The main goal of healthcare is to promote healing and recovery for patients. Recent studies have found that a poor acoustic environment can drastically affect the recovery of patients. However, on the most recent HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey result acoustics is one of the lowest scored categories by patients… Read more »
Facility Guidelines Institute Recognizes Importance of Acoustics to Patient Well-being
According to recent research, a poor acoustic environment can negatively affect a patient’s health and recovery. The Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines for Design and Construction is a document that architects, consultants, and engineers refer to when designing outpatient facilities and hospitals. The main goal of the FGI is to keep the patients comfortable and… Read more »
Hospitals and Acoustics
When it comes to the acoustical concerns in hospitals speech privacy is often at the top of the list. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), requires that patient information cannot be disclosed without consent. This includes verbal consultations with doctors. It is important that a hospital room be designed to maximize the privacy of… Read more »
The Exceptional Communication Experience – It’s More Than Just Technology!
“We help design the full experience” stated Steve Thorburn in a Lessons Learned project wrap-up meeting. The project was for an Investment firm and was a hybrid of project delivery methods: design/build for rooms the owner felt could be cloned and design/bid/build for special spaces. “It is more than the gear in the rack; it… Read more »
Complimentary Webinar – Urban Acoustics
July 15, 2015 12:00pm – 1pm Central COMPLIMENTARY WEBINAR….REGISTER NOW Education Credit: 1 AIA/CES LU (HSW) or PDH credit FBPE-approved provider As with any issue of building performance, the acoustics of a mixed-use wood-frame structure can be designed to meet or far exceed minimal requirements. It is the responsibility of the design team to determine… Read more »
Using Cell Phones to Make Noise Measurements
Twice in the last month, we have heard “I just used my cell phone to make noise measurements so you do not need to make measurements.” Mobile phone sound meter applications have added a new twist to our consulting services. As for using our smart phones as sound level meters… The standard phone, as delivered… Read more »
PEX Plumbing – Is it as Quiet as They Say?
Flexible water lines, to some the greatest thing since “Romex” wire for houses. No longer does a person need to fight with rigid pipe when they are plumbing a residence. The product has been around for many years in Europe, and the manufactured home industry has been using it for a number of years in… Read more »
Changes in Resilient Channels
For a recent project at a medical research university we were called in to investigate a vibration issue. The lab is located on the fourth floor of a newly constructed building. The research team was having problems with samples in Petri dishes clustering into groups. For their work the samples needed to be evenly distributed… Read more »
Too Much Lot Line Noise
As winter turns to spring people start talking to their architect or landscape designer about a new hot tub or pool, or perhaps it’s a new air conditioner or even an emergency generator. Soon we will start to get phone calls from homeowners at their wits end because they’ve lost many hours of sleep due… Read more »
Focus on Acoustics: An Update on the Design Impact of Acoustical Standards
At Thorburn Associates we keep an eye on many rating systems and standards that affect our work as acoustical consultants. These rating systems and standards are a way to help ensure that buildings will work for their intended purpose. The end of the year is a good time to assess where things stand and what… Read more »
Search News
