Ospedali Universitari di Strasburgo-Hautepierre

Un Ambiente Rumoroso con Picchi fino a 100 dB

Nell'Unità di Terapia Intensiva Neonatale dell'Ospedale Universitario di Strasburgo, il rumore è causato da una combinazione di fattori: attrezzature come respiratori e pompe per siringhe, attività del personale, interazioni tra pazienti e familiari – tutto contemporaneamente. Secondo il Professor Kuhn, l'80% del rumore in queste unità è generato da fonti artificiali, come le attrezzature mediche, mentre solo il 20% proviene dalle voci umane.

I livelli di rumore possono variare tra 50 e 75 dB(A) (rumore generalmente considerato "invasivo"), con picchi che possono raggiungere i 100 dB (rumore che può essere doloroso). I neonati prematuri sono particolarmente sensibili alle variazioni di suono, che possono provocare stress dannoso per il loro sviluppo, come una riduzione della saturazione di ossigeno e un aumento della frequenza cardiaca. Inoltre, il rumore ha un impatto negativo anche sul personale medico e sanitario, che opera ininterrottamente in questo ambiente.

Creare un Ambiente che Favorisca lo Sviluppo Sano dei Neonati

As part of the NIDCAP programme, the Unit was looking to make changes to this environment so that it would be better suited to the healthy development of young infants. Noise was one of the parameters addressed by this project.

For this reason, Ms Cayeux, Unit Supervisor, proposed that acoustic enhancement for both patients and staff should be one of the priorities in the remedial work envisaged for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: “Noise was regarded as inevitable, something we just had to put up with. In actual fact, there are some easy ways of reducing it.”

An acoustic study to make the right choices

Acoustics specialist Joseph Flores was commissioned to undertake an acoustic study and oversee the remedial work inside a specimen room. This was the room where, in the opinion of the staff, acoustic discomfort was most pronounced. To raise staff awareness of the principles of acoustic correction, the resonance of various materials was demonstrated (sound in front of a glass pane or in front of absorbent materials) – a demonstration that was very well received by the staff. 

The first calculations from the study showed that the reverberation time was greater than the 0.8 of a second required of providers of welfare accommodation in France⁽¹⁾. In actual fact, because the materials within the room were highly reverberant, they could not absorb the sounds generated in the Unit. When this happens, the net result is echo phenomena and amplification of the sound level.

An acoustic solution designed to meet hygiene requirements

A Hygiene Protec ceiling and Hygiene Advance Wall panels were installed in the room. These solutions enabled the reverberation time to be reduced by almost 50% ⁽²⁾. This naturally also resulted in a reduction of the global sound level within the room, from 55 dBA before the remedial work to 37.5 dBA once the work was completed.

In choosing this solution, full consideration was given to the requirements pertaining to healthcare facilities. Because a neonatal intensive care unit is an environment susceptible to major risk of infection, it was essential to use tailored materials that could be easily cleaned in accordance with various prescribed procedures. The Ecophon Hygiene range was able to meet all these needs.

A successful acoustic outcome for the Unit

The results for this room met with the full approval of the medical and healthcare teams. The difference was clear for all to hear: the room was quieter and calmer. Furthermore, this measure made the staff even more aware of potential noise sources and their impact on the healthy development of patients. As a result, all the rooms were given similar upgrades. Each room accommodates one to four patients.

Ms Cayeux on the acoustic changes: “You can't argue with the results – I’ve had nothing but positive feedback. Noise affects both patients and staff, so everyone wins.”

Our concept developer for Healthcare will be pleased to answer any questions you may have: anne.pollet@saint-gobain.com.

⁽¹⁾ Order of 25 April 2003 relating to noise control in healthcare facilities
⁽²⁾ Average calculated for frequencies of 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz