Durability, acoustics, and aesthetics key to ceilings

Good acoustic design is vitally important to all healthcare settings, and this is addressed in Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 08-01: Acoustics, and Health Building Note 00-10 Part B: Walls and Ceilings. Both highlight the importance of good design, and outline the policy and performance requirements for walls and ceilings used in healthcare settings.

From specialist clinics and hospital wards to doctors' surgeries, patient waiting areas, and administrative offices, the healthcare sector is characterised by many different types of facility — each with its own design requirements, which in turn influence the building materials required. Although specific acoustic requirements vary depending on the function and use of the room, the overall guidance is clear — good acoustic design is essential in creating a safe space in which patients can rest and recover. They need to be protected from loud or disturbing noises, either from outside or from within, and with many healthcare buildings incorporating noisy equipment and a high level of footfall, the need for adequate soundproofing cannot be underestimated.

There is also the issue of privacy — in terms of maintaining both patient dignity and confidentiality, while also ensuring speech intelligibility — for instance for sometimes sensitive conversations between doctors, patients, and their families and friends. In communal areas specifically, it is also vitally important that staff and patients can clearly hear any announcements and alerts. Aesthetic appeal is of course another key consideration in healthcare facilities, where the overall design of a room needs to enhance, rather than diminish, the experience of its users. In terms of ceiling designs, this is where the use of acoustic ceilings, baffles, rafts, and canopies can make a real impact.