A better sound environment with Ecophon Hygiene A SOUND EFFECT ON PEOPLE

Ecophon Hygiene™ systems that deliver what they promise Some time ago the working environment in the food industry needed improving. One particular problem was high noise levels. In answer to this in 1984 the Swedish National Food Administration decided, to launch a project to ascertain whether new surface materials would meet the food industry's hygiene and noise control standards. Previously only hard materials such as tiles, and metal had been permitted. Using Ecophon sound absorbers and acoustic ceilings with Akutex™ coating, the new surface materials were tested both for their dirt-repellent...

Ecophon Hygiene Smooth, shiny, hard materials are the traditional choice in rooms where a high degree of cleanability is required. However, noise reduction requires soft materials. With Ecophon Hygiene, we have developed the optimal solution that integrates the requirements for cleanability with healthy acoustics. \= Ceiling System Baffle System Wall System

Photographer: Faraday Fotographic 4

A good acoustic environment when hygiene requirements are strict Choosing acoustic absorbers with the highest sound absorption class Numerous studies show that the optimal acoustic environment improves both employees' work performance and general health. All hard surfaces such as floors, walls and ceilings reflect sound, raising the general noise level and spreading disturbing noise throughout a space. Many factories, kitchens, indoor swimming pools and other large amenities have a noise level that is unhealthy and sometimes harmful. So, can improving the acoustic environment increase productivity,...

hearing protection devices and prepare an action plan for reducing noise, if the equivalent noise exposure level is at least 85 dB(A). Photographer; Inpress, Truls Busch-Christensen The importance of sound absorption Most industrial premises, kitchens and indoor swimming pools contain large rooms with high ceilings. Reverberation times in these spaces can be disturbingly long; sound bounces around the room, lingers as echo effects and raises the general noise level. Sound absorbers with the maximum sound absorption capacity are therefore recommended. An acoustic ceiling, perhaps supplemented...

Noise is unwanted sound. Sound becomes noise when it is perceived negatively, for example when the sound does not offer useful information or is generated by machinery and processes, especially ones that we are not personally in charge or in control Sound pressure level, generally referred to as sound level, is measured in dB (decibels). The lowest perceivable sound level is 0 dB, and is known as the hearing threshold. The highest bearable sound level, known as the pain threshold, is around 1 20 dB. Sound levels can become harmful at 80 dB, depending on how long a person is subjected to the sound....

depending on cleanabílíty and maintenance Ecophon's Hygiene systems offer products that can be dusted, vacuum cleaned, wet wiped and washed at high or low pressure. To achieve an acoustic ceiling with long life and low maintenance cost, the exposed areas must be dirt- and dust-repellent and easy to keep clean. Ecophon Hygiene meets these criteria. All the systems in the Ecophon Hygiene family can be cleaned by the most widely used cleaning methods. In addition, certain systems designed for specific environments withstand specialist cleaning. Almost all Ecophon Hygiene systems are demountable,...

Industrial detergents Many of the industrial detergents on the market can be used to clean Ecophon Hygiene systems. These include both alkaline and acidic detergents and sometimes detergents in combination with disinfectants. Ethanol, isopropanol and sodium hypochlorite as well as gaseous hydrogen peroxide are common disinfecting chemicals that can be applied to Ecophon Hygiene systems. Resistance to wet abrasion Ecophon uses the Gardner method, described in ASTM D 2486 and the SS 184164 standard, for determine surfaces’ resistance to wet abrasion, in order to guarantee the best possible washing...

Easy access to the plenum when required All systems in the Ecophon Hygiene range are designed so that the ceiling panels can be demounted for maintenance and when installations are added above the acoustic ceiling. The ceiling panels are fixed with clips to allow high pressure cleaning to take place and demo clips for areas where access is required. The minimum overall depth of the system (o.d.s.) and minimum depth for demountability are indicated for each system described in this brochure. These measurements are also indicated as A (o.d.s.) and 5 (minimum depth for demountability). The minimum...

Tough indoor climate our systems meet the demands All materials are affected by the ambient climate. Ecophon Hygiene is developed to withstand tough indoor climate factors such as humidity, heat, microbiological activity and aggressive environments. Physical properties The glass wool in Ecophon's sound absorbers is water-repellent. The material does not take in water by capillary action or absorb water from the ambient air. Any water that may penetrate the surface, for example during high pressure cleaning, dries out quickly due to the glass wool's structure. The surface of the acoustic panels...

Photographer; Elisabeth Ohison Wallin further information please go to www.ecophon.co.uk. To minimise the risk of corrosion, mould and/or changes in product appearance, the relative moisture level should only ever exceed 70-80% temporarily. The risk of mould and bacteria is an important consideration in environments with high relative humidity. Ecophon products themselves do not serve as a natural breeding medium for mould and bacteria. The risk of micro-organism growth can be significantly reduced by keeping the sound absorbers clean and observing critical moisture and temperature values. Ecophon...

Fire safety A building fire can develop very quickly and have devastating consequences. When designing a building and selecting building materials, it is therefore of the utmost importance to take aspects of fire safety into account. All systems in Ecophon's Hygiene systems have a high Euroclass Fire safety demands for ceilings can vary dependant upon the type of room and building where they are to be installed. Detailed requirements can be found under national building regulations. Three general requirements can, however, be identified as crucial for ceilings in the early stages of fire. • These...