Longevity by Design · Pillar · AHR
Acoustic Health Rating
The Acoustic Health Rating is the fourth pillar of Longevity by Design. It keeps continuous sound exposure below 55 dB - in line with the WHO Europe 2018 Environmental Noise Guidelines (53 dB Lden for road traffic, 45 dB at night) - through acoustic treatment, room geometry and HVAC specification. Noise is treated not as a comfort preference but as a physiological stressor with documented cardiovascular consequences.
WHO's 2018 evidence review links road-traffic noise to roughly 8% higher ischaemic heart-disease risk per 10 dB of long-term exposure. Chronic noise elevates stress hormones and disrupts sleep architecture even when the sleeper does not consciously wake. Designing below the 55 dB line removes a constant, invisible load on the heart and nervous system.
Frequently asked
What is the Acoustic Health Rating?
It is the acoustic pillar of the Longevity by Design methodology — a specification that keeps continuous indoor sound exposure below 55 dB - in line with the WHO Europe 2018 Environmental Noise Guidelines (53 dB Lden for road traffic, 45 dB at night).
Can noise really affect lifespan?
Yes — a 2018 WHO evidence review links road-traffic noise to roughly 8% higher ischaemic heart-disease risk per 10 dB of long-term exposure. Keeping exposure below 55 dB reduces that constant physiological load.