Command Center Operators and Room Acoustics
The control center is the nerve center of any mission-critical operation. Operators in these environments bear the responsibility for vital communication and the monitoring of complex systems. Ensuring situational awareness and minimizing distractions is essential when planning and implementing control room solutions.
How Our Solutions Foster Effective Control Room Acoustics and Operator Health
Control rooms vary widely in terms of operator conditions, equipment layout, alarm sounds, and individual operator traits. Therefore, a universal solution for noise ergonomics does not exist. We recommend a comprehensive, multi-layered strategy to manage control room acoustics and effectively meet these diverse requirements.
In control room environments, maintaining focus is crucial. Background noise can significantly interfere with communication and disrupt workflow. It is essential to optimize operator ergonomics—considering physical, organizational, and cognitive aspects—to support critical tasks and reduce distractions. Noise is a major disruptor, diminishing operator efficiency. The way sound behaves in a control room can negatively impact communication, productivity, and situational awareness.
Addressing Control Room Noise
Control room acoustics are influenced by numerous factors. Operators often cite noise levels as a primary concern, as working in noisy environments can reduce productivity and overall well-being. Implementing effective noise control methods is crucial to identify which acoustic design options are best suited for a specific space.
Understanding Noise Types in Control Rooms
Early in the control room design process, it’s important to identify the types of noise present in the control room. Factors contributing to noise include equipment hum, audio components, technology-based communications, vibrations from adjacent equipment, and verbal interactions within the control room. Two primary types of noise impact operator workflows and control room acoustics, airborne noise and impact noise. Examples of impact noise include equipment hums or the sound of an operator walking across the floor while airborne noise includes sound made by alarms, voices, or computer equipment. Both types are impactful and so reducing them through better acoustic design should be a consideration.
Recommendations for Control Room Acoustic Design
Other typical sources of control room noise include HVAC systems, vibrating plant equipment, turbines, nearby rail lines, and traffic. Environmental factors such as wind or hail also contribute to ambient noise. The maximum recommended ambient noise level for control rooms is 45 dB, with optimal background noise levels between 30-35 dB. Alarms should be 10 dB louder than the ambient noise, but no more than 15 dB above it, to ensure they are easily heard by operators.
Noise Control Methods According to ISO 11064
According to ISO 11064 standards, effective noise control designs should focus on:
- Reducing reverberation
- Lowering sound levels
- Minimizing environmental noise
Our approach considers all three categories when designing and installing your control room. We invite you to contact us with any questions you might have.
Common Sound Ratings in Control Center Acoustics
To suppress and mitigate sound effectively, using a combination of materials is recommended. Two primary sound rating systems are essential for noise reduction design.
Sound Transmission Class (STC)
Sound transmission class measures a product’s ability to block sound from traveling through structural materials, like walls and solid surfaces. This STC rating is crucial for comparing materials and products, with higher STC ratings indicating better sound-blocking capabilities. However, STC primarily measures sounds between 125Hz to 4000Hz, missing low-frequency sounds like those from heavy equipment.
Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC)
NRC rates how much sound an acoustic product can absorb, with a scale from 0 (no sound absorption) to 1.00 (100% sound absorption). Properly calculating NRC requires specific equipment in specialized labs to measure a product’s rating at various frequencies.
Contact Command Watch
For more information on a monitor wall design or to receive a quick quote on command center furniture, control room design, or console accessories, contact Command Watch today.
Contact Information:
(866) 740-2121
cwsales@command-watch.com
