A REVIEW OF THE EFFECTIVENESS, PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS AND IMPACT OF GUIDELINES ON ACOUSTIC CONDITIONS IN UK HEALTHCARE PREMISES

摘要

The paper includes a review of the NHS guidance on acoustics and vibration in healthcare premises, Health Technical Memorandum 08-01. In the 8 years since its first publication, the document's recommendations have become part of the UK's healthcare estate standard suite of technical guidelines. Its advice has also been incorporated to BREEAM assessment guidelines for improving the internal and external acoustic environment of health building projects. HTM 08-01 superseded a more acoustics-focused document (HTM2045). Creating a more readily achievable set of criteria, and adopting a more practical approach, the understanding and implementation of acoustic considerations in healthcare design has been increased. The paper discusses how this has improved the acoustic environment, working conditions and healing capabilities for patients in projects across the UK. It will also review the innovation in product design that it has helped drive, and give thoughts on where improvements to the guidance could be made. Project examples will include improved acoustic design on many internationally renowned healthcare schemes across the UK including some of the largest health building projects seen in recent years.