Hospital Ward Acoustic Requirements Under WELL v2 Feature 74
Patient wards, recovery rooms, consultation rooms. Typical volume: 100-500 m³.
What WELL v2 Feature 74 Requires for a Hospital Ward
Clause reference: WELL v2 Feature 74 Part 1
RT60 target: ≤ 0.6s
STI target: ≥ 0.60
Background noise limit: ≤ 35 dBA
Measurement condition: Furnished
Note: For WELL-certified healthcare buildings
How to Calculate WELL v2 Feature 74 Compliance for a Hospital Ward
- 1
Identify the applicable standard and target
Look up WELL v2 Feature 74 (WELL v2 Feature 74 Part 1). For a hospital ward, the RT60 target is ≤ 0.6s. Measurement condition: furnished.
- 2
Measure or model the room geometry
Record the length, width, and height of the room to calculate the volume. A typical hospital ward has a volume of 100-500 m³.
- 3
List all surfaces and their absorption coefficients
For each surface (floor, ceiling, walls, windows, doors), find the absorption coefficient at each octave band frequency (125Hz to 4kHz) from ISO 354 test data or a materials database.
- 4
Calculate total absorption and apply the Sabine or Eyring equation
Sum all surface absorption values: A = sum of (alpha x area). Then apply T60 = 0.161 x V / A (Sabine) or T60 = -0.161 x V / (S x ln(1 - alpha_avg)) (Eyring). Use Eyring when average alpha exceeds 0.20.
- 5
Compare result against the standard and specify treatment if needed
If the calculated RT60 exceeds the target of ≤ 0.6s, specify additional absorption. Similar to HTM is typical for a hospital ward to achieve compliance.
Typical Acoustic Treatment for a Hospital Ward
Treatment Area
Similar to HTM
Estimated Cost
Similar to HTM
Hospital Ward: WELL v2 Feature 74 vs Other Standards
| Requirement | WELL v2 Feature 74 | HTM 08-01 |
|---|---|---|
| RT60 Target | ≤ 0.6s | ≤ 0.8s (wards) | ≤ 0.6s (consulting rooms) |
| STI Target | ≥ 0.60 | ≥ 0.60 (consultation rooms) |
| Background Noise | ≤ 35 dBA | ≤ 40 dBA (wards) | ≤ 35 dBA (consulting) |
| Measurement | Furnished | Furnished, unoccupied |
Frequently Asked Questions
What RT60 does WELL v2 Feature 74 require for a hospital ward?
WELL v2 Feature 74 (WELL v2 Feature 74 Part 1) requires a reverberation time of ≤ 0.6s for hospital ward spaces, measured in the furnished condition per ISO 3382-2.
What background noise level is acceptable in a hospital ward under WELL v2 Feature 74?
WELL v2 Feature 74 sets a background noise limit of ≤ 35 dBA for hospital ward spaces. This typically refers to HVAC and building services noise measured with the room unoccupied.
How much acoustic treatment does a hospital ward need to comply with WELL v2 Feature 74?
A typical hospital ward requires Similar to HTM of acoustic treatment to meet WELL v2 Feature 74 compliance. Estimated installed cost is Similar to HTM.
Calculate WELL v2 Feature 74 Compliance for Your Hospital Ward
Enter your room dimensions, select materials, and instantly verify compliance against WELL v2 Feature 74. Free, no signup required.
Open Free RT60 Calculator