“God ljudmiljö i förskola och skola – krav på rum, bygg- och inredningsprodukter för minskat buller”.

The overall purpose of this study is to improve the indoor climate at schools and daycare centres by improving the acoustic environment. The aim of this study is to present examples of measures which can mitigate noise as well as to recommend what acoustic requirements are suitable for the various rooms at daycare centres.

The study shows that child carers were generally satisfied with the noise level at institutions after the renovation work; a satisfaction which was measured both three and nine months after renovation. Furthermore, the authors found that it was difficult to find precise and comparable measurements for the sound-technical properties of different materials and products, as the manufacturers had used different standards in their product information. The authors concluded that, when building and renovating institutions, focus should not only be on absorbing sound, but also on designing rooms which do not produce noise and which contribute to a cosy atmosphere to reduce the risk of stress and raised voices.

The study consists of two parts. The first part of the study examines the market for materials to improve the acoustic environment at daycare centres, and the acoustic properties of these materials are examined on the basis of information from the manufacturers. The second part of study examines changes in the acoustic environment in seven departments at three different daycare centres after being renovated with materials from the first part of the study. The changes are measured partly through before and after measurements of different acoustic conditions, including the sound level at institutions, and partly through a study of the child carers’ experience of occupational health and safety before and after renovations to reduce noise.

Hult, M., Agge, A., Larsson, P. & Persson Waye, K. (2011). “God ljudmiljö i förskola och skola – krav på rum, bygg- och inredningsprodukter för minskat buller”. Göteborg: Enheten för Arbets- och miljömedicin, Avdelingen för Samhällsmedicin och Folkhälsa, Sahlgrenska akademin vid Göteborgs universitet. Persson Waye, K. (2011). ”God ljudmiljö i förskola – samband mellan ljudmiljö, hälsa och välbefinnande före och efter åtgärdsprogram”. Göteborg: Enheten för Arbets- och miljömedicin, Avdelingen för Samhällsmedicin och Folkhälsa, Sahlgrenska akademin vid Göteborgs universitet.