Performance Requirements
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  Hospitals

  
  The requirements of HTM 56 and HTM 2045 HTM 56  
  HTM 56 is based on laboratory testing of panels in isolation and does not take into account the overall acoustic environment. Performance standards quoted in HTM 56 might not meet the requirements of HTM 2045.  

 

  
         
  Table 11 Performance requirements for separating elements in hospital buildings according to HTM 56.  
 
Table 11: Performance requirement for airbourne sound insulation between rooms dB(Rw)
 
Consulting room
Examination rooms
Treatment rooms
Speech therapy rooms
43
43
43
*
53
43
48
48
*
48
         
         
         
         
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
Offices
Seminar rooms
Single-bed wards
Multi-bed wards
Day rooms
43
43
53
48
48
43
48
53
43
43
*
48
53
53
48
*
53
53
43
*
48
 
43
38
 
43
48
43 
 
  
48
43
53
43
  
48
43
53
43
48
   
Nurseries
Toilets and bathrooms
Utility rooms
Ward pantries
*
*
43
*
48
48
48
53
*
*
43
*
48
48
48
53
53
48
*
48
 43
43
43
48
48
 48
53
48
*
48
 43
43
38
48
43
 43
43
48
43
43
48
43
48
43
48
38
 
Plant motor rooms
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*Special construction may be necessary. Please consult Building Controlfor details
 

  HTM 2045      
  HTM 2045 looks at the overall acoustic environment and introduces the concept of a privacy factor (PF) where:

PF = Rlw - B + C

Where Rlw is the site-tested weighted apparent sound reduction index.

and B is the mechanical services noise rating (NR) criterion (see Table 12)

and C is a voice effort correction factor that recognises that certain in certain areas voices may be raised above normal speaking levels (see Table 13).		  

HTM 2045 does not include details of voice effort correction factors for specific types of room.

The required privacy factors for various types of room are given in Table 14

The standard also specifies performance criteria for intrusive noise from outside the building such as traffic, aeroplanes etc. (see Table 12)

  
         
 
  Table 12 Noise rating (NR) limits for mechanical services and intrusive noise  
 
Table 12:
Noise rating (NR) limits for mechanical services and intrusive noise
Location NR level for mechanical services NR level for intrusive noise
Operating theatre, single bed ward

30
35
Private office, meeting and consulting room

30
35
Lecture theatre
30
35
Multi-bed ward, waiting room
30
40
Staff room, recreation room, cafeteria
35
45
General office
35
40
Corridor, laboratory
40
50
Washroom, toilet, kitchen
45
50
 
         
         
  Table 13 Voice effort correction factors under HTM 2045  
 
Table 13:
Voice effort correction factors under HTM 2045
Voice effort Voice effort correction factor
Raised

5
Shout

10
Scream
20
 
  The maximum voice correction factor is likely to be required for rooms such as Maternity wards, nurseries and accident and emergency areas.      
         
         
  Table 14 Recommended privacy factors assuming normal speech effort  
 
Table 14:
Recommended privacy factors assuming normal speech effort
Location Recommended privacy factor
Maternity, nursery, accident & emergency

80*
Operating theatre, single-bed ward, multi-bed ward, private office, meeting and consultation rooms, lecture theatre

80
Laboratory, staff room, general office
75
Waiting room, corridor, wash room, toilet, kitchen, recreation room, cafeteria
70
 
  *Please note that it is likely that the maximum voice effort correction factor will need to be applied to rooms adjacent to these areas to take account of shouts and screams. A voice effort correction factor will need to be applied to any area adjacent to a room where voices are raised above normal speaking levels.      
         
         
  Fire Performance      
  The required fire performance for hospitals is that set out in Approved Document B of the Building Regulations (see Tables 5 & 6)      
 
Table 5: Performance requirement for airbourne sound insulation between rooms (DnT(Tmf,max),W)
 
Nursery play room
Nursery quiet room
Primary / secondary classroom
Open plan teaching / resource area
55
55
40
55
45
45
50
45
45
40
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
Music classroom
Music performance room /
recording studio
Lecture room (fewer than 50)
Lecture room (more than 50)
55
55
55
55
60
45
55
55
55
45
45
45
55
45
50
50
55
 
 
 
60
60
 
 
55
55
45 
 
60
60
50
50 
   
Library
Science laboratory
Drama studio
Metalwork / woodwork room
55
40
45
45
50
45
45
40
55
55
55
50
55
55
55
50
55
55
45
50
55
55
45
50
60
60
55
55
55
55
55
55
45
45
40
55
50
55
55
50
55
50
 
Assembly hall
Gymnasium
Dining room
Offices / toilets / corridors
55
55
55
50
55
55
55
50
55
55
55
50
55
55
55
50
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
50
55
55
55
50
55
50
55
50
55
50
55
50
55
50
55
55
50
55
50
45
55
50
50
50

Table 6: Performance standards for impact sound insulation of floors -
maximum weighted BB93 standardised impact sound pressure level L’nT(Tmf,max),w
Type of Room (receiving room)
Maximum weighted BB93 standardised impact sound level L’nT(Tmf,max),w (dB)
Nursery play room
Nursery quiet room
Primary / secondary classroom
Open plan teaching / resource area
65
60
60
60
Music classroom
Music performance room / recording studio
Lecture room (fewer than 50)
Lecture room (more than 50)
55
55
60
55
Library
Science laboratory
Drama studio
Design and technology CADCAM area
60
65
55
65
Assembly hall
Gymnasium
Dining room
Offfices / toilets / corridors
60
65
65
65

*Part E of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2000 (as amended by SI 2002/ 2871) to schools applies to teaching and learning spaces and is not intended to cover administration and ancillary spaces. For these areas the performance standards are for guidance only.

These notes should be read in conjun ction with all relevant notes from BB 93.