Restaurant Acoustic Requirements Under BS 8233:2014
Restaurants, cafes, bars, food halls. Typical volume: 200-2,000 m³.
What BS 8233:2014 Requires for a Restaurant
Clause reference: BS 8233:2014 Table 4
RT60 target: ≤ 0.8s (dining)
Background noise limit: 45-55 dBA (ambient acceptable)
Measurement condition: Furnished
Note: Higher noise levels acceptable. Primary concern is guest conversation intelligibility.
How to Calculate BS 8233:2014 Compliance for a Restaurant
- 1
Identify the applicable standard and target
Look up BS 8233:2014 (BS 8233:2014 Table 4). For a restaurant, the RT60 target is ≤ 0.8s (dining). Measurement condition: furnished.
- 2
Measure or model the room geometry
Record the length, width, and height of the room to calculate the volume. A typical restaurant has a volume of 200-2,000 m³.
- 3
List all surfaces and their absorption coefficients
For each surface (floor, ceiling, walls, windows, doors), find the absorption coefficient at each octave band frequency (125Hz to 4kHz) from ISO 354 test data or a materials database.
- 4
Calculate total absorption and apply the Sabine or Eyring equation
Sum all surface absorption values: A = sum of (alpha x area). Then apply T60 = 0.161 x V / A (Sabine) or T60 = -0.161 x V / (S x ln(1 - alpha_avg)) (Eyring). Use Eyring when average alpha exceeds 0.20.
- 5
Compare result against the standard and specify treatment if needed
If the calculated RT60 exceeds the target of ≤ 0.8s (dining), specify additional absorption. 30-50% of ceiling area + soft surfaces is typical for a restaurant to achieve compliance.
Typical Acoustic Treatment for a Restaurant
Treatment Area
30-50% of ceiling area + soft surfaces
Estimated Cost
£65-£120/m² of floor area
Frequently Asked Questions
What RT60 does BS 8233:2014 require for a restaurant?
BS 8233:2014 (BS 8233:2014 Table 4) requires a reverberation time of ≤ 0.8s (dining) for restaurant spaces, measured in the furnished condition per ISO 3382-2.
What background noise level is acceptable in a restaurant under BS 8233:2014?
BS 8233:2014 sets a background noise limit of 45-55 dBA (ambient acceptable) for restaurant spaces. This typically refers to HVAC and building services noise measured with the room unoccupied.
How much acoustic treatment does a restaurant need to comply with BS 8233:2014?
A typical restaurant requires 30-50% of ceiling area + soft surfaces of acoustic treatment to meet BS 8233:2014 compliance. Estimated installed cost is £65-£120/m² of floor area.
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