Acoustic comfort is a choice. Make it with us.
Acoustically certified bars and restaurants in Italy
More and more people are skipping their lunch break or their morning coffee because noise has made certain venues unbearable. FANA certifies bars, restaurants and cafés that choose acoustic wellbeing: spaces where you can truly talk, read, work — without raising your voice.
Noise in public venues: the data
Noise is not inevitable.
Acoustic wellbeing is a choice.
FANA — Free Acoustic Neutral Area — is the Italian project that certifies bars, restaurants and cafés as acoustically comfortable through objective acoustic classification. Not a self-declaration: a real technical assessment in the interest of everyone who visits them.
Why are restaurants and bars so noisy?
According to a Doxa study commissioned by Groupon, 58% of Italians feel irritated by noise in public venues. Bars and restaurants routinely reach sound levels of 80–100 dB, equivalent to heavy traffic, with direct effects on stress, wellbeing and even the perception of taste (Oxford research, Flavour Journal, 2014).
The problem is not just the volume of music: it is the reverberation time of the space. Hard surfaces — concrete, glass, ceramics — reflect sound instead of absorbing it, creating what is known as an acoustic bubble. A venue with proper acoustic treatment can drastically reduce this problem, regardless of its existing architecture.
The WHO classifies noise pollution as the second greatest environmental health risk in Europe: sleep disorders, chronic stress, cardiovascular damage and cognitive decline are all documented effects of prolonged exposure to high sound levels in public venues.
What FANA does in practice
FANA certifies venues as acoustically comfortable through objective instrumental measurements: reverberation time RT60 and sound pressure level SPL, measured by qualified technicians according to the ISO 3382 standard. The result is a two-tier classification (A+, A) displayed on a plaque at the venue entrance.
For the consumer: knowing before you enter whether a bar is acoustically comfortable. For the venue owner: communicating their commitment to acoustic wellbeing with a verifiable instrument — not a marketing slogan.
Acoustic comfort by numbers
- 📊 58% of Italians bothered by noise in public venues (Doxa/Groupon)
- 🔊 80–100 dB average level in crowded bars and restaurants
- ⏱️ 2–3 seconds typical reverberation in an untreated venue (ideal: 0.8–1.2 sec)
- 🌍 WHO: noise = 2nd environmental health risk factor in Europe
- 🏛️ Italian Parliamentary Intergroup on Acoustic Wellbeing established in the Chamber of Deputies
Four steps to certified acoustic comfort
From first contact to the plaque at the entrance: the FANA process is straightforward, transparent and tailored to the characteristics of each venue.
Not a self-declaration. A verifiable guarantee.
Any venue can call itself acoustically comfortable or “welcoming”. FANA is the only Italian system that certifies acoustic wellbeing with objective technical parameters — and communicates it with a recognisable plaque at the entrance.
Qualified technicians, not self-certification
The FANA acoustic class is awarded after instrumental measurements carried out by acoustic professionals using class-1 sound level meters according to ISO 3382. It is not a subjective opinion: it is a measurable and repeatable data point.
ISO 3382 standard and WHO guidelines
Surveys follow the ISO 3382 standard and reference the WHO environmental noise guidelines. The same parameters used in professional architectural acoustics for theatres, conference halls and hospitals.
The entrance plaque says it all
The customer knows before entering that the bar or restaurant is an acoustically certified venue. The acoustic class is displayed on the FANA plaque: no surprises, no unverifiable promises.
Acoustic quality is measurable
Acoustic wellbeing is not an impression: it is a value expressed in decibels and in seconds of RT60 reverberation. FANA measures it, documents it and certifies it with an attestation that remains valid over time.
A competitive advantage still unexplored
Noise is among the most frequent complaints in Google and TripAdvisor reviews. In a saturated market, being an acoustically certified restaurant is a unique differentiator that very few venue owners have yet claimed.
Value for venues and consumers alike
The venue owner stands out with the acoustic certification for bars and restaurants. The consumer easily finds the acoustically comfortable venue they are looking for. A system that creates value on both sides.
Make your venue acoustically welcoming.
FANA certification is an investment in the quality of your offering. Write to us: we will explain how the process works, with no obligation.