Securing STC Ratings

As efforts accelerate to improve the patient experience and generate better IEQ and safety, the standards applied to healthcare buildings across the board are becoming more stringent. The noise normally occurring inside rooms is often referred to as “background noise,” notes a research team headed by Timothy Hsu. “In hospitals, background noise can result from a variety of sources including air-conditioning systems, medical devices such as respirators, and occupant sounds, such as conversation. Impulsive noises, or very loud, short duration events, are also commonly found in hospitals (e.g., doors slamming, metal-to-metal contact, alarms).”⁶ The World Health Organization recommends maximum daytime background noise in hospital patient rooms of 35 decibels during the day and 30 decibels at night.

Under the weight of research and recommendations, acoustic requirements for healthcare spaces have been raised. The Sound Transmission Class (STC) levels have been raised by a minimum of 5 points in both patient spaces as well as in examination areas.

To help design professionals engineer better acoustical environments, ASTM E90, ASTM E413, and ASTM E2964 assign products an STC rating, which is an average of their acoustic performance across 18 different sound frequencies. In a product with an STC rating of 50 or above, even very loud sounds such as operating machinery, musical instruments, and high-volume stereos are reduced to tolerable background sounds.

Under HIPAA regulations, speech privacy is mandated. Therefore, acoustic door assemblies have an extremely important role to play in healthcare facilities. Acoustic assemblies also abate the disquieting noise inherent in most hospital environments. Selected acoustic door assemblies should be independently tested to achieve the rated sound transmission loss. To make certain that acoustic requirements are met, door assemblies that need an STC rating of 35 or above should be noted on plans and classified as special assemblies.

For acoustic performance up to STC 46, lightweight panel engineering combined with level swing seal systems provides outstanding acoustic performance with easy operation. When installed following manufacturer guidelines, these openings can comply with ADA (ANSI 117.1) requirements. For STC 47 and above, cam lift hinges are used providing a compression seal between the door bottom and threshold.

Acoustic wood door and steel frame assemblies can now provide a rating up to STC 56. Face veneers are available in virtually every species, cut, and grade and can be finished with custom stain match or clear coat finishes. Stiles and rails are hardwood and vertical edges match face veneer. Plastic laminate face veneers are also available with hardwood edges. Fire-rated STC wood door and frame assemblies are available with ratings up to 90 minutes.

Selection of an acoustic wood or steel door and frame assembly is a successful strategy to secure noise reduction in healthcare environments. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-rated and VOC-compliant acoustic steel door and frame, or wood door and frame, assemblies allow for the combination of outstanding sound transmission loss with the appearance of standard products. Not only can acoustic doors meet the enhanced STC requirements and qualify under green certification programs, but certain products can also comply with NFPA-80 as a fire-labeled product.

The best acoustic doors provide complete acoustic frames, perimeter and bottom seals, threshold, and astragal, that are all tested in accordance with ASTM E-90 and E-413 standards. It is imperative that the entire assembly is tested and provided as designed. Minor changes, such as supplementing a different threshold or bottom seal, can impact the overall STC rating.

PROMOTING PATIENT WELL-BEING BY DESIGN

In 1984, a landmark paper by Dr. Roger Ulrich helped establish the field of evidence-based design in healthcare. Patients in healthcare settings often experience high stress, either due to their physical condition or the difficulties and uncertainties of diagnostic procedures and testing. Ulrich’s research demonstrated that the use of artwork in healthcare settings leads to improved patient well-being and better health outcomes. Since Ulrich’s initial work, the field of evidence-based design has expanded and numerous studies show that artwork in patient rooms offers discernable benefits: promoting healing, relieving patients’ pain and stress, and increasing their overall well-being.

Photo courtesy of AMBICO

Enhanced design strategies and products are needed to meet acoustic requirements for healthcare spaces.

The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) lists multiple benefits from art therapy: art reduces stress, improves focus, helps one to better process emotions, enables a person to imagine a more hopeful future, and improves communication skills. Christianne Strang, a professor of neurosciences at the University of Alabama Birmingham and former president of the American Art Therapy Association says: “Creativity in and of itself is important for remaining healthy, remaining connected to yourself and connected to the world.”⁷

Using Art to Create Occupant-Centered Spaces

Value-based healthcare is the wave of the future for the medical industry. The organization of healthcare services through an approach that considers human needs in their entirety is yielding considerable opportunity for architectural expression. According to several studies, the humanization of healthcare spaces and contact with nature can empower the patient and have a positive impact by reducing stress and pain and improving emotional well-being.⁸

Besides art, using biophilia in medical facilities improves occupant mood, helps in healthcare, and can decrease time spent in recovery for patients. Studies have shown that looking at images of nature is healing, generating an impact similar to actually spending time in nature. Art, then, can become a crucial component of any healthcare space by bringing in the natural world.

Walls are one of the largest elements of the interior. Adding design integrated throughout wall protection gives walls an additional purpose while expanding their longevity and enhancing protection against damage. Durable wall panels can be used in high-traffic spaces prone to damage and deterioration. Specifying printed wall protection provides a protective wall covering that can be applied directly to the wall at virtually any size. When the graphic is back-printed onto clear sheet, like PETG, the custom artwork, photography, or image remains vivid and will not get scratched over time.

New digital imaging and printing techniques have enabled endless possibilities when it comes to adding art to architectural products, including wall coverings. Design professionals are no longer limited to solid colors or patterned wallpaper. Product design experts can work with clients to select imagery suited to their brand. Stock photography and curated artworks from artists can be showcased through architectural products. Any image can find a place on a project’s walls, signage, or even window treatments. Complete customization enables architects and designers to create unique, one-of-a-kind products that produce an unforgettable experience for building occupants. The colors, material, textures, and impact-resistance levels of these products also offer designers and facility staff limitless options to enhance the aesthetics of a facility’s interior, while delivering much needed protection to the edifice itself.

Adding imagery throughout the built environment brings continuity to both the building and the occupant experience. With the right materials, design professionals can craft a striking design and ensure sustainability, enhance the patience experience, and secure significant savings by stopping damage before it happens. Thanks to innovations in technology, facility designers no longer have to compromise their visions with drab institutional products, nor do they have to sacrifice durability for aesthetics.

Photo courtesy of Inpro

Art elements humanize the healthcare experience, reducing stress and even enabling better emotional processing.

Selecting Imagery Products

The investment in high-quality wall protection products makes it much easier to maintain a clean, well-kept facility appearance that makes a positive impression on both patients and staff. Wall protection panels may be a new expense, but they can eliminate hidden maintenance costs while offering the additional opportunity of hosting art to improve the overall experience.

Architects and design professionals can slow the inevitable wear and tear by thinking long-term and specifying products that not only preserve their design and artistic vision, but also serve building owners in preserving a structure long after the ribbon is cut. This can mean, in high use areas, selecting products that protect the planned interior from accruing damage in the first place.

Door and wall protection products maintain the designer and architects’ original vision for the facility, long into the building’s life. Protective wall coverings are engineered with rigid sheet wall protection to endure the toughest commercial damage. When beginning a new construction or renovation project, it is wise to engage in predictive planning. Predictive planning specifically identifies the potential causes and levels of abuse, and then matches the targeted wall protection based on its size, impact absorption, weight bearing, and desired aesthetic.