Report Analyzes Use of Engineered Flooring to Combat Hospital Noise

By HCO Staff

LANCASTER, Pa.—While there are many factors that contribute to increased stress for hospital occupants, noise is widely recognized as one of the top offenders. While hospitals can be filled with both routine and unexpected sounds, there are a variety of ways to help reduce or mitigate unwanted noise, starting with the built environment. A new whitepaper from Ecore—a manufacturer of safe, ergonomic and acoustic performance surfaces—takes a deep dive into evidence-based design and how acoustically engineered flooring in healthcare facilities can help absorb unwanted sound to create a more peaceful and healing healthcare environment.

Titled “Comparing Acoustic Flooring in Healthcare,” the whitepaper focuses on noise levels in healthcare environments and notes the effects noise pollution has on both patients and staff. Furthermore, it explores how flooring—an often-overlooked element—can have a substantial impact on the hospital environment and the overall health and wellness of patients and staff.

Helping architects and designers make informed decisions around design specification using quantified research and evidence-based design has been widely studied in hospital environments. The results shared in the report emphasize that by striking the perfect balance between force reduction and energy restitution, premium rubber flooring changes the characteristics of sound and can drastically improve acoustics in hospital settings.

Including a brief introduction to the issue of excess noise in hospitals, the whitepaper also explores and explains how the right flooring specification can enhance ergonomics and facilitate easy maintenance.

For more information about flooring specification in healthcare facilities, download Ecore’s whitepaper here.