Before you order an acoustic pod: 9 things to check
Soundproof pod, quiet pod or phone pod for the office: whatever you call it, it is a large, heavy piece of furniture that has to fit through the door, stand firmly on the floor and get power. Once you have more or less chosen a model, go through these nine points before you order. That way there are no surprises on installation day and you know what to ask the building manager.
If you are still wondering whether you need a pod at all and what size, first read Acoustic pods for the office: when you need one and what size to choose.
1. How soundproof the pod really is
The word “soundproof” does not tell you how much speech can be heard outside the pod. The figure you can compare is speech level reduction (DS,A, in decibels), measured according to ISO 23351-1:2020. It shows how much the pod lowers the level of speech heard outside. On this basis, pods are rated in classes A+ to D.
Example: according to the manufacturer, the Silen Space 1 has a speech level reduction of 30.1 dB, class A, and reduces external noise by 40 dB (silen.com).
What to check: ask for the same measurement and class for every pod you compare. If the seller does not have it, ask what method was used and where the sound was measured. Figures obtained with different methods cannot be compared with each other.
2. Whether there is enough air in the pod
A small enclosed space without air exchange quickly gets stuffy, especially during a long video call. According to the catalogue, all Silen pods have automatic ventilation, the MDD Hana has a ventilation capacity of 90 m³/h and the MDD Hako Meeting has four fans (two in, two out).
What to check: ask for the air exchange figure (m³/h) for each model, and whether the fan starts by itself, for example with a motion sensor when someone steps in. Also ask whether the fan can be heard during a call.
3. Whether the floor can carry the weight of the pod
According to the catalogue, Silen pods weigh 300 to 1500 kg. The catalogue does not give the weight of the Narbutas and MDD pods, so ask the seller. Examples from the catalogue on 23 September 2026:
| Model | For | External size W x D x H, mm | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silen Chatbox Single | 1 person | 1000 x 1000 x 2220 | 300 kg |
| Silen Space 1 | 1 person | 1100 x 1100 x 2290 | 370 kg |
| Silen Space 2 | up to 4 people | 2400 x 1220 x 2290 | 670 kg |
| Silen Chatbox Quattro | up to 6 people | 2130 x 1940 x 2220 | 980 kg |
| Silen Space Max | up to 8 people | 2800 x 2420 x 2290 | 1500 kg |
What to check: ask the building manager or landlord for the floor load capacity at the exact spot where the pod will go. Send them the pod’s weight and external dimensions so they can give you a specific answer. It is especially worth asking if the office has a raised floor or the building has older floor slabs. Do not try to work it out yourself; the answer has to come from the building manager.
4. Whether the pod fits through the door and into the lift
Before the pod reaches its spot, it has to get through the entrance door, the corridor, the lift or the stairwell. According to the catalogue, some pods, for example MDD Hako and Hana, are delivered in parts and assembled on site. For Silen pods, OCCO arranges the installation. Send the door, corridor and lift dimensions with your enquiry, so the installation can be planned around them.
What to check: measure the width and height of the door openings, the narrowest point of the corridor, and the width of the lift door and the depth of the lift car. If there is no lift or it is small, also check the turns in the stairwell. Send the figures to the seller before you order, so they can tell you whether the pod or its parts will get through.
5. Whether the ceiling height and the door clearance work
In the catalogue, enclosed pods are 2195 to 2341 mm high. Measure the height exactly where the pod will go, because a suspended ceiling, sprinklers, light fittings and ceiling vents may sit lower than the ceiling elsewhere.
Think about the door too. For Silen pods, Narbutas Silent Room, and MDD Hako and Hako Meeting, the catalogue lets you choose whether the door opens to the left or to the right. The open door should not hit a desk or block a walkway.
What to check: ask the seller how much clear space is needed between the pod and the wall, and draw the open door on the floor plan as well.
6. How the pod gets power
The pod’s lighting and fan need power. A socket also comes in handy for charging a laptop or phone inside. According to the catalogue, the Silen Chatbox Single has one socket and USB-A/C, and the MDD Hana two 230 V sockets, USB and USB-C.
What to check: ask the seller whether the pod simply plugs into a wall socket or needs an electrician. Check whether there is a free socket near the installation spot and where the cable will run to the pod, so that it does not end up across a walkway.
