The objectives of this project include to develop recommended values and the grading system for indoor noise quality at hospitals and libraries suitable for the situation of our country, to analyze and investigate the distribution of noise sources easily occurred inside hospitals and libraries and demand self-improvement by the management of respective hospitals and libraries, and to formulate a model of the “Self-regulated Noise Improvement Program for Hospitals and Libraries”, for the management of hospitals and libraries to follow in their efforts to improve their noise situation. The achievements of this project are as follows:Completing indoor noise measurement for hospitals and libraries and developing recommended values of indoor noises for public places suitable for the situation of our country, making reference of the measurement indicators and methods on indoor noises for public places adopted by foreign countries, during which the work conducted include: 1) measurement of indoor noises for libraries on 10 locations and for hospitals on 30 locations, of which the results showed that for hospitals, 46% comply withＬAeq(hr)=60dB(A) and 42% comply with L日=60dB(A) while for libraries, 54% comply withＬAeq(hr)=50dB(A) and 52% comply with L日=50dB(A). As far as L日 is concerned, in comparison among hospitals in northern, central, southern and eastern areas, those in the central area are noisiest; 2) analysis of questionnaire survey on 764 respondents in conjunction with noise measurement; 3) recommendation of indoor noise limits for libraries atＬAeq(hr)=50 dB(A) and for hospitals atＬAeq(hr)=60dB(A). The grades on noise quality recommended for libraries are: premium grade (quiet) – noise level < 45 dB(A), first grade (moderate) – 45 dB(A) ≦ noise level < 50 dB(A), and second grade (improvement needed) – noise level ≧ 50 dB(A); for hospitals: premium grade (quiet) – noise level < 50 dB(A), first grade (moderate) – 50 dB(A) ≦ noise level < 60 dB(A), and second grade (improvement needed) – noise level ≧ 60 dB(A). Completing data collection and field investigations, as well as holding consulting meetings, to determine the distribution of noise sources easily occurred inside hospitals and libraries, during which the work conducted include: 1) identifying moving noise sources at hospitals as being wheelchairs, hospital beds, medical record trolleys, uproarious noises, talking noises, cellphone rings, kids playing, nurses running, medical professionals calling for patients, and fixed noise sources as being drinking machines, interior air conditioners, printers at registration offices, number calling, paging and television, elevator arrival reminders, medical professionals meeting rooms and nursing stations; 2) identifying moving noise sources at libraries as being talking noises, cellphone vibrations (rings), book trolleys and walking noises, and fixed noise sources as being moving of desks/chairs, opening/closing of doors, air conditioners, restrooms, drinking machines and turning pages of newspapers; 3) holding consulting meetings to collect opinions from all walks of life; 4) measuring the low frequency noise levels (20 ~ 200 Hz, Leq，LF) at the 8 DOH hospitals as between 30.7 and 38.8 dB(A), which comply with the noise control standards; 5) identifying the most noisy departments at hospitals as being the Department of Laboratory Medicine, the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Department of Pharmacy. Completing formulation of the “Self-regulated Noise Improvement Program for Hospitals and Libraries”, of which the highlights include: 1) situations regarding the indoor noise standards and related regulations adopted in foreign countries are explained in “2.7 Recommended standards and related regulations on indoor noises home and abroad” and “2.8 Control measures and related regulations on indoor noises home and abroad”. In terms of standards, according to “Table 2.7-3 Standards on indoor noise limits”, standards and related regulations on indoor noises are limited overseas, only WHO, ISO, the UK and New Zealand have established recommended standards for indoor noises, which are listed in “Table 2.7-4 Related laws and regulations on indoor noises home and abroad”. Currently, we have no standards and regulations on indoor noises in our country and it is hoped that recommended standards for indoor noises can be established through the implementation of this project; 2) noise control and improvement measures: for indoor noise control, necessary measures need to be taken based on various noise sources, which can be divided into four areas as outdoor noise control, outdoor vibration control, sound insulation in buildings and indoor noise control; 3) “Table 5.2-3 Self-regulated Noise Improvement Program”.

Indoor Noise