Quick answer: School canteens are loud because hundreds of students talk at once in a big hard room with tiled floors and a high roof. Panels on the ceiling or hung below the roof, plus panels high on the walls, soak up the echo so the noise does not keep building. Students talk at a normal level and staff can make announcements.

Key takeaways

  • Hundreds of voices plus hard surfaces make the roar.
  • Ceiling and high wall panels cut the build-up.
  • Announcements become easier to hear.

Why canteens get so loud

Every voice bounces off tiles, tables and the roof. Students talk louder to be heard, so the noise keeps building. By the middle of recess, everyone is shouting. See why rooms get louder as they fill.

Where panels go

Hang panels below the roof over the seating area. Add panels high on the walls, out of reach. Keep them away from the cooking stalls, where steam and grease rise.

Not sure what your room needs? Send us a photo on WhatsApp or request a free quote. We'll tell you how many panels, where they go and the price. See our acoustic panels for schools and recent projects.

Calm a loud canteen infographic
Canteen at recess diagram

Tough choices

Fix panels firmly and high, where students cannot reach them. Choose darker or patterned colours that hide marks. Ceiling panels are always fixed mechanically, never glued.

Open-sided canteens

Many Singapore canteens are open on the sides. Panels go under the roof, where they stay dry. Keep them back from the open edges, where wind-blown rain can reach.

Cost

Canteens are big, so they need many panels. Panels cost S$185 each installed, which is about S$255 per m² of panel. We count the panels from photos and a floor plan, and the work can be phased over holidays. See acoustic panels for schools.

When to install

School holidays are the best time, when the canteen is empty. Book early, because holidays fill up fast. Panels are made to order in about 4–6 weeks, so plan back from the holiday.

Phase it

Start with the busiest seating area. Listen at recess for a few weeks. Add more panels in the next holiday if needed.

Announcements

Less echo makes the PA clearer. It can then run at a lower volume. Students hear the message the first time.

What we see on real jobs

The same rules as restaurants apply, just bigger. The ceiling does most of the work.

Get a straight answer for your room

Send a photo of the classroom or studio on WhatsApp (+65 8930 1905) with its rough size. We'll recommend panels for clearer lessons and schedule installation around your classes or school holidays.

WhatsApp us a photo · Request a free quote · See prices

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