Acoustic Design & Assessment for Healthcare Buildings
Healthcare buildings place particularly high demands on acoustic performance. Control of noise, speech privacy and sound transmission is critical to patient wellbeing, clinical effectiveness, staff wellbeing and regulatory compliance.
We provide independent acoustic consultancy for hospitals, clinics, care homes and other healthcare facilities, supporting projects from early feasibility and planning through detailed design, construction and post-completion testing.
Our work includes new buildings, refurbishments, extensions and change-of-use developments, and is routinely undertaken in support of planning conditions, Building Regulations and healthcare-specific guidance.
Acoustic considerations in healthcare environments
Healthcare settings require careful control of a wide range of acoustic factors, including:
- Internal ambient noise levels affecting rest, recovery and concentration
- Speech privacy and confidentiality in consultation and treatment areas
- Sound insulation between wards, rooms and departments
- Noise from building services, medical plant and emergency systems
- External noise intrusion where sites are affected by road, rail or other sources
These factors must be considered together to ensure spaces function safely and appropriately for patients, staff and visitors.
Planning and Regulatory Requirements
Healthcare developments are commonly subject to a combination of planning policy, client requirements and sector specific guidance.
In England, acoustic design guidance within healthcare buildings is contained in HTM 08-01: Acoustics, which sets out recommended criteria for noise levels, sound insulation, reverberation and speech privacy across a range of clinical and support spaces.
We provide clear, proportionate advice to support compliance with HTM 08-01 alongside planning and client requirements to ensure that acoustic performance is achievable and buildable. Our approach recognises the operational realities of healthcare environments and avoids unnecessary specification, while maintaining appropriate acoustic standards and defensible outcomes.
Our services for healthcare projects
We can provide:
- Early feasibility studies and site noise assessments
- Noise impact assessments for planning
- Internal acoustic design advice and specification review
- Coordination with architects, M&E engineers and contractors
- Compliance testing and post-completion verification
- Reporting for planning, building control and funding bodies
Our approach is pragmatic, technically robust and focused on supporting healthcare buildings that function properly from day one.
Investigation and Problem Solving
Sometimes an existing building is repurposed and it transpires that the acoustics are not fit for the intended new purpose. We can provide assistance to quantify the situation through on site tests and investigation, then discuss technical and practicable possibilities to improve the situation. For example, if an existing building is used to provide a suite of consultation rooms, sound transmission between them can prohibit confidential discussion and treatment.
David Garritt BEng MIOA
Director and Acoustic Consultant
Speak to an Acoustic Consultant
If you would like to talk to us about any aspect of acoustics and how we can help, please do not hesitate to contact us:
e-mail: contact@sdgarritt.co.uk
Phone: Doncaster main office, 01302 854 303
David Garritt’s mobile, 07894 073 973
Elizabeth Garritt BSc AMIOA
Acoustic Consultant