Acoustic treatment for hospitals, clinics and healthcare facilities
Acoustic comfort, recovery and wellbeing in healthcare environments
Hospitals and healthcare facilities are environments where acoustic comfort has special relevance. Unlike other public buildings, sound here directly influences patient rest, staff concentration and the overall perception of quality of care.
At decustik, we collaborate on acoustic treatment projects for hospitals, clinics and healthcare centres, developing solutions based on technical wood acoustic panels that improve the acoustic behaviour of spaces without compromising functionality or the technical requirements of the healthcare sector.
The importance of acoustics in hospital environments
Acoustics in a hospital influences:
- The rest and recovery of patients.
- The level of acoustic stress among healthcare staff.
- Clarity in clinical communication.
- Perceived privacy in consultation rooms and offices.
- The overall environmental quality of the facility.
An environment with high reverberation is not necessarily extremely noisy, but it can be uncomfortable, cause fatigue and hinder communication.
Common acoustic challenges in hospitals
1. Reverberation in circulation areas
Problem: Long corridors and hard surfaces (continuous flooring, smooth walls, technical ceilings) promote sound reflection, amplifying conversations, transport carts and footsteps.
Solution: Incorporate sound-absorbing acoustic panels on walls or ceilings, such as perforated or slotted technical wood panels. These solutions help reduce reverberation time and sound propagation along corridors without altering the functionality of the space.
2. Noise in waiting areas
Problem: Waiting areas concentrate conversations, people’s movement and public address announcements. In untreated spaces, noise can build up and cause discomfort.
Solution: Apply acoustic treatment on ceilings and strategic wall areas using panels tested in accordance with acoustic regulations. Proper absorption helps create a calmer and more comfortable environment.
3. Communication difficulties in consultation rooms and clinical areas
Problem: Reverberation can affect speech clarity in medical consultation rooms or administrative offices, especially in spaces with reflective surfaces.
Solution: Install absorbent solutions targeted at the human voice range (mid frequencies), improving intelligibility without modifying the architectural configuration.
4. Coexistence of quiet areas and high-activity zones
Problem: A hospital combines inpatient areas, operating rooms, emergency departments, cafeterias and public access zones. Each space has different acoustic needs.
Solution: Design acoustic treatment in a sectorised way, adapting the level of absorption to each area and considering that treatment does not replace sound insulation systems between rooms.
Benefits of acoustic treatment in hospitals
A well-planned acoustic treatment can provide:
- Improved acoustic comfort for patients and companions.
- Reduced auditory fatigue among healthcare professionals.
- Greater clarity in verbal communication.
- More balanced and calmer environments.
- Improved overall perception of the facility’s quality.
In healthcare environments, small improvements in environmental comfort can have a significant impact on the user experience.
Applications of acoustic treatment in hospitals
- Corridors and circulation areas: Absorptive treatments that reduce noise propagation throughout the building.
- Waiting areas: Acoustic panels on ceilings or walls that help decrease accumulated noise.
- Medical consultation rooms: Solutions aimed at improving intelligibility and comfort in clinical conversations.
- Administrative areas: Spaces where acoustic control enhances concentration and privacy.
- Meeting and training rooms: Specific acoustic treatment to ensure clarity in presentations and training sessions.
Solutions for hospitals and healthcare centres
At decustik we design and manufacture technical wood acoustic panels adapted to the requirements of healthcare environments, where durability, ease of maintenance and acoustic performance are key factors.
Typical solutions in hospitals:
- Perforated panels → balanced absorption in common areas.
- Slotted panels → acoustic control in corridors and circulation areas.
- Microperforated panels → visual discretion and performance in consultation rooms.
- Slatted systems → architectural integration with absorption.
- Custom solutions → adaptation to specific project requirements.
All our systems are tested in accordance with current acoustic regulations and manufactured from high-quality technical wood, available on request with FSC or PEFC certifications.
