Proceedings of the 11th Convention of the
European Acoustics Association
Forum Acusticum / EuroNoise 2025


Málaga, Spain
June 23 - 26, 2025





Session: A15.05 Acoustic comfort in hospitals
Date: Monday 23 June 2025
Time: 12:20
Title: Impact Of Spatial Organization On Noise Levels In Open-Bay Neonatal Intensive Care Units
Author(s): Víctor M. Rodríguez-Montaño
Juan Luis Beira Jiménez
Ricardo Hernández-Molina
Pages: 3897-3904
DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.61782/fa.2025.0454
PDF: https://dael.euracoustics.org/confs/fa2025/data/articles/000454.pdf
Conference proceedings
Abstract

This study focuses on the evaluation of noise levels in Open-Bay Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) across various hospitals, with the objective of analyzing how the architectural distribution of these spaces influences acoustic conditions. Despite the fact that the construction materials are consistent across all neonatal rooms and lack acoustically absorbent elements, variations in size, shape, spatial organization of equipment, and the flow of personnel significantly affect the recorded noise levels.Noise measurements have been carried out in which data have been collected at one-second intervals over a week. The compilation of this data provides a robust foundation for future research aimed at identifying effective strategies to enhance acoustic conditions, thereby ensuring a more conducive environment for the recovery of neonates and the well-being of healthcare staff.Adequate architectural planning is essential for mitigating noise, whereas inappropriate configurations may exacerbate acoustic challenges, negatively impacting both patients and healthcare professionals. This study underscores the importance of considering acoustics in the design of NICUs, promoting environments that support health and well-being in this critical context.Keywords: Architectural design; Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Acoustic; Sources of noise.