Complex soundscapes
Published 17/01/2016
What are they?
For complex sonorous scenarios we mean those environment where numerous sonorous events happen in the same time.It’s the case of hospitals, because to the noise created by people is added the equipment noise.
In these situations, a current management of the sonorous scenery can help to reduce the complexity: noise are softened and the dialogue with moderate voice tone is favoured.
It's necessary to project a support design for this type of environment taking into consideration equipment, room layout and acoustic comfort.
Why do we intervene?
In the specific case of the hospital, the noise negative effects are amplified on patient with pain treatments, moreover it’s r proved that the number of patient taking painkillers increases in noisy condition. It can seem surprising but the noise from words has the greatest impact.
Throught the sonorous propagation reduction and thanks to assistance on layout and comforts it is possible to reach significant positive results.
“the noise is more softenend”
“the equipment sound seems less loud”
“some colleagues say that they feel less tired after a working day”
“we don’t raise our voice so hard”.
Audiometric tests
With reference to the areas where they are performed audiometric tests, it should also be noted that the ambient noise level may influence these tests. THE ISO 8253 determines the conditions to be observed to ensure that the test signal is masked by the background noise present in the test chamber audiometers. If the environmental noise levels should not exceed certain values, so it is good to quantitatively verify the phenomenon to acquire silent audiometric cabins with adequate performance to avoid this drawback.The measurements of the ambient noise level must be carried out when there are representative conditions in the moment when you perform audiometric tests. If during the test is generally running a ventilation system, noise measurements should be made with that facility in operation. Measurements should be made in the position of the test chamber in which it is expected there will be the head of the subject to be examined, (but in the absence of the subject). The measurements should meet the accuracy requirements of class 1 of the sound level meter prescribed by IEC 61672-1 and IEC 61620 and have a basic noise level of at least 6 dB lower than the sound pressure level being measured.
Installation procedures of Puma’s silent cabins
For the exact installation of a silent booth it is required the supervision of a competent acoustic or audiometrist who knows the procedures necessary to carry out clinical examinations. The seller is usually an installer and therefore is capable of assessing the suitability of acts environments for this purpose. There are various models of silent cabins for audiometry divided by sound insulation: from 25-30 dB to over 80 for higher performance models. In environments where the background noise is high, it must be installed a cabin which ensures a low background noiseThe most common errors in the use and placement of a silent cabin
• ENABLE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM PATIENT / DOCTOR IN THE CABIN• PLACE THE CABIN IN A HALLWAY OR IN AN AREA OF PASSAGE BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS
• PLACE A CABIN NEAR AN ENVIRONMENT WITH CONSTANT PRESENCE OF PEOPLE (ES: WAITING ROOM)
• PLACE THE CABIN IN CONTACT WITH A WALL, SO ALLOWING 'THE PASSAGE OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS
• DO NOT REQUIRE THE SHUTDOWN OF MOBILE PHONES AND / OR OTHER SOURCES OF DISORDER IN THE AREA
• DO NOT EVALUATE THE SOUNDPROOFING POWER OF THE CABIN DUE TO NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE PREVIOUS INDICATIONS