Surgical hospital deals with final niggles
As their opening day draws near, remaining glitches and outstanding touches are being attended to, much to the relief of nearby residents.
As the build for the new Johannesburg Surgical Hospital draws to a close, the last finishing touches are being addressed by management.
A resident of the nearby World’s View residential complex on Rocky Drive has noticed a new noise that is causing frustration. Michael Green says the recently installed air-conditioning system is clearly audible.
“During the day it is not so much of a nuisance because of general ambient daytime sounds, but at night even with my windows closed it is audible and problematic.”
He says while it is clear this is an essential installation for the hospital, more substantial soundproofing is necessary.
Hospital manager Alex Daneel said, “An acoustic assessment took place on the roof where the extraction fan’s noise level was measured at 81 decibels. Subsequently, two additional tests were performed on Northcliff Hill, yielding readings of 41 and 39 decibels respectively.”
He says several other measurements were taken and an audit of sound actuators has been conducted.
“These attenuators [noise-reduction hardware] are scheduled to be installed on the extraction fans by September 1. We maintain a strong awareness of and responsiveness to both environmental concerns and feedback from the broader public.”
