TABLE 2

Sound Transmission Limitations in Health Care Facilities
	Airborne Sound Transmission Class (STC)1
	Partitions	Floors
NEW CONSTRUCTION2
Patients= Room to Patients= Room	45	40
Public Space to Patients= Room3	55	40
Service Areas to Patients= Room4	65	45
Patient room access corridor5	45	45
Exam room to exam room	45	—
Exam room to public space	45	—
Toilet room to public space	45	—
Consultation rooms/ conference rooms to public space	45	—
Consultation rooms/ Conference rooms to patient rooms	45	—
Staff lounges to patient rooms	45	—
Existing Construction2
Patient room to patient room	35	40
Public space to patient room3	40	40
Service areas to patient room4	45	45

1. Sound transmission class (STC) shall be determined by tests in accordance with methods set forth in ASTM Standard E90 and ASTM E413. Where partitions do not extend to the structure above, sound transmission through ceilings and composite STC performance shall be considered.

2. Treatment rooms shall be treated the same as patient rooms

3. Public space includes corridors (except patient room access corridors), lobbies, dining rooms, recreation rooms, treatment rooms, and similar spaces.

4. Service areas include kitchens, elevators, elevator machine rooms, laundries, garages, maintenance rooms, boiler and mechanical equipment rooms, and similar spaces of high noise. Mechanical equipment located on the same floor or above patient rooms, offices, nurses stations, and similar occupied space shall be effectively isolated from the floor.

5. Patient room access corridors contain composite walls with doors/windows and have direct access to patient rooms.