AIA Iowa

Complying with the 2014

FGI Acoustical Guidelines
#A203

Jon W. Mooney PE
September 26, 2014

Credit(s) earned on completion of this course will be reported to AIA

CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA
members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

This course is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional

education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed
or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any
material of construction or any method or manner of
handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
___________________________________________
Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion
of this presentation.

Copyright Materials
This presentation is protected by US and International Copyright laws.
Reproduction, distribution, display and use of the presentation without
written permission of the speaker is prohibited.

KJWW Engineering 2014

Course
Description

The 2010 FGI Guidelines included a

revolutionary -- and much needed -change
in
the
acoustical
requirements. However, this change
also generated some significant
feedback. The acoustical committee
of FGI has listened to the feedback
and has modified some of the
requirements. This presentation will
assist participants in understanding
the 2014 FGI acoustical guidelines.

Learning
Objectives
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Explain how compliance with FGI acoustical requirements can

increase the HCAHPS scores used to evaluate their facilities.
2. Determine if their facility is FGI-compliant in the acoustical
categories.
3. Show how the acoustical requirements of the FGI Guidelines
changed in version 2014, and how those changes will affect
facilities.
4. Plan the steps to be taken to ensure FGI acoustical
compliance for a new facility, addition, or remodeling project.

Learning Objective #1

EXPLAIN HOW COMPLIANCE WITH FGI ACOUSTICAL

REQUIREMENTS CAN INCREASE THE HCAHPS SCORES
USED TO EVALUATE YOUR FACILITIES.

Explain how compliance with FGI acoustical requirements can increase

the HCAHPS scores used to evaluate your facilities.

http://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/search.html

Explain how compliance with FGI acoustical requirements can increase

the HCAHPS scores used to evaluate your facilities.

Explain how compliance with FGI acoustical requirements can increase

the HCAHPS scores used to evaluate your facilities.

Explain how compliance with FGI acoustical requirements can increase

the HCAHPS scores used to evaluate your facilities.

Medicare Value Based Purchasing Score

Measurement

Weighting

Acoustics Effect

Clinical guidelines

45%

0%

HCAHPS

30%

15%

Mortality rates

25%

0%

Total Score:

100%

5%

Explain how compliance with FGI acoustical requirements can increase

the HCAHPS scores used to evaluate your facilities.

Heart Transplant: 22.4776 x $10,973 = $246,647

DRG 1.5% holdback to fund VBP program = $3700

Explain how compliance with FGI acoustical requirements can increase

the HCAHPS scores used to evaluate your facilities.
Redistribution of $1.1B 2013 1.25% VBP holdback
Wisconsin

US

Total # Hospitals:

62

2728

# Hospitals
receiving bonuses:

37

1231

Average bonuses:

0.28%

0.24%

# Hospitals receiving
penalties:

25

1451

Average penalty:

-0.15%

-0.26%

Largest bonus:

0.88%

Largest penalty:

-1.14%

Learning Objective #2

DETERMINE IF YOUR FACILITY IS FGI-COMPLIANT IN THE

ACOUSTICAL CATEGORIES.

Determine if your facility is FGI-compliant in the acoustical categories.

Sound & Vibration: Design Guidelines for
Health Care Facilities

The Acoustics Research Council first

prepared this document in association
with the 2010 FGI Guidelines.

Those using the 2010 edition should

reference the 2010 edition of Sound &
Vibration.

A 2014 edition will be published to

accompany the 2014 FGI documents.

The ARC plans to update "Sound &

Vibration" in the fall of 2014 with a new
chapter on acoustics for residential
health, care, and support facilities.

Determine if your facility is FGI-compliant in the acoustical categories.

Site Exterior Noise (Planes, Trains and Automobiles)

Determine if your facility is FGI-compliant in the acoustical categories.

Property Line Noise (generators, chillers and cooling towers)

Determine if your facility is FGI-compliant in the acoustical categories.

Room Finishes

Determine if your facility is FGI-compliant in the acoustical categories.

Room Background Noise Levels

Determine if your facility is FGI-compliant in the acoustical categories.

