Noise 2

The problem with noise issues is that only a very few can be solved immediately to satisfy the guests. Hardly any of the noise problems is caused by hotel operation. Almost all of them are caused by bad design, poor workmanship, selection of wrong products and cost savings in course of design, construction and installation. 

Here are a few examples of sources of noise I found in hotels of almost all categories:

• Insufficient sound isolation of windows as a result of cost savings.
• Reduction of noise protection of walls due to placing electric plugs of neighboring rooms exactly opposite to each other on each side of the wall. If there are dry walls this may reduce the noise reduction to zero as the plugs are installed back to back without sufficient isolation between. I found this a very common mistake of design.
• Installation of dry walls not according to the specifications of the producers causing reduced noise reduction levels
• Poor isolation of pipe-work.
• Noisy fan coils.
• Noise from corridors caused by installation of doors with insufficient noise reduction or poor workmanship of walls facing the corridors

All these issues have in common that they can be solved, but not once the construction and installation are completed.

All brands have detailed and sufficient specifications regarding noise protection and prevention. However, we always find hotels – branded and unbranded – where noise is an issue. In the design process noise issue often do not get the attention they require. The design and positioning of the bed head as an example can improve or worsen the situation a lot. The same applies for the location and installation of minibars and fridges. Sometimes products with higher noise emission are selected just to save costs.

I have seen many projects where the contractor offered a price reduction to get away with poor workmanship and the investor accepted it just to save money. A lot of this resulted in noise problems, which only can be solved by substantial works.

I absolutely agree that cost saving and cost awareness are key to all successful projects, but I am sure that in every project there are other possibilities to save costs with less or no impact on the guest satisfaction.

DI HERBERT MASCHA, MRICS, Partner - MRP Hotels

Herbert Mascha is an experienced civil engineer, working on international hotel projects as a project manager and consultant.

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