Design Alert on Noise Criteria for Rooms

DESIGN ALERT ON NOISE CRITERIA FOR ROOMS

ISSUE:

Evaluation and coordination of VA Noise Criteria for Rooms.

BACKGROUND:

Due to several discrepancies between the hvac design criteria and the master construction

specification section 15200 "noise and vibration control" the criteria for noise control due to

mechanical equipment requires updating. Also, a comparison of va criteria is required with the

private industry to see how va compares with the private in this area.

RECOMMENDATIONS/CONCLUSION:

1. VA criteria was compared by the CM's HVAC Professional Group with ASHRAE and Kaiser

Permanente a private HMO to see how VA compares with them. In most cases the VA criteria

was found to be less stringent and les s expensive.

2. While VA criteria is being updated, please use following criteria approved by the CM's HVAC

Professional Group on future projects. Also, please be advised that the master specification

allows 5 dB as the room attenuating effect which could amount to higher NC level in the room by

as much as 5 dB to values shown below if the room is not furnished or has hard surfaces:

TYPE OF ROOM

NC LEVEL

Patient Rooms ..................................................................35

Examination Rooms .........................................................35

Audio Suites, Audio Speech Pathology,

Phono/Cardiology .............................................................25

Chapels ............................................................................35

Conference Rooms ..........................................................35

Auditoriums, Theaters ......................................................35

Operating Rooms .............................................................40

Offices, small private ........................................................35

Offices, large open ...........................................................40

Lobbies, Waiting Areas .....................................................40

Treatment Rooms .............................................................35

Corridors (Nurse Stations) ................................................40

Corridors (Public) ..............................................................40

Bath Rooms and Toilet Rooms .........................................40

Laboratories ......................................................................45

SPD, Dining Rooms, Food Service/Serving,

Therapeutic Pools .............................................................45

Kitchens, Locker Rooms, Warehouses,

Shops, Laundries Gymnasiums, Recreation Rooms ....... 50

X-Ray & General Work Rooms ........................................40

All other occupied areas ...................................................35-40*

FOR ADDITIONAL INFOR MATION:

Contact Satish Sehgal at 202.565.5032 in the Standards Service (187C).

22 December 1994

FM-187C-DA28

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