Waiting, treatment and consulting rooms fall under DIN 18041 room group B with a minimum absorption per cubic metre, so conversations stay intelligible. The calculator starts with 84 m³ (Waiting, treatment or patient room, consulting room), requirement at most 0.85 s, and suggests wipeable absorbers from 2,004 products with measured data.
Requirements by standard
Requirements for practice and waiting areas in three room sizes. DIN 18041 sets a minimum absorption via A/V, France names its own values for healthcare buildings.
| Standard | Use | 50 m³ | 100 m³ | 200 m³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIN 18041, group BDIN 18041:2016-03 | Waiting, treatment or patient room, consulting room (B3) | at most 0.85 s | at most 0.85 s | at most 0.85 s |
| Arrêté du 25 avril 2003, healthcareArrêté du 25 avril 2003 | Ward, care, examination or consulting room, medical office | at most 0.80 s | at most 0.80 s | at most 0.80 s |
| BR18, schools, day care, offices (Denmark)BR18 (2018) mit Vejledning om lydforhold | Examination or treatment room (SBi 216) | at most 0.60 s | at most 0.60 s | at most 0.60 s |
| PN-B-02151-4, reverberation and speech intelligibility (Poland)PN-B-02151-4:2015-06 | Consulting or treatment room | at most 0.80 s | at most 0.80 s | at most 0.80 s |
Typical measures
- Wipeable acoustic ceiling in the waiting room and at reception.
- Acoustic pictures in the waiting area so conversations at the desk are not overheard.
- In the treatment room, partial coverage of the ceiling is usually enough.
- Calculate corridors and staircases separately.
Wipeable ceiling and wall absorbers with measured data
All products in the search
Frequently asked questions
What reverberation time applies in a medical practice?
DIN 18041 assigns waiting and treatment rooms to room group B3: A/V from 0.20 m⁻¹ at room heights up to 2.5 m. For 85 m³ that is around 17 m² of absorption area, so about 0.6 to 0.7 s.
Which absorbers are hygienically acceptable?
Closed, wipeable surfaces: acoustic ceilings with a hygienic coating, absorbers with a fleece facing, acoustic pictures with a disinfectable cover.
How do I protect discretion at reception?
Absorption lowers the level, but does not replace shielding. What works is the combination of an absorbing ceiling, wall absorbers behind the desk and distance to the waiting area.
Other room types
Formulas, DIN 18041 and worked example on the calculator page