How to choose a soundproof booth or phone booth in the office in 2022

As normal life resumes, offices are full again and telecommuting is becoming less and less common. Your office is noisy, your salespeople spend their time in the hallways, etc. Maybe it's time for an acoustic solution that allows you to bring in light while gaining privacy and acoustic comfort.

So how do you choose a phone booth that fits your needs, your space, and your values?

To promote the well-being of your employees, your acoustic booth must be right for you. For this, several factors must be considered, such as acoustic levels, booth comfort and design.

In order not to be mistaken, we give you some checks:

Acoustics, the most important function of the phone booth.

1. Sound insulation, how to measure?

First of all, it is important to distinguish between soundproofing and acoustic. The purpose of sound insulation is to prevent the transmission of all noise, while sound insulation is more concerned with sound isolation. In order to prevent the transmission of sound from calls or meetings, it is therefore necessary to pay attention to the sound insulation value provided by the soundproof room.

It should be noted that according to ISO 11957 or ISO 23351-1 or NIC, the privacy level becomes interesting if the sound isolation level is higher than -30dB, which will allow you to cover loud sounds.

Even though all acoustic booth vendors advertise different numbers, be careful with those promising more than 40dB of isolation. This commitment only ensures that you isolate extremely high frequencies that our ears cannot perceive.

2. Sound absorption and acoustic comfort

Absorption is also important because it improves the user's acoustic comfort.

Absorption is the way to avoid echo effects. This phenomenon is caused by sound reflections on the walls of an enclosed space. Good absorption will allow the person on the other end of the phone to hear you clearly.

3. Materials and air tightness

To ensure acoustic levels, your future acoustic room must also be completely sealed.

This aspect is built in during the assembly stage, as any air gaps will affect the acoustic performance. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is best to choose a provider that offers this service.

4. Materials used

The various materials used in the cabin also have an impact on the acoustics.

Know: Sound is made up of a range of different frequencies and wavelengths. Each material absorbs certain types of waves depending on its properties.

In the design of the acoustic booth, the superposition of multiple materials ensures the absorption of all sounds.

To ensure this variable, make sure your future soundproof room uses high-density materials such as wood or glass.

Finally, the density of the material can have a major impact on the insulation of a soundproof room. The higher the density, the better the sound insulation. For example, glass walls will be more insulating than PMMA (plexiglass) walls.