Let’s face it - successful restaurants focus just as much on their ambience as they do creating great food. In the process of developing a memorable diner experience, one of the five senses often gets overlooked - and if you’ve ever been to a crowded hot spot on a Saturday night, you probably know that it’s the restaurant acoustics.
Restaurant acoustics play an extremely important role in designing and establishing a successful restaurant. Many owners mistakenly attribute loud noise to a positive user experience - "It’s a noisy, busy fun place to be." Sure, noise can be a good thing - but only if it’s controlled. Diners don’t want to be bothered by the reverberation of other people’s conversations, the echoes caused by the clanging and banging in the kitchen or even the traffic outside.
What can you do for restaurant noise reduction? Many restaurant owners turn to
Audimute Acoustic Panels for restaurant noise reduction. Audimute Acoustic Panels absorb up to 100% of the echoes and reverb, thereby allowing all patrons to enjoy your restaurant acoustics. Whether your space is lively and upbeat or elegant and relaxing, restaurant acoustics will play a large part in the overall satisfaction of your customers. In fact, recent studies such as the Zagat Survey (which reviewed more than 15,000 restaurants across the nation) show that poor restaurant acoustics is the second most common complaint amongst restaurant-goers (second only to poor service!). Where do your restaurant acoustics rank?
When it comes to restaurant noise reduction, the importance of cutting back echoes and reverb in your space can’t be stressed enough. For instance, two California researchers found that the average noise levels of restaurants (between 6-10 PM) ranged between 50 - 90 decibels, with peak noise levels reaching approximately 110 dB (and sometimes even 140 dB!). Normal conversations range from 45-50 dB, so you can easily see why customers are complaining about restaurant acoustics!
Why is restaurant noise reduction important?The fact is
more than 27 million Americans are hearing impaired - and this number is continually growing as Baby Boomers age. Did you know that by age 50, 20% of Americans experience hearing loss?!
To ensure that this growing need for better restaurant acoustics is recognized, the
OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) has come out with regulations for restaurant noise reduction. For example:
- A hearing conservation program must be implemented when restaurant employees are exposed to 85 dB or more in an 8 hour day
- Engineering or administrative restaurant noise reduction is required when exposure exceeds 90dB - this means owners must take measures to improve restaurant acoustics with the help of sound control products such as Audimute Acoustic Panels or Peacemaker Sound Insulation
Why should you obey these regulations?Not following the OSHA restaurant noise reduction standards is an expensive mistake! Restaurant owners can be penalized anywhere between $5000 - $70,000 if they ignore restaurant acoustics. In 2002, for example,
total penalties for OSHA violations exceeded $72.8 MILLION!How can Audimute help?We are your acoustic expert, here to help you find an acoustic solution that fits your needs and your budget. We understand restaurant acoustics and all the materials that can be used to solve your problem. Typically, restaurant owners find
Audimute Acoustic Panels to be the most economical, stylish and best of all effective solution for restaurant noise reduction. Acoustic Panels are available in variety of shapes, sizes and colors and can even be customized with your own image, logo or fabric selection. We offer an unlimited number of images and over 600 custom fabrics for you to choose from!
Give us a call at 866-505-6883 to discuss your application and see which Audimute solution will best ehance your restaurant acoustics.