Rockfon’s Medical & Hygienic Ceilings Redefine Healthcare at Uvalde Memorial (UMH)

Designed by Perkins&Will, Uvalde Memorial Hospital (UMH) provides a large, state-of-the-art facility with leading-edge healthcare services and upgraded amenities for the growing, five-county communities in rural southeastern Texas. Supporting the safety, health, cleanliness, comfort and privacy of UMH patients, staff and visitors, Perkins&Will specified Rockfon acoustic stone wool ceiling products for the hospital’s modern interior. The chosen ceiling products are designed to promote the overall well-being of the building’s occupants. See how.

Transforming UMH’s 180,000 Square Feet Into a Multifaceted Healthcare Facility

Replacing a 50-year-old facility at the end of its functional life span, the two-story, 180,000-square-foot building opened in March 2022. Today, UMH includes medical technological advances that enable more outpatient care, often allowing patients to go home on the same day. Along with its outpatient service suites, UMH houses an emergency department, physical and occupational therapy departments, a radiology department, an urgent care clinic, an intensive care unit and a 25-bed medical/surgical inpatient unit. An efficient layout and large patient rooms also meet current regulatory standards. 
 
Throughout the hospital’s patient rooms, service departments, registration and lobby areas, hallways and other interior spaces, MK Marlow Company installed Rockfon acoustic stone wool ceilings. Action Gypsum Supply provided multiple ceiling products to meet each area’s design requirements for acoustic performance, infection control, material ingredient transparency and a clean, bright, modern aesthetic. 

Rockfon Acoustic Ceiling Systems Contribute to UMH’s State-of-the-Art Hospital

The noise reduction coefficient (NRC) is a measurement of how much a material can reduce the noise by absorbing that noise. For this healthcare facility, Perkins&Will recommended an NRC of 0.90 or higher for open-plan work areas.

The project incorporated Rockfon acoustic stone wool ceiling panels in various sizes and edge profiles, including:

• Rockfon® Medical™ Standard
• Rockfon Hygienic Plus™
• Rockfon Alaska®
• Rockfon Pacific™
• Rockfon Tropic®

All stone wool panels were installed using Chicago Metallic® 1200 Series 15/16"
 ceiling suspension systems.

UMH followed a building model devised by general contractor Hoar Construction for rural and underfunded communities. With funding sources secured, the new building broke ground in August 2019. A topping-out celebration of the building’s structural completion took place in July 2020. As construction continued, the existing hospital remained in use throughout the pandemic until the new UMH was fully completed and ready for occupancy.

Made primarily from abundant basalt rock, stone wool inherently resists fire, water, humidity, moisture, mold and mildew and does not provide nourishment for potentially harmful microorganisms. Stone wool ceiling panels do not use added chemicals, such as antimicrobials, to deliver their high performance.
“With design experts and professional installation, our acoustic ceiling systems offer many beneficial qualities to the healing environment,” said Chris King, Rockfon’s district sales manager serving Texas.

According to a study conducted with Perkins&Will, “No evidence yet exists to demonstrate that products intended for use in interior spaces that incorporate antimicrobial additives result in healthier populations. Further, antimicrobials may have negative impacts on both people and the environment.

“As the healthcare industry is being called to responsible stewardship of antibiotics, the building products industry must think responsibly about when and where it is appropriate to use antimicrobials in building materials, as these may contribute to antimicrobial resistance.” 
 
Rockfon stone wool products:

• Enhance acoustic qualities and decrease noise
• Effectively disperse natural and energy-efficient light
• Hold up to infection control and cleaning measures
• Use nonorganic materials that resist mold and non-chemically treated materials to lessen the chemical load on patients trying to heal

Prioritizing Acoustic Performance in Medical and Healthcare Facilities

“The acoustic experience in medical and healthcare facilities plays a critical role in creating a calmer, quieter, less stressful environment for healing and recovery,” King said. “Good acoustics are essential to ensuring patients’ needs are understood, medical instructions are clear, information is accurately recorded and confidential details remain private and in compliance with HIPAA.”
 
Drawing from evidence-based design principles, healthcare facility and sustainable building guidelines commonly describe acoustic requirements. For example, The Center for Health Design categorizes the use of high-performing, sound-absorptive acoustic ceilings with an NRC of 0.90 or higher as a priority design recommendation. When value-engineering a project, ceiling panels with a lower NRC could be used for utility, storage or other areas where patient care is not provided or in communal areas and collaborative spaces where privacy is not expected.

At UMH, Rockfon Medical Standard, Rockfon Hygienic Plus and Rockfon Alaska provide best-level sound absorption with an NRC of 0.90. Quieter environments offer a calmer healing space to support patient recovery, privacy and dignity while reducing stress on caregivers.

“When healthcare staff are less stressed, they are better able to concentrate and are happier at work,” King said. “This means errors are less likely, absences are fewer and employee retention is higher. 
 
“A good acoustic experience shapes not only patients’ perceived care and comfort but also their overall satisfaction. This can impact the bottom line for hospitals and healthcare providers because Medicare reimbursements are tied to patient satisfaction scores.”
 
In 2022, UMH took top honors in Medicare’s Hospital Compare patient satisfaction categories when compared to nine other regional hospitals.

Rockfon’s Medical and Hygienic Ceiling Tiles Set New Standards in Healthcare Spaces

Helping design teams with product selection and specification, Rockfon supports material transparency with documentation such as:

• Health product declarations
• Declare labels
• UL-certified environmental product declarations

In addition, Rockfon’s portfolio of stone wool products (excluding Rockfon Mono® Acoustic) is UL GREENGUARD® Gold certified for low emissions. This certification considers indoor air quality and emissions that may affect children, seniors and people with compromised immune systems, such as hospital patients.
 
For more stringent air cleanliness in clean rooms and controlled environments, Rockfon Medical Standard and Hygienic Plus ceiling panels meet ISO Class 5 criteria. Rockfon Medical Standard tiles are also tested with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Candida albicans and Aspergillus brasiliensis to meet M1 classification. This rigorous testing fulfills the requirements of Zone 4, the standard’s highest-risk category. All Rockfon stone wool panel surfaces are easy to clean and disinfect without affecting performance or appearance.
Lighting in healthcare spaces is an important aspect of the overall design because it affects patients’ psychological and physiological conditions. As the only surface in a room that is completely visible, the ceiling needs high light reflectance to effectively distribute both natural and electric light sources.

The white surface of Rockfon’s ceiling panels reflects up to 86% of light within UMH’s interiors. This reflected light is diffused, minimizing glare on screens and monitors. This, in turn, reduces eye strain and stress-associated health issues. These bright, well-lit spaces support patient and staff comfort and wellness, including southern-facing windows for views and natural daylight.
 
Ready to upgrade your medical facility’s ceilings? Get a free Rockfon sample to explore your options and/or contact us.