Table 2.

Average* sound absorption coefficient (ᾱ) for patient rooms in standard and refurbished nursing units with standard and Hush Curtains^® in place

Rooms	Standard curtain	Hush Curtain®
Standard unit
Room A — four-bed	0.24 (eight curtains)	0.30 (12 curtains)
Room B — one-bed	0.23 (one curtain)	0.28 (two curtains)
Room C — one-bed	0.24 (one curtain)	Not tested
Room D — two-bed	0.27 (four curtains)	0.34 (five curtains)
Room E — four-bed	0.31 (eight curtains)	Not tested
Refurbished unit
Room F — two-bed	0.24 (four curtains)	Not tested
Room G — two-bed	0.17 ( four curtains)	0.28 (eight curtains)
Room H — one-bed	0.23 (one curtain)	0.28 (two curtains)

*FGI Design value of 0.15 is considered to be an average, acceptable sound absorption for patient rooms^[13], A larger number indicates that the room more efficiently absorbs reflected sound and will generally be perceived as being quieter