7. Whether the pod comes with a floor or without
Some pods can be ordered with or without their own floor. According to the catalogue, this option is available for the Narbutas Silent Room and MDD Hako models. A pod without a floor can stand directly on the office carpet.
What to check: ask the seller what each option means for threshold height and sound, and whether your floor covering is suitable under a pod without a floor.
8. What to ask the landlord and the building manager
It is the landlord or building manager who knows the building rules, not the seller. Ask them three things before you order:
- whether installing the pod needs approval;
- whether the pod has to be connected to the fire alarm system;
- whether the inside of the pod has to stay within sprinkler or smoke detector coverage.
The building manager may also want to see the pod’s documentation. Ask the seller for the manufacturer’s certificates. For example, Silen lists on its website the CE marking, the TÜV Nord GS mark and UL 962 certification.
9. Warranty, delivery and servicing
Warranties vary by manufacturer. On 23 September 2026:
- Silen Chatbox and first-generation Space: 2 years according to the catalogue, extended to 5 years with OCCO servicing;
- Silen’s new Space Gen 2: 5 years according to the catalogue, if the pod is installed by OCCO (see Silen Space Gen 2);
- Narbutas Silent Room: 5 years;
- MDD Hana and Hako: 5 years, 2 years on electronics.
What to check: ask separately for each model what the electronics warranty covers: fan, light, sockets.
Delivery time depends on the manufacturer. According to the manufacturer, the average delivery time for Silen pods is six weeks. With OCCO express delivery, the delivery time is one week. Express delivery applies to all Silen pods sold by OCCO. The delivery time for pods from other manufacturers and the exact delivery and installation terms are set out in the quote.
Summary: what to check and who to ask
You can send this table straight to the building manager or landlord.
| # | What to check | Who to ask |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Speech level reduction to ISO 23351-1, and class | seller |
| 2 | Air exchange (m³/h), how the fan starts, fan noise | seller |
| 3 | Floor load capacity at the installation spot | building manager or landlord |
| 4 | Door openings, corridor, lift, largest part | you measure, the seller confirms |
| 5 | Ceiling height, sprinklers, light fittings, which way the door opens | you measure; ask the seller about clear space |
| 6 | Plug-in or electrician, socket location | seller |
| 7 | With or without floor, threshold height | seller |
| 8 | Approval, fire alarm, sprinkler and smoke detector coverage, manufacturer’s certificates | landlord or building manager; certificates from the seller |
| 9 | What the warranty covers, delivery time, aftercare | seller |
What to look at in the catalogue
- All acoustic pods and booths with dimensions and prices: 25 products from Silen, Narbutas and MDD on 23 September 2026.
- Acoustic panels for walls and ceilings, if the room still echoes after the pod is installed.
- If the size is still open: what size of acoustic pod to choose.
- If you are considering an open booth or a purpose-built room instead of a pod: pods, acoustic booths and purpose-built rooms compared.
FAQ
Does installing a pod need approval?
We cannot tell you in advance, because it depends on the building, the lease and the pod. Ask the building owner or manager before you order. You will find the pod’s dimensions, and the weight of Silen pods, on the product page in the catalogue; ask for the manufacturer’s certificates along with the quote.
How long does installation take?
We agree the installation time in the quote. For that we need to know the model and the route to the installation spot: floor, lift and door opening dimensions (see point 4).
Can the pod be moved somewhere else later?
Yes. According to the catalogue, Silen Space models are on castors, and the new Space Gen 2 series has concealed castors. Silen says on its website that its pods are easy to take apart and put back together. MDD Hako and Hana are delivered in parts and assembled on site; ask in your quote request whether they can be taken apart later, and the same goes for other models.
Will a pod fit in your office?
Send us a floor plan or a couple of photos of where you are thinking of putting the pod, along with the door width. If there is a lift on the way, add the lift dimensions too. We will tell you which pod will fit there and what to ask the building manager.
If you already have a model in mind, add it to the enquiry basket from the acoustic pods category with the “Add to enquiry” button on the product page. Open the enquiry basket, send the enquiry and add the door and lift dimensions. If you prefer email, send the plan, photos and dimensions to occo@occo.ee.