Restaurants provide us opportunities to dine out and enjoy fine cooking while spending time with friends and family. However, there are times when the atmosphere can be noisy. In this blog we discuss acoustic solutions for a noisy restaurant. If you are designing a restaurant space, it is essential to create the right atmosphere because noise can affect a guest’s overall experience. Without having a plan for restaurant acoustics, noise levels can make dining uncomfortable and cause guests to shorten their visit. There are a number of materials that are available to help reduce the noise in restaurants to achieve a five-star experience.
Restaurants are designed with hard surfaces that are easy to clean but excel at reflecting sound. Once the crowd becomes large, without the right acoustic solutions the volume of noise within the space will rise immensely, this can become very uncomfortable to the guests and cut a visit short very quickly.
Potential Acoustic Solutions for Noisy Restaurants:
Start early in the process during the planning and design stages of a restaurant to address noise concerns with your architect. If this is done, it will avoid potential headaches down the road. Some products that can be used in the building stages would include mineral wool insulation and mass loaded vinyl (MLV).
Mineral wool is one of the most effective acoustical absorbers on the market, and it is non-combustible and fire-resistant up to 2,150º F.
Adding MLV (Mass Loaded Vinyl Barrier) to the walls before the drywall is installed will immensely help in keeping noise from leaking out. We recommend using this product for the kitchen and dining room walls. Combining MLV with mineral wool insulation provides even greater noise reduction.
Another option to consider is hanging baffles. What is fantastic about this product is that they are quick and easy to install. You may be thinking to yourself that hanging baffles are not very pleasing visually, you are correct. However, a positive characteristic of this acoustical product is that it can be customized with a specific design. They also come in a variety of colors. By customizing the baffles, you will be able to keep an appealing, welcoming environment for your customers.
Acoustic panels such as Poly Panels are also another solution for eliminating echo and reducing overall ambient noise in any space. Strategically placing acoustical panels on known refection points will not only effectively clean up the sound in the restaurant, but the right amount will eliminate all echo and noise issues. The panels can be added to almost any wall and come in a large variety of sizes to meet your design, budget, and durability requirements.
Acoustical ceiling tiles are another option for sound apportion. The ceiling tiles will eliminate the echo between a parallel floor and ceiling surfaces. They are quick and easy to install, and an added benefit is that these tiles visually and audibly “disappear” by improving the signal to noise ratio.
The last solution we have for you is acoustic duct liner. Many restaurants have ducts that generate noise throughout the space. The liner provides superior acoustical performance, eliminating the noise generated from the ducts allowing your customers to have a great acoustical experience.
Soundproofing a restaurant has many benefits and should always be taken into consideration. It will create a better dining experience; customers will stay longer and spend more. Guest will also recommend your restaurant to others, and your team will be able to work more efficiently. If excessive noise is an issue soundproofing will be worth the investment.
If you need more information or need advice for a future project, please contact us, we’re happy to help!
