Identifying Noise Control Strategies for Variable Air Volume (VAV) boxes in Acute Care Hospital Design

Authors

Keywords:

variable air volume boxes, acute care hospital design, noise control

Abstract

Variable air volume (VAV) boxes are frequently used in the design of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems for new acute care hospitals in Canada. Spatial and room-use noise limits as defined within the project requirements are often necessarily onerous to provide acoustical conditions that promote well-being and patient recovery, with appropriate noise control design crucial to meeting the project requirements. Additionally, the desire for fibre-free linings to ductwork exacerbates the noise control limitations.

This paper will review the available noise control strategies, the performance of fibre-free variable air volume box types with and without an attenuator, and identify cost-benefits to the Design-Builder. This study will demonstrate how final sound ratings are affected by various models, sizes, operating conditions, and pressure differentials of VAV boxes. This study will also summarize the appropriate variable air volume box types and design conditions that meet the project noise limits used in Canadian healthcare standards such as CSA Z8000, LEED, and other provincial technical guidelines.

 

Additional Files

Published

2024-09-10

How to Cite

1.
Carolina J. Identifying Noise Control Strategies for Variable Air Volume (VAV) boxes in Acute Care Hospital Design . Canadian Acoustics [Internet]. 2024 Sep. 10 [cited 2025 Feb. 13];52(1). Available from: https://jcaa.caa-aca.ca/index.php/jcaa/article/view/4179

Issue

Vol. 52 No. 1 (2024): Proceedings of Acoustics Week in Canada 2024 Conference joint with 186th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America

Section

Proceedings of the Acoustics Week in Canada

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