. This means healthcare professionals may deliver the wrong dose of medication, which could ultimately impact patient recovery, or worse.

Since many monitors and around-the-clock-care are essential in hospital settings, better design acoustics can improve recovery times.

Architects and building designers should consult with an engineer who specializes in building acoustics and noise management and research materials that absorb, rather than reflect, sound.

Classroom Noise Levels

Classroom noise level can be detrimental for both teachers and students.

Most classrooms are arranged conventionally in rows, where the students in the first row receive the clearest sound from whoever is speaking in the front of the class.

While many contemporary schools have designed auditoriums with acoustics in mind, most public and private schools were designed before acoustics was a design consideration.

In a conventional classroom set up, students in the 4th row have only 50% audibility because of noises created by other students and the reverberation of sound on hard surfaces. Audibility can be even more difficult for children with hearing impairments, those who speak English as a second language.

Installing acoustic measures in classrooms can help students absorb more information and may even lead to better behavior.

For teachers, high noise levels not only require them to raise their voices in order to be heard, but also the need to raise voices has been tied to health issues such as heart attacks.

Indeed, a study in Germany showed that as noise level increases, so does a teacher’s heart rate. Indeed, the threshold level for possible noise-induced risk of heart attack is 65 dB, which is exactly the average noise level in classrooms.

Is it reasonable to assume that teachers may be losing years of their lives because of a lack of acoustic design?

LEED designs that consider acoustics can improve health and recovery rates in hospitals and contribute to better productivity in classrooms as well as potentially longer life expectancy in teachers.

The impacts of LEED Certified buildings extend far beyond environmental impact and can substantially benefit quality of life.