ACOUSTICS IN RESTAURANT

WHY DO WE NEED TO
CONTROL NOISE IN THE
RESTAURANTS?
• Affect the health and safety of restaurant
employees and patrons
• it can discourage return customers
• it could cause violations in code
• it can cost the restaurant owner
thousands of dollars to correct
 Noise Sources Affecting
Restaurants
• The Kitchen
• the patrons
• building systems
• music
• exterior traffic
• adjacent occupancies
• intercoms
• mechanical equipments
 FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED
WHILE DESIGNING A
RESTAURANT

• kind of environment do you want the

diner to experience
• Depending on the design concept, a
certain noise level could be desirable.
The average noise level of a typical
restaurant during a dining rush is
80 dB
 There are necessary acoustic
considerations in the design phase
of a restaurant:

 1.Choose your materials early. You don't

have to compromise the aesthetics of your
project. You can have any look you desire
with acoustic products - metal, wood,
mirrored, plaster, stone, tile, drywall.
 2.Consider the implications
of your structural design. If
you have a domed ceiling,
specify proper absorption
to avoid distracting
reverberation and
reflections. If your design
includes a very open dining
area, add absorptive
components to reduce the
chance of a potentially loud
environment
 3.General space planning is essential.
Where is the bar? Where is the restroom?
Where is the kitchen?
 4. Excessively loud restaurants are at risk
of OSHA violations. Technically, these
restaurants must require their employees
to wear hearing protection. If your waiter
or waitress were wearing earplugs, how
safe would you feel as a patron
 Tips/Considerations

– Because of the size of the space and the

materials typically used, a restaurant can
become very reverberant, causing a
tremendous build-up of noise. Absorptive
materials are needed to help control this
reverberation. Even if the restaurant is
carpeted, keep in mind that carpet is only about
20-35% absorptive. Ceiling and/or wall
treatments are necessary.
– The amount of absorption needed will depend
on the type of environment you want to create.
Some restaurants are designed for a live,
active, noisy feel, while others are designed to
provide a quite, intimate experience. Be sure to
understand your client's specific expectations.
– Although acoustical wall treatments can help, or might
be necessary for some restaurants, the majority of the
noise is often controlled through the ceiling treatment.
Thanks to the large array of available product
offerings, you can achieve virtually any look with
ceiling treatments (including metal, wood, plaster,
etc…).
– Even if your client is not concerned with the level of
noise and/or wants a noisy, active space, the concern
must shift to the safety of the employees. Many
restaurants and bars are currently in violation of
OSHA, which at the very least, could result in a fine, if
not a lawsuit.
RESTAURANT ACOUSTICS
PRODUCTS
 Soft sound foam panels
1 in. x 2 ft. x 4 ft. panel (12 per Case - 96 sqft)
2 in. x 2 ft. x 4 ft. panel ( 6 per Case - 48 sqft)
3 in. x 2 ft. x 4 ft. panel ( 4 per Case - 32 sqft)

 
Lava Cinder Charcoal Steel Kelley Green

Pacific Indigo Monarch Nebula Electric Red

 soft sound acoustics panels

FR701 Anchorage Carrara Network

Durable commercial- Designer fabric A designer covering
A soft textured, with a network of
grade fabric designer fabric covering includes a
intersecting strokes
covering. Panels subtle pattern
covering. 2' x 4' x over a subtle
come in four sizes: inspired by the background. 2' x 4' x 2"
6" x 48" x 2", 2' x 2' x 2" panels available natural look of panels available in
1", 2' x 4' x 1" and 2' in Red Delicious, marble. 2' x 4' x 2" Sapphire, Azalea and
x 4' x 2" and are Willow, Quarry panels available in Zinc. In stock, ready to
available in Pearl, Blue, Coffee Bean Green Earth, Bees ship.
Crystal Blue and and Birch. In stock Wax and Linseed
Black. In stock. and ready to ship. Glaze. In stock.
 Ceiling acoustics products

Commercial Plus SoftScape Ceiling Symphony Ceiling Tufcore Ceiling Tiles

Ceiling Tiles Tiles Tiles High-performance
Professional-Grade Excellent sound Reinforced matte-faced composite ceiling
sound absorbing ceiling absorption sound absorbing panel. Dual function
panels. Excellent performance. Attractive fiberglass ceiling performance absorbs
thermal insulation textured finish with panels. Perfect for and blocks sound
performance. Practical crisp edges. Excellent increasing speech transmission.
solution for improving for open plan privacy and enhanced
in-room sound quality applications. productivity in open
plan environments.
 Echo Absorbers
• ECHO ABSORBER™ Natural is
economical, bonded recycled
cotton-fiber sound absorption
panels. Excellent acoustical and
thermal insulation performance. 
Available with grommets for baffle
and other mounting applications
• 1 in. x 2 ft. x 4 ft. sheet
• 1 in. x 4 ft. x 4 ft. sheet
• 2 in. x 2 ft. x 4 ft. sheet
Acoustics in kitchens
 Need of Acoustic Solutions

• Kitchens can be noisy places to work .too

much can cause discomfort and create
unsafe working conditions, and high noise
levels may obscure communication between
production and service staff. Ultimately, this
may lead to guest dissatisfaction.
 A few sources…

• Hard surface materials create

problematic sound amplification and
sound propagation. The sound is
transported a long way and so disturbs a
large number of people.

• Hard flooring creates noisy footsteps.

 Some simple solutions
• Noise can be controlled through the careful selection
and placement of noise producing equipment as well
as the installation of acoustic treatments .
• if a dishwasher is placed near the entry then an
acoustic installation is required to prevent the sound
to enter the dinning room.
Acoustic ceiling tiles are commonly
specified in the kitchens. Sound
insulation is the wall between the dish
area and the dining room may also be
called for.
 Ecophon’s Solution

• Reverberation time of 0.5 seconds. To

achieve this, a full acoustic ceiling is
needed of sound absorption class A (in
accordance with EN ISO 11654).