The suction system and the compressor are the two noisiest machines in a dental practice. Well placed, you forget them. Badly placed, they can be heard all the way to the waiting room. Here is the Cattani data you need to prepare your equipment room.
Knowing the noise level of each machine
Cattani publishes the sound pressure of its units, with and without protection. Some examples for suction systems:
- Turbo-Smart A : 68.4 to 69 dB(A) without cover, 66.4 to 67 dB(A) with plastic cover, 48.5 to 49.5 dB(A) in an indoor soundproof cabinet;
- Micro-Smart : 64 to 71 dB(A) without cover, 41 to 48 dB(A) in an indoor cabinet;
- Turbo-Smart B: 48.5 to 52.2 dB(A) in an indoor cabinet;
- Turbo-Smart TS: 67.5 dB(A) without cover;
- Micro-Smart Cube: 59 dB(A) with ducted air; Turbo-Smart Cube A: 60 dB(A) with ducted air.
And for compressors:
- AC 100: 70 dB(A), 63 dB(A) with cover;
- AC 200: 71 dB(A), 63 dB(A) with cover;
- AC 300 : 73.6 dB(A), 68 dB(A) with cover;
- AC 400: 73 dB(A), 63.8 dB(A) with cover.
The differences are clear. On the Turbo-Smart A, the soundproof cabinet brings the level down from 68.4–69 dB(A) to 48.5–49.5 dB(A).
Cover or soundproof cabinet
Cattani offers several levels of protection for Smart suction systems: a plastic cover, or a soundproof cabinet, in an indoor or outdoor version. For the 1-2-3 cylinder compressors, a shared cabinet is available; in a cabinet, these compressors go down to 52 dB(A).
The benefit described by Cattani is simple: a quieter equipment room. If your equipment room is next to a treatment room or an office, plan for the cabinet from the start.
Everything in a single cabinet
When space is limited, Blok-Jet Silent centralized solutions combine suction and compressed air in a single soundproof cabinet:
- Blok-Jet Silent 1: 57.5 dB(A), for two chairs, 727 × 577 × 1583 mm;
- Blok-Jet Silent 2 : 55 dB(A), for four chairs, 757 × 607 × 1936 mm.
Planning the space
Measure your room before choosing. Some dimensions published by Cattani (w × d × h):
- Micro-Smart: 370 × 340 × 590 mm;
- Turbo-Smart TS: 435 × 344 × 744 mm;
- Turbo-Smart 2V : 540 × 400 × 650 mm;
- AC 100 with dryer: 620 × 460 × 720 mm;
- AC 400: 1155 × 550 × 745 mm;
- AC 600: 1320 × 590 × 890 mm.
Add the space needed for the amalgam separator: the Hydrocyclone ISO 18 measures 415 × 190 × 225 mm (h × w × d). Also keep easy access for daily maintenance.
Temperature and ventilation
Noise is not the only constraint. The machines need to breathe.
- For the compressor, Cattani asks for the equipment room temperature to be checked regularly: between +5 °C and +35 °C.
- Hydrocyclones ISO operate at an ambient temperature between +5 °C and +40 °C.
- For Smart suction, occasionally check that nothing is obstructing the suction unit's ventilation.
- The compressor fans are checked every 12 months.
A clean room helps too. In a clean environment, the Cattani maintenance schedule provides for annual cleaning of the compressor head filters with compressed air, followed by their replacement.
Distance and pipework
Moving the machines further away reduces noise, but lengthens the pipes. Cattani advises a higher vacuum when the pipes are undersized or the runs too long. The Turbo Smart HP leaflet also mentions pipes that are too narrow and traps. If your equipment room is far from the chairs, machines such as the Turbo-Smart 2V or the Turbo-Smart HP are worth considering.
For the laboratory, the logic is the same. For example, Cattani indicates the Tecno-Jet for one workstation 8-10 m away, and the Uni-Jet 1000 for 12 simultaneous workstations at 25 m. See the page Laboratory.
Monitoring without going to the equipment room
A well-insulated equipment room is often a room people rarely visit. Turbo-Smart, Turbo-Smart TS, Turbo-Smart 2V, Turbo-Smart Cube, Micro-Smart and Micro-Smart Cube are controlled with the SmartApp application, on a tablet or smartphone. The practice monitors the status of its suction system without going down to the equipment room. Faults are also shown on the machine's display, which logs events for accurate diagnosis.
Pre-installation checklist
- Acceptable noise level given how close the treatment rooms are.
- Cover or soundproof cabinet, indoor or outdoor.
- Enough space, access for maintenance.
- Temperature between +5 °C and +35 °C, unobstructed ventilation.
- Length and diameter of the pipes to the chairs.
To choose the machines, see the pages Suction and Compressed air, or the tool Choose my equipment.
A Cattani specialist can advise you
Send us the plan of your equipment room, its distance from the chairs and the number of workstations. A Cattani specialist will suggest a suitable layout and acoustic protection.
Ask a Cattani specialist for advice
Sources: Cattani documentation, manual Smart 04-2024 (FR), p. 4, 5, 19 and 32; Cattani documentation, manual Smart 04-2024 (EN), p. 6; Cattani documentation, manual oil-free compressors 1-2-3 cylinders 02-2023 (EN), p. 5 to 7; Cattani documentation, manual oil-free compressors 1-2-3 cylinders 02-2023 (FR), p. 13; Cattani documentation, manual Blok-Jet Silent 09-2021, p. 4 and 5; Cattani documentation, manual Hydrocyclone ISO 18, p. 15; Cattani documentation, manual Hydrocyclone ISO 6, p. 15; Cattani documentation, Turbo Smart brochure 02-2020, p. 4 and 7; Cattani documentation, Turbo Smart HP leaflet 05-2023, p. 4 and 6; Cattani documentation, routine and extraordinary maintenance posters for suction units and compressors, p. 2; Cattani, product sheets Micro-Smart, Micro-Smart Cube, Turbo-Smart Cube A, Turbo-Smart 2V, AC 100 to AC 600, Blok-Jet Silent 1 and 2, Tecno-Jet and Uni-Jet 1000 (cattani.it); Cattani ESAM UK (Cattani subsidiary), oil-free compressors (p. 5) and Turbo Smart TS (p. 5) brochures.