Elevating hygiene and design in healthcare spaces

When it comes to healthcare design, the balance between hygiene standards, acoustic performance and aesthetic appeal can be tricky. Here Zentia explains how well-designed products can enhance both hygienic standards and the patient experience.  

Healthcare facilities must uphold the highest standards of cleanliness while also creating a sense of comfort and wellbeing for patients, staff, and visitors. Despite this understanding, hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remain a significant challenge within healthcare settings, with research indicating that airborne bacteria and contaminants contribute to the spread of infections, making ceiling surfaces a critical element in infection control strategies.  

Moreover, compliance with healthcare building regulations is essential. The NHS Constitution mandates that all healthcare organisations should “ensure that services are provided in a clean and safe environment that is fit for purpose, based on national best practice”. The Health Building Note (HBN) 00-10 provides best practice guidance for the UK, stating that healthcare facilities should provide a “therapeutic environment in which the overall design of the building contributes to the process of healing and reduces the risk of healthcare-associated infections”. This guidance also sets out the different requirements for ceiling finishes in each type of hospital room space.  

The role of acoustic solutions in healthcare 

Beyond hygiene, the acoustic design of healthcare spaces can also significantly impact on a patient’s comfort and wellbeing. Noise pollution in hospitals is a well-documented concern, with a number of different causes for excessive sound including medical equipment, patient movement and visitor activities. Excessive noise levels can cause patient stress and sleep disturbances, both of which can negatively affect the healing and recovery process. Staff are also not immune to the negative effects of poor acoustics in hospitals, with unmanaged noise levels decreasing concentration and increasing stress levels and the risk of burnout. 

The integration of wayfinding, zoning, and acoustic control is also crucial in optimising navigations and reducing stress in complex hospital layouts. Zentia’s ceiling solutions, for example, can blend functionality with design, helping to create an environment that supports both patients’ psychological wellbeing and the hospital’s operational efficiency.  

Zentia’s Biobloc range of ceiling tiles have been carefully designed to meet the rigorous demands of these healthcare settings. The tiles feature a specialised coating that actively inhibits the growth of micro-organisms, making them suitable for installation in clean rooms with ISO 5 classification. They are also resistant to moisture and can be cleaned with standard disinfectants, supporting infection control protocols that are critical in hospitals, laboratories, and other sensitive environments.  

Within the Biobloc family are the Biobloc Acoustic tiles, designed for areas where infection risk is classified as ‘moderate to high’. These tiles provide excellent acoustic properties to minimise noise pollution, contributing to a quieter and more restful environment for patients and staff.  

Acoustic tiles provide solution for Glasgow hospital 

The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasglow, one of the largest acute hospitals in Europe, required a ceiling solution that met the highest standards of cleanability, resistance to disinfectants, and acoustic performance. The tiles selected for the project were more than 110,000m2 of Zentia’s Biobloc Acoustic tile, which was used throughout the hospital’s reception and patient areas.  

Zentia’s Biobloc range exemplifies the importance and integration of hygiene and design in healthcare environments. By providing antimicrobial, washable, and acoustic ceiling solutions, Zentia supports the creation of hospital spaces that are both safe and welcoming. 

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