There is a discrete, yet evident correlation between environment and behavior, with noise pollution seldom addressed as an issue in correctional facilities; and that is what Scott Moreland, president of Encartele Inc., is working to improve by controlling noise and content in correctional facilities with new, cutting-edge sensor technologies.

Noise pollution is characterized as “disturbing or excessive noise that may harm the activity or balance of human or animal life.” In jails and prisons, loud noise is almost unavoidable, and can stem from multiple sources, including alarms, yelling and pounding from inmates, environmental systems, etc.

Prolonged exposure to this excess noise can eventually lead to multiple health and behavioral issues. These issues include irritability, sleep disturbance, fatigue, hearing impairment, immune deficiency, hypertension, headaches, vertigo, high blood pressure, elevated adrenaline and even increased risk of heart disease. In return, this increased irritation combined with elevated cortisol and adrenaline levels result in more aggressive behavior, less inclination to comply and difficulty for staff in maintaining control and safety- further creating more health problems and more noise.

Although noise pollution within correctional facilities has been acknowledged, it is not widely recognized and often not seen as an issue in the first place. Moreland explained that if the prison system recognized this correlation and practiced better noise solutions, recidivism rates could eventually be lowered as a result.

“There is an inherent connection between the levels of noise and the behavior of inmates, and in an effort to be able to assess these future outcomes of inmate behavior by maintaining and controlling noise impact or to have a better understanding of it, you will have a much better foresight of what could potentially happen based on the different noise levels occurring inside the facility,” said Moreland.

Noise pollution is also capable of affecting different people in different ways. For female inmates, jail and prison noise can influence hormonal changes. This has been especially evident in pregnant women, and may result in lower birth weights and birth defects. For adolescent inmates, noise may be even more of a problem than their adult counterparts. With “increased hormone levels and fluctuations during ones’ formative years, noise may cause even more drastic episodes of the health issues previously addressed,” according to Moreland.

Correctional facilities by design do not offer a “softened” acoustic environment, with jails and prisons being made mostly of concrete and metal, ultimately creating what Moreland describes the acoustics to be akin to that of standing inside a tunnel.

Moreland explained that, first and foremost, acoustics are the most important component in changing a facility. “I think it’s evident that, if you can remove the stereotype of noise associated with being inside a cell block, it eventually reduces the inherent feeling of being ‘caged,’ for lack of a better term,” said Moreland.

The prevalence of mental illness among the prison population is also a major contributing factor. With these inmates already experiencing irritability and agitation, high volumes of noise can make it much harder to cope, further provoking said mental illness and resulting in misbehavior.

Check out the entire article published in the September/October issue of Correctional News magazine.

The post Encartele’s Sensors to Help Control Noise Pollution in Correctional Facilities appeared first on HCO News.

That is why, Jim Perry, chief technical officer of New York-based Cerami & Associates, addresses the problem of noise pollution within healthcare facilities by using the Lunder Building in Boston as a case study.

His webinar, “The Importance of Acoustics on Patient Care: A Case Study on The Lunder Building,” offers real answers to this pressing healthcare challenge. Perry has created a discourse covering different methods to cut vibration levels, reduce major noise sources such as HVAC systems, improve the sound-isolating performance of doors and even addressing intrusive noise from the outside. Using the Lunder Building’s 535,000-square-foot, 150-bed mid-rise hospital tower as an example, Perry can address the impact of building acoustics on both caregivers and patients.

HC+O News spoke with Perry to get the inside scoop on why the Lunder Building is such a prime example of how to reduce noise pollution in healthcare facilities.

Q: For those unaware of this issue, what is “noise pollution,” and why is it being addressed in healthcare facilities? What constitutes an “acoustically healthy” environment?

Perry: In healthcare facilities, high noise levels can be a detriment to patients and staff in different ways. Limiting the noise impacts on patients is critical to promote resting, which has a direct correlation to healing, the ultimate goal. In regard to the staff, high noise levels contributes to higher stress levels and increases the possibility of mistakes being made in all aspects of their job.

Q: What are some of the key design features of the Lunder Building that mitigate or prevent noise pollution? When did the project of this new design begin?

Perry: There were many aspects of the planning of the space that were utilized to reduce the noise impacts on the patients, distributed nursing stations, minimizing proximity of back of house spaces and doors to patient rooms, location and types of alarms and notification systems all aimed at reducing the noise impacts on the patients. The design for this began with NBBJ utilizing these planning methods before 2006.

Q: What are the biggest challenges in designing a healthier noise environment? How can other facilities work towards implementing these designs, and are there any future plans for extending this to other healthcare facilities? 

Perry: The biggest challenge is that the noise levels are due to not only the built environment, but also the staff behavior and operations, so there are multiple avenues that need to be addressed in order to achieve a better environment. This requires a change in typical behavior from the staff, which is not always possible.

According to a statement, Perry has 17 years of experience providing acoustical and vibration consulting for varying project types. Perry has gained special expertise in areas of mechanical system design and vibration control, especially in the design of large scale developments, residences, and healthcare facilities. Perry has appeared as an expert witness at Community Board hearings in both New York and New Jersey, offering testimony on noise transmission, with regard to noise codes, residential impact issues, and other acoustical and vibration issues. He is fully conversant with all aspects of architectural acoustics, mechanical systems, noise and vibration control and environmental impact assessment.

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