Key points

  • A decibel figure needs a named metric, test method and product reference.
  • Laboratory product comparison and privacy in a particular room answer different questions.
  • Keep the acoustic evidence tied to the configuration you will actually receive.

Begin with the question the measurement answers

A claim such as “30 dB” is incomplete without context. Ask what was measured, under which method, on which product and by whom. A procurement comparison works best when the evidence addresses the same question across the shortlisted products. Do not combine unrelated acoustic metrics into a single ranking. If a supplier’s summary is unclear, request the underlying report and have a qualified acoustic reviewer explain what its result can and cannot support for your intended use.

Understand the scope of ISO 23351-1

ISO 23351-1:2020 describes a laboratory method for comparing how furniture ensembles and enclosures reduce speech emitted by a person inside. It uses measurements with and without the product to derive a speech-level-reduction value. The standard’s stated scope concerns complete ensembles or enclosures rather than an isolated panel or item of furniture. This distinction matters when a sales document presents a material test as though it described the performance of an assembled pod.

Match the report to the quoted configuration

Record the tested model designation and compare it with the quotation, drawings and options list. Ask whether the enclosure size, door arrangement, glazing, seals and ventilation configuration correspond to the tested product. Where something differs, request a written explanation of the relevance of the report. This is a document-control exercise as much as an acoustic one: the team should be able to trace the evidence to a specific proposed product instead of relying on a brand-level claim.

Define the privacy outcome for the actual workplace

A laboratory comparison is useful, but the project still needs a clear description of the desired experience. Is the priority reducing distraction for neighbouring desks, making a call easier to conduct, or protecting a sensitive conversation? Describe the location, nearby activities and expected speaking behaviour. Ask an acoustic professional to identify any additional assessment needed for that setting. Avoid promising that a conversation will be inaudible solely because the product has a favourable laboratory result.

Make demonstrations useful

A demonstration can help users assess the experience when its limitations are understood. Agree on the activity, seating position, door condition, background environment and points of observation. Record the model and settings used. A phone recording or an informal listening impression should not be presented as a standardized test result. The value of a visit is that it can expose practical questions for the specification: fan noise during calls, comfort over a session, or whether the chosen furniture supports the intended work.

Keep the final decision evidence-based

Build a short evidence register for the shortlisted pods: model, report reference, named metric, configuration match and questions still open. If the project needs a particular acoustic outcome, agree on how it will be evaluated before purchasing. ModulPods has not published a tested acoustic rating for this concept collection. The comparison tool therefore describes intended use and preliminary design dimensions, while model-specific acoustic information remains a requirement for the eventual proposal.

Use this in your next project

Discussion checklist

  • Ask for the exact metric and the named test method.
  • Obtain the report rather than a cropped result alone.
  • Record the tested model and configuration.
  • Identify differences between the tested and quoted product.
  • Define the workplace privacy outcome in plain language.
  • Record the limitations of any demonstration.
  • Have a qualified reviewer resolve technical interpretation questions.

Technical references

These sources provide background for the cited points. They do not certify the ModulPods concept collection or establish approval for a particular installation.

About this collection

ModulPods is a concept collection. Final products, specifications and suitability are confirmed for each project. The planning articles are conversation starters, not technical approvals.