--- title: Noise! Noise! Noise! Reduce The Noise! description: The noise volume of a restaurant can impact employees and guests. Some restaurants are known to reach the noise equivalency level of a jackhammer! image: https://blog.melinkcorp.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Woman%20screaming%20on%20a%20megaphone%20-%20isolated%20over%20white.jpeg --- - [Services](https://melinkcorp.com/services/) - - - [Services Overview](https://melinkcorp.com/services/) - [Building Commissioning](https://melinkcorp.com/services/building-commissioning/) - [Test, Adjust & Balance](https://melinkcorp.com/services/test-adjust-and-balance/) - [Test, Adjust & Balance FAQs](https://melinkcorp.com/services/test-adjust-balance-faqs/) - - #### Why we do what we do “We’ll build a 7 figure new store and we’ll fight with the A/C or negative air pressure for months or years, all because the equipment was never set up properly, causing problems that extend for the life of the building. Your reports allow us to know everything is set the way it should be from the beginning.” *Director of Facilities for a national restaurant chain* - [Kitchen Hood Controls](https://melinkcorp.com/kitchen-hood-controls/) - - - [Intelli-Hood Overview](https://melinkcorp.com/kitchen-hood-controls/) - [Intelli-Hood FAQs](https://melinkcorp.com/kitchen-hood-controls/intelli-hood-faqs/) - [Intelli-Hood Resources](https://melinkcorp.com/kitchen-hood-controls/intelli-hood-resources/) - - #### Why we do what we do > “Our engineering department worked with the engineers from each of our hotel brands and fully evaluated Intelli-Hood. Everyone is convinced that this is one of our most cost-effective paths to sustainability.” > > *SVP Operations New Development at Leading Global Hotel Chain* [tel:15139657300](tel:15139657300) - [Services](https://melinkcorp.com/services/) - [Building Commissioning](https://melinkcorp.com/services/building-commissioning/) - [Test, Adjust & Balance](https://melinkcorp.com/services/test-adjust-and-balance/) - [Test, Adjust & Balance FAQs](https://melinkcorp.com/services/test-adjust-balance-faqs/) - [Kitchen Hood Controls](https://melinkcorp.com/kitchen-hood-controls/) - [Intelli-Hood Resources](https://melinkcorp.com/kitchen-hood-controls/intelli-hood-resources/) - [Intelli-Hood FAQs](https://melinkcorp.com/kitchen-hood-controls/intelli-hood-faqs/) [About](https://melinkcorp.com/about/) - [Green Buildings](https://melinkcorp.com/about/melink-green-buildings/) - [Careers](https://melinkcorp.com/about/careers/) - [Contact](https://melinkcorp.com/contact/) # Green Link Sharing our expertise to help you succeed ![](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/hubfs/Background-leaf.png) [Melink](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/author/melink) 11/27/18 8:00 AM [DCKV](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/topic/dckv) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) The holidays are upon us with all the excitement and the parties. As the Grinch says, “And Then! Oh, the noise! Noise! Noise! Noise! There's one thing I hate! All the NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! NOISE!” Now, I am no Grinch about the holidays, but prior to my tenure here at Melink I worked for nearly 10 years as an Environmental Health and Safety Manager within a large chemical facility, and there were various work areas that exceeded noise thresholds, requiring hearing protection. It was LOUD. This is where I became aware of [National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health](https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/index.htm) (NIOSH) standards for hearing conservation, NIOSH states continued exposure to noise above 85 dBA (adjusted decibels) over time will cause hearing loss. The volume (dBA) and the length of exposure to the sound will tell you how harmful the noise is. In general, the louder the noise, the less time required before hearing loss will occur. According to NIOSH, the maximum exposure time at 85 dBA is eight hours. Although we may not be able to control the noise of the holiday party or the loud toys the children will receive on Christmas Day, perhaps within the working environments of commercial kitchens we can make drastic improvements and reduce the overall noise level.   #### Commercial Kitchen Noise Studies have been conducted over the years with noise levels approaching or exceeding the 85 dBA level. These studies have been performed in kitchen spaces of varying size for different durations of time. Sources show a typical restaurant operates at 80 dBA. Although this value does not trigger hearing protection, some restaurants are known to reach 110 dBA at times, which is the noise level of a jackhammer! Think of the last time you were at your favorite restaurant and seated near the kitchen entrance versus the opposite side of the room...   #### How can DCKV Reduce Noise? Demand control kitchen ventilation (DCKV) can help not just provide energy savings but also reduce the noise levels drastically, especially over an 8-hour timeframe for employees in the kitchen spaces. Depending on the static pressure of the kitchen design, the noise levels can vary. When researching kitchen exhaust fans, one will find that the noise levels are reported as a “sone.” A sone is a unit of loudness, or how loud a sound is perceived. Doubling the perceived loudness doubles the sone value. Within fan specs of kitchen exhaust fans, manufacturers indicate the “Sones Level." For example, a 5HP kitchen exhaust fan has a sone level ranging from 16.5 to 26 sones, dependent on duct design. Per the decibel level and sones conversion chart, this is equivalent to around 68.3 to 74.9 dBA! Now, considering that a temperature and optic-based DCKV system like [Intelli-Hood](https://melinkcorp.com/intellihood) can reduce fan speeds by 30-45% on average over a 24-hour period, consider the reduction of noise exposure this provides. It is not uncommon for customers post installation of a Melink Intelli-Hood system to recognize significant noise reduction, many times commenting that during food prep hours, although the fans are “turned on,” they operate at a minimum speed and it sounds like they are not even operating! Perhaps you are in a position of influence to retrofit DCKV in your kitchen, or perhaps you are evaluating and analyzing the opportunity for a client. Remember that there is more savings than simple energy that can be considered when evaluating demand control kitchen ventilation. Reducing the noise can be priceless! For questions, please contact Melink at [ihsales@melinkcorp.com](mailto:ihsales@melinkcorp.com), (513) 965-7300, or complete the form below.   *Contributed by Ron Butsch* ![Melink](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/hubfs/Background-leaf.png) #### About [Melink](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/author/melink) ## Most Popular Blog Posts ### Recent Posts ### VIEW BLOG POSTS BY TOPIC - [HVAC Test & Balance (50)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/hvac-test-balance) - [DCKV (49)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/dckv) - [Employee Owned (35)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/employee-owned) - [Energy Efficiency (27)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/energy-efficiency) - [Building Health (21)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/building-health) - [Climate Change (13)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/climate-change) - [Construction (10)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/construction) - [Commissioning (8)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/commissioning) - [Green (8)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/green) - [Renewable Energy (6)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/renewable-energy) - [Corp (5)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/corp) - [Zero-Energy Building (5)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/zero-energy-building) - [Electric Vehicle (4)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/electric-vehicle) - [Solar PV (3)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/solar-pv) - [HQ2 (2)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/hq2) - [Geothermal (1)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/geothermal) See all ## Most Recent Blog Posts ### Recent Posts ### Subscribe to Email Updates ## CONTACT US **Global Headquarters:** Melink Campus 5140 River Valley Road Milford, OH 45150 USA 513-965-7300 © Copyright 2025, Melink Corporation. 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