NCJ Number
138311
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 54 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1992) Pages: 90-91
Date Published
1992
Length
2 pages
Annotation
Noise can affect correctional facilities by interfering with the ability to communicate, increasing stress among inmates and staff, and causing ear damage.
Abstract
When designing a facility, architects should consult an acoustical engineer who can identify potential sources of noise and predict their effect on communications. External noise sources include traffic and air-handling intakes. Noise can be controlled by examining the source and designing facilities to avoid or mitigate the effects of ambient sound. The noise emanating from ventilation equipment and production equipment in prison industry shops can be reduced by installing barriers, enclosures, and room treatments. Partitions and sound-absorbent materials can be used to limit the effects of indoor noise. Five steps should be taken when designing a facility: list spaces where speech communication is crucial, select and install mechanical equipment in those spaces to meet communication needs, include noise considerations in site selection, reduce reverberant sound levels in large noisy spaces, and try to anticipate noise problems and engineer solutions to them during the design phase. 1 table and 2 references