In open kitchens, teppanyaki counters, live cooking stations, and restaurants where diners sit near the kitchen, exhaust system noise can be a significant negative factor in the dining experience. Standard commercial kitchen fans operate at 70-80 dB(A) — conversation-interrupting levels. Souniny ductless ESP systems achieve significantly lower noise levels through integrated design considerations.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| ESP Unit Noise (LD Series) | 52-58 dB(A) at 1m |
| ESP Unit Noise (ND Series) | 60-68 dB(A) at 1m |
| Comparison: Standard Ducted Hood | 72-82 dB(A) typical |
| Noise Reduction Features | Insulated enclosure, vibration-isolated fan mounting, inlet/outlet silencers (optional) |
| Open Kitchen Target | <55 dB(A) at diner position (conversation not affected) |
| Noise Regulations | Varies; typical workplace limit: 85 dB(A) 8-hour TWA; restaurant ambient: 45-55 dB(A) |
Application Scenarios
- Open kitchen fine dining (Paris): A Michelin-starred restaurant with an open kitchen where diners sit 4-6 meters from the cooking line specified Souniny Light-duty Series with additional acoustic treatment. The standard unit’s 58 dB(A) was reduced to 49 dB(A) at the nearest diner position through: (1) acoustic enclosure lined with 50mm mineral wool, (2) duct silencers on intake and discharge, (3) vibration-isolated mounting, and (4) variable-speed fan running at 70% maximum during service. Diners can converse normally while watching chefs work.
- Teppanyaki restaurant (Tokyo): A high-end teppanyaki restaurant where 8 guests sit around each cooking station requires essentially silent extraction. The Prince ESP-2000 was selected for its inherently lower noise, with custom acoustic shrouding that reduces the already-low noise to 42 dB(A) at the guest position — below the restaurant’s background music level. The chef can describe each dish and interact with guests without raising their voice.
- Hotel lobby bar kitchen (Dubai): A hotel lobby bar with a small kitchen preparing light meals 10 meters from guest seating in a space designed for quiet conversation. The Heavy-duty Series was installed in a purpose-built acoustic enclosure in an adjacent service room, with only the intake grille visible in the kitchen. The system is inaudible at guest positions, verified by acoustic measurement during commissioning.
- Office cafeteria servery (London): A corporate headquarters cafeteria where employees eat within 8 meters of the cooking line uses Light-duty Series with the variable-speed fan controlled by a room noise sensor. As ambient noise in the cafeteria rises (lunch rush conversation), fan speed increases to match. During quiet periods (10:00 AM coffee service), fan speed reduces, maintaining consistent signal-to-noise ratio.
