Acoustics and healthy indoor environment

As part of the professional construction seminars and workshops “Project Day for Dry Construction,” five leading companies in their fields presented their solutions and innovations for dry construction. Information about the properties of individual products and applied procedures was also provided. One of the speakers was Igor Slávik, a representative of ROCKFON, who discussed acoustics and indoor air quality in relation to ceiling systems.

OBS de Kariboe

When Sound Becomes Noise

We can certainly agree that noise is part of everyday life in busy cities, especially where larger numbers of people gather – in schools, offices, hospitals, and other facilities. The overall noise levels can make people irritable, quick-tempered, and feel unpleasant tension. Overall, noise adversely affects the quality of our lives. Numerous studies have proven the consequences of poor room acoustics:

- Students in schools hear up to 70% of the consonants that teachers pronounce 1)
- 60% of employees in open-plan offices report that noise is the factor that bothers them most while working 2)
- 70% of administrative workers believe their efficiency would be greater if the surrounding environment were less noisy 3)
- In hospitals, reducing noise is very significant for the healing of patients 4)

Acoustics and Stone Wool

“Stone wool is an ideal material that functions as an acoustic absorber, absorbing noise and ensuring acoustic comfort and interior comfort,” Igor Slávik begins. “ROCKFON ceilings offer excellent acoustic properties. In this case, not only sound absorption is important, but also very good sound insulation, which not only prevents sound from passing through the ceiling but also its further spreading into the surroundings.”
Ceilings made of stone wool provide the possibility to acoustically solve almost any space. They ensure the highest sound absorption, the shortest reverberation time, and directly affect speech intelligibility in the room, increasing the audibility and comprehensibility of individual words depending on the reverberation time, speech signal, or the shape of the room. Additionally, ROCKFON ceilings eliminate the so-called “Friendly Meeting Effect,” where freely speaking people in one room gradually start speaking louder until essentially they are shouting.

Herningsholm Gymnasium

Healthy Environment

Acoustics is not the only indicator that is emphasized in the production of ceilings. The lecture also included the topic of a healthy environment, particularly concerning the use of ceiling systems in healthcare facilities. For such spaces, the materials used must be health-friendly. “Stone wool fully meets this requirement, as it is a 100% inorganic material that protects against the spread of dangerous microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi,” says Igor Slávik. Products from the MediCare line have, of course, been tested for resistance to microorganisms (resistance against MRSA, Candida Albicans, Aspergillus Niger). The ceilings can also be disinfected with steam and, due to the water resistance of stone wool, cleaned with water or water mixed with ammonia, chlorine, etc. (according to the manufacturer’s instructions).

Project Day

In conclusion, a few words about the seminar itself. The high attendance at the individual lectures from architects, contracting companies, and not least students indicates that the discussed topic is very attractive. It is significant for improving and cultivating the surrounding environment, enhancing standards of dry construction in public and private spaces, and ultimately increasing the quality of acoustic solutions.
More about the acoustic properties of materials at www.rockfon.cz

1) Research project “Intelligibility in School Classrooms” – Faculty of Civil Engineering and Research, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
2) Danish National Research Center for the Working Environment “Noise Due to Human Activity)
3) Julian Treasuer, Sound Business, 2007
4) Source: Technical Guidelines for Healthcare Facilities (Health Technical Memorandum)

Warsaw Hospital for Children