Restaurant Noise Calculator Scorecard

1

Surface Materials & Reflections

The foundation of your restaurant’s acoustic environment

How much glass is in your dining area?

Extensive glass – floor-to-ceiling windows, glass doors, glass partitions

Moderate glass – some large windows or glass doors

Minimal glass – just standard windows

Very little glass – mostly solid walls

What kind of floor do you have?

Hard tiles, concrete, or polished stone

Wood or laminate flooring

A couple of rugs over hard flooring

Hard stick down carpet tiles

Soft carpets with an underlay

What kind of seating do you have?

Mostly hard chairs (wood, metal, plastic)

Mostly fabric upholstered chairs & booth seating

Upholstered with a leather finish

Do your loose chairs have any padding under the feet of the legs?

Nothing at all

Felt under all chairs

Rubber under all chairs

Only a few have padding, many do not have anything

What about your walls?

Bare painted walls or exposed brick

Mix of brick walls and drywall

Fabric wall coverings or acoustic panels in some areas

Professional acoustic wall treatments throughout

Tell us about your ceiling

Exposed concrete or high hard ceiling

Grid system with standard/cheap tiles (they look smooth and white)

Grid system with acoustic tiles/panels (often have visible holes or texture)

Acoustic foam panels, acoustic baffles / clouds

2

Sound Sources & Volume

Understanding what creates noise in your space

How do you manage background music volume during busy times?

Turn it up when busy – music should mask the crowd noise

Keep it consistent – same volume regardless of crowd

Lower it when busy

What kitchen & appliance noise reaches your dining area?

Open kitchen – Noise of blenders, coffee machines & dishes is very noticeable

Semi-separated kitchen – some equipment noise filters through

Closed kitchen – minimal equipment noise reaches diners

3

Layout & Crowd Management

How space design affects sound behavior

How is your dining space configured?

Large open room – no dividers or sections

Semi-divided – some partial walls or different levels

Well-sectioned – multiple smaller dining areas

How packed does it get during rush times?

Completely full – every table occupied, waiting area packed

Mostly full – 80-90% capacity during peak times

Comfortable – never more than 70% full

4

Business Impact Indicators

The real cost of poor acoustics on your operation

How easy is it to have a conversation when the restaurant is busy?

Customers & staff have to consistently lean in & speak loudly to be heard

Sometimes need to speak up during busy periods

Easy conversation at normal voice levels

Staff Fatigue Assessment

Did you know that prolonged exposure to noise causes fatigue? How do your staff feel at the end of a shift? Be honest

Fatigue Level: 5/10

Fresh & Energetic Completely Drained

Your Restaurant’s Noise Score

1 = Absolutely terrible. Is your restaurant in underground parking?

100 = Like eating in a tranquil, whisper quiet oasis at sunset.

0/100

MAJOR OPPORTUNITY

GOOD POTENTIAL

OPTIMIZED

▼

Select options to see how easy it is to create a HUGE improvement

The quickest & easiest way to solve your restaurant noise is to book a site inspection. We’ll visit your restaurant to meet with you, measure up, discuss the options and give you a solution that you can put into action.

Book Your Site Inspection

www.genesisacoustics.co.za

Restaurant Quiz

What’s Your Restaurant’s Noise Grade?