Restaurants

There is nothing more frustrating than being in a restaurant where you have to shout across the table in effort to converse with your dinner party. The problem is caused by hard reflective surfaces such as windows, metal roof and woodwork that reflect the energy back into the room. As more and more patrons fill the restaurant, the ambient sound level increases to the point that it becomes uncomfortably loud. For many the experience is so daunting, they will simply never return.

In restaurants, the challenge is balancing the introduction of the required acoustic panels with aesthetic issues such as the room décor, lighting and the vibe that has been designed into the place. Truth is: architects and interior designers have ‘a vision’ and this rarely includes the acoustic elements needed to make the room sound right. Yet the solution is actually quite simple. Acoustic panels are spread around the room wherever space allows using between 15% to 25% wall coverage to achieve reasonable results.

To address the various architectural elements and allow the designer with as much scope as possible, Primacoustic offers several solutions in the form of wall panels, hanging baffles, suspended clouds and architecturally appealing Lanterns.

Creating the vibe!

Before we address the solutions, it is important to understand where the problem lies: In a restaurant, most of the ‘problem noise’ is caused by loud patrons and their voices echoing everywhere.

This graph shows the frequency response of the human voice at different sound pressure levels. At normal levels, most of the energy in the human voice ranges between 200Hz and 1000Hz. But as the human voice increases in amplitude (when we shout), the center frequency tends to shift to the upper mid range where sound tends to beam. The ever present echo and resulting room noise competes with our conversation so we speak louder. The accentuated mid range causes the room to sound ‘harsh’, adversely affecting the outcome and we are left with a decreased sense of intimacy and intelligibility.

To create a visual understanding of what is happening; we have superimposed the sound of normal and raised voices on top of two types of acoustic panels. This graph clearly dictates that for the panels to be effective, they will have to absorb sound energy between 200Hz and 1000Hz.

As with any acoustic installation, the more acoustic panels you put up on the walls and ceiling, the greater the sound you will absorb. As a rule of thumb, applying 15% to 25% of the wall surface with Broadway acoustic panels tends to work well.

Broadway Acoustic Panels

The most common form of acoustic treatment is the acoustic panel. Broadway panels are particularly effective at absorbing sound in the critical voice region. The above graph compares a 2” Broadway panel with a 2” thick urethane foam panel. Although urethane foam is usually not used due to lack of proper fire safety approvals, it is worth noting that not all acoustic panels are created equally. To maximize efficiency, panels are usually positioned in corners or up near the ceiling where they can work double duty by both absorbing the direct field and reflections off nearby surfaces. To further open up creative possibilities, the Apex and Arc panels present add-ons that can be combined with Broadway panels to add visual flair while quietly absorbing sound.

Nimbus ceiling clouds

Ceiling clouds are gaining in popularity due to their being able to nestle up above the tables, closer to noisy patrons where they can trap sound energy before it expands. Nimbus clouds are particularly effective when the ceiling is hard as they not only trap direct sound, but also capture the reflected sound as it enters the back side of the panel. Because Nimbus clouds are easily suspended without interfering with room décor, windows or wall art, the are often a good choice in restaurants and cafeterias.

Ceiling baffles

With so many restaurants opting for the trendy look of an open ceiling with exposed heating ducts, the opportunity avails itself to installing hanging acoustic baffles high up in what would previously have been the plenum. Ceiling baffles are particularly effective in that they absorb energy on both surfaces making them one of the most efficient types of absorption available. This is because sound not only gets absorbed when it hits the surface, but also captures the sound reflecting off the ceiling, further doubling the performance.

Acoustic Lanterns

For those with an added sense of flair and design, the Broadway acoustic Lanterns present an exciting alternative to the acoustic baffle by offering a series of designs that have the appearance of hanging lamps. These come in various shapes that can be arranged to form a ‘mobile’ and create a distinctive three-dimension acoustic solution. Each Primacoustic Lantern features a large absorptive surface area with plenty of girth for added low frequency performance. For optimal results, Lanterns are generally clustered in areas where greater noise is present. A common example is the space adjacent to where two sets of windows intersect in a corner where the reflections can be extreme.

Dealing with noisy kitchens

The clanking of pots and pans usually entails adding acoustic panels to available space. But it is important to note that Broadway panels will not be suitable for food preparation areas as they do not have what one would call a ‘washable surface’. There are specialty manufacturers that supply panels that are suitable that can be found by contacting a Primacoustic commercial dealer.

Summary

Creating an intimate dining experience is easily accomplished by introducing Broadway acoustic panels into the room. Their high performance ensures that offending frequencies will be absorbed and the range of products makes finding a suitable solution easy that will match any room décor.

Determining Coverage

To determine the coverage, we have created a series of easy-to-use tables that enable you to choose between various degrees of treatment depending on your budget and the desired outcome. Most facilities find that a ‘light’ level of treatment provides sufficient sound abatement while keeping the budget in check. If budgets are tight, start with minimal treatment and then add more panels as funds become available.