Demising Components (walls, floor/ceilings, doors, windows)

Determine if your facility is FGI-compliant in the acoustical categories.

Speech Privacy

Determine if your facility is FGI-compliant in the acoustical categories.

Vibration isolation

Determine if your facility is FGI-compliant in the acoustical categories.

Miscellaneous

Learning Objective #3

SHOW HOW THE ACOUSTICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE FGI

GUIDELINES CHANGED IN VERSION 2014, AND HOW THOSE
CHANGES WILL AFFECT FACILITIES.

Show how the acoustical requirements of the FGI Guidelines changed

in version 2014, and how those changes will affect facilities.

Show how the acoustical requirements of the FGI Guidelines changed

in version 2014, and how those changes will affect facilities.

Show how the acoustical requirements of the FGI Guidelines changed

in version 2014, and how those changes will affect facilities.
Site Exterior Noise (Planes, Trains and Automobiles)

Changed recommended exterior shell ratings from STCc to OITC

Show how the acoustical requirements of the FGI Guidelines changed

in version 2014, and how those changes will affect facilities.
Property Line Noise (generators, chillers and cooling towers)

Removed general recommendations for noise

reduction through siting, silencers and barriers.

Added new sections specific to

outdoor mechanical equipment (2.1-8.2.1.1 (5))
and emergency generators (2.1-8.3.3.1 (3)).

Show how the acoustical requirements of the FGI Guidelines changed

in version 2014, and how those changes will affect facilities.
Room Finishes

Changed
Design Room Sound
Absorption Coefficients
to
Minimum Design Room
Sound Absorption Coefficients

Show how the acoustical requirements of the FGI Guidelines changed

in version 2014, and how those changes will affect facilities.
Room Background Noise Levels
Changed
Minimum-Maximum Design Criteria
for Noise in Interior Spaces
to
Maximum Design Criteria
for Noise in Interior Spaces
Caused by Building Systems
Added/modified

Medication safety zones

NICU sleep areas
NICU staff and family areas
Operating rooms

Show how the acoustical requirements of the FGI Guidelines changed

in version 2014, and how those changes will affect facilities.
Demising Components (walls, floor/ceilings, doors, windows)

NICU removed from list of

Design Criteria for Minimum Sound Isolation
Performance Between Enclosed Rooms

Show how the acoustical requirements of the FGI Guidelines changed

in version 2014, and how those changes will affect facilities.
Speech Privacy

Replaced STI metric with SPC.

Added defining standards.
Updated ranges for Normal, Confidential
and Secure speech

Show how the acoustical requirements of the FGI Guidelines changed

in version 2014, and how those changes will affect facilities.
Vibration isolation

Raised acceptable level for patient rooms and areas.

Learning Objective #4

PLAN THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO ENSURE FGI

ACOUSTICAL COMPLIANCE FOR A NEW FACILITY, ADDITION,
OR REMODELING PROJECT.

Plan the steps to be taken to ensure FGI acoustical compliance for a

new facility, addition, or remodeling project.

1) Include 2014 FGI Guidelines in all design specifications and budget

design and construction premiums to pay for it.
2) Include an experienced acoustics consultant on the design team
starting with the design narrative/schematic design phase.
3) Require acoustics analyses during DD and CD phases to show
engineering and architectural designs comply with FGI Guidelines.
4) Require construction submittals to show compliance with acoustical
specifications in the engineering and architectural design.
5) Include job site observations and acceptance testing by the acoustics
consultant.

Summary
1. Good acoustics can raise HCAHPS scores up to 15% and
VBP scores up to 5%.
2. FGIs Sound & Vibration: Design Guidelines for Health Care
Facilities (V 3.0) is scheduled to be released this fall. Use this
as a quick reference for determining compliance.
3. The biggest change for 2014 is the separation of Hospitals
and Residential Facilities into separate guidelines. ebooks!
4. Achieving FGI compliance doesnt happen unless everyone
on the design and construction team works together.

This concludes The American Institute of Architects

Continuing Education Systems Course

AIA Iowa

Contact Information
Jon W. Mooney PE
KJWW Engineering
mooneyjw@kjww.com
acoustics@jwmooney.com