Has your bar or venue got a sound ceiling? If so Steve Bristo would like to know. As Steve is the bloke who installs them, you might think it's the sort of knowledge he should have to hand, but things are rarely that simple.
Any visitor to The Publican's 2006 Pub & Bar show who dropped by the JBN Sound Ceilings stand will remember the system very well. It's a modular speaker system which can be inserted into or suspended from the ceiling above the dancefloor.
The sound is directed straight down to the dancing audience, with minimal noise leakage. The system was invented by a Swedish physicist and is made in Sweden. One of its biggest practical effects is to offer pubs and bars which regularly feature DJs and music events a solution to address noise issues.
Complaints about noise are one of the biggest sources of potential conflict between a pub and its neighbours and the sight of an environmental health officer (EHO) with a sound meter is enough to turn even the most hard-bitten operator weak at the knees.
By scientifically directing the noise where it is wanted, and away from the surrounding area, the sound ceiling overcomes such concerns.
Sound is reduced by up to 10dB only one or two metres from the dance floor, a low enough level for customers not dancing to comfortably conduct a conversation. It also means barstaff are not subjected to high noise levels, another issue of health and safety concern.
With sound-proofing often an issue for older pubs in particular, even in the leakiest venue the sound heard outside will be the equivalent of a domestic television playing quietly.
In better sound-proofed venues, the noise heard outside will be negligible.
If that sounds a little too good to be true it explains why Steve is looking for existing installations. Managing director of JBN Sound Ceilings, he previously worked with the company in his native Australia. Until now, the system was sold in the UK on an agency basis and records of sales during that period are a little sketchy.
"We have notes that might say something like 'Bar - Brighton', which isn't all that helpful," laughs Steve. "We think there are at least 50 sound ceilings installed in venues in the UK."
In Australia and New Zealand, giving planning and environmental health officials the opportunity to see a system in action has proven to be a key factor in helping to convince them of its benefits and this is the impetus for finding existing installations in the UK. "We want to have more examples to show both potential customers and local authorities," says Steve.
This was highlighted at Pub & Bar, when Steve was explaining the benefits of the sound ceiling to a visitor whose response was: "We know how good they are - we've got two."
That visitor was Stephen Hay, owner of the Mandolay bar, hotel and conference venue in Guildford. He installed the two sound ceilings in the Mandolay's function area several years ago. "We have weddings, birthday parties and so on with DJs," he says. "We're in a very residential area, some of our neighbours are just a few yards away and we've never had a complaint about noise.
"There are also bedrooms directly over one of the systems and we've never had a problem. Our EHO is now familiar with the system, and when it comes to our regular inspections, it's just a question of ticking the box - he knows noise isn't a problem."
JBN Sound Ceilings UK - 07833 116961, www.soundceilingsuk.com