The invisible issue of acoustic comfort
Noise pollution has become one of the main sources of discomfort in the everyday environment. From schools to workplaces and from healthcare facilities to restaurants, noise affects our health, concentration and well-being. The construction sector is rethinking its approach to this increasingly important issue, with a twofold aim: to protect the occupants of buildings and also those who build them.
In Europe alone, one person in five is exposed to daily noise levels that are harmful to long-term health[1]. And the effects of noise on health are multiple and underestimated. “Noise is first and foremost a physical hazard,” explains Geneviève Thiaucourt, Health at Work Director at Saint-Gobain. “Over and above hearing loss, which becomes progressively apparent as from exposure to 80 decibels, noise can cause tinnitus as well as sleep disorders, cardiovascular problems, and so on.”
And those working in industry are particularly exposed. Noise levels in the sector frequently exceed 85 decibels, the equivalent of heavy road traffic. Without suitable protection, this level of exposure can lead to irreversible hearing loss.
A common issue across many professions
Noise doesn’t just affect our health: it has a direct impact on our ability to work and learn, and more generally on our quality of life. In the workplace, studies show that 63% of employees don’t have access to an area where it is quiet enough to concentrate. In the catering sector, noise levels also exceed 80 dB(A)[2], affecting the comfort of customers as well as the health of staff.
1https://www.eea.europa.eu/articles/noise-pollution-is-a-major
2dB(A) is a measure of sound level weighted to take account of the sensitivity of the human ear.
Why ah healthy workplace is key to well-being at work
In Delhi, India, Mount Abu School tackled the problem by installing Ecophon Advantage E ceilings, a Class A acoustic solution that absorbs 90% of noise. Another elementary school near Rotterdam in the Netherlands confirms the effectiveness of this approach: through a combination of triple glazing, wall insulation panels and Ecophon suspended ceilings, noise levels have been reduced by up to 45 decibels. Clarity of speech has improved by 4 to 8 decibels. There’s no more need to raise your voice to be heard!
The healthcare sector is not left out. The Beroun hospital in Czechia installed 6,500 m² of CLIMAVER® Neto pre-insulated self-supporting ventilation ducts: a solution that creates the calm environment required for patient well-being. The Veterio clinic in Warsaw, Poland, meanwhile, uses Ecophon Hygiene Meditec™ A and Solo™ Circle systems to keep noise levels below 60 decibels. The result is less stress for the animals, which are even more sensitive to noise, and improved working conditions for the healthcare staff.
Measuring and combating noise
In addition to its solutions, Saint-Gobain has made combating noise a strategic issue for occupational health by developing a pioneering approach to measuring and managing noise in the workplace. The Group has created a global performance indicator: HICE (Health Indicator for oCcupational Exposure).
“This indicator enables us to accurately monitor noise exposure on our sites, before hearing protection measures are taken,” explains Geneviève Thiaucourt. “Since the indicator was launched in 2018, we’ve seen the rate of noise exposure situations drop from 23% to 12.9%. Proof that the noise-reduction measures taken within the Group are effective in promoting a healthy working environment.”
This significant advance results from a combination of technical expertise and engagement in the field. This pioneering approach – few companies measure this type of indicator – is accompanied by an ambitious target: to reduce significant noise exposure to less than 10%. “If we develop high-performance acoustic solutions for our customers, we should be able to apply the same standards of excellence to our employees,” says Geneviève Thiaucourt.
Improvement starts with precise mapping of noise sources, individual measurements of employee exposure and the implementation of appropriate action plans. Simple solutions can quickly have a significant impact: installing silencers on air exhausts, replacing traditional blowers with low-noise models, installing acoustic panels around the noisiest equipment, etc.
Schools: how materials can help with learning
Acoustics is no longer an afterthought. It has become a central element of building design. From healthcare establishments to workplaces to schools, each sector has its own specific requirements. This change is driving the construction sector to innovate, both in terms of technical solutions and implementation methods.
Saint-Gobain puts this conviction into practice by developing ever more effective solutions for its customers and by making a concrete commitment to improving the working conditions of its employees. This symmetry of intent illustrates a global approach to acoustic comfort, where technological innovation serves the well-being of all. Silence is no longer a luxury: it is central to a more sustainable future.