Analysis of bedroom distribution layouts to improve acoustic comfort in hospital wards

Abstract

Although noise in indoor environments is considered one of the most important factors affecting health and life quality of users, it is often overlooked during design; several studies highlight how noise pollution in hospitals has increased significantly over the past sixty years, and how exposure to inadequate noise levels causes stress and disturbance for all users. In patients, who represent the most vulnerable group of users within hospitals, excessive noise, especially during the night, is a cause of stress and awakenings that can affect the psychophysical healing process. Interviews conducted with patients highlight that the most disturbing sources of noise that cause awakening during the night are from activities outside the room. In this paper, starting from the typical configuration (two-bed coupled rooms with toilet), different possible configurations of materials and distributive layouts will be shown, in order to contribute to the reduction of noise transmission from the corridor into the patient room.