Office pod buying guide: what to check before you buy

1. What standard was the acoustic figure measured against?

Every supplier quotes a decibel figure. On its own the number tells you little, because it depends on how it was measured. ISO 23351-1 rates the speech level reduction of furniture like pods in classes, and a figure tested against a named method can be compared with another supplier’s. A bare number cannot.

Deskup rates these pods at up to 25 dB (±3 dB). In practice that turns a busy 70 dB open-plan floor into something like a quiet private office: enough for a confidential call, but not silence. No pod is laboratory-silent, and a supplier who says theirs is should be asked how they measured it.

2. How is it ventilated, and when do the fans run?

A sealed box gets warm and stuffy quickly, and that is what actually stops people using a pod. Ask how air is exchanged, how loud the fans are, and whether they run continuously or only when someone is inside. The Workform pods use fans and LED lighting that switch on by motion sensor when someone steps in. Think about how your pods will be used: a booth occupied for ten-minute calls behaves differently from one someone sits in for a whole afternoon.

3. What power is built in, and what plug?

Check for power outlets and USB charging inside, so nobody needs an adapter for a laptop. These pods have power outlets plus USB-A and USB-C ports, with 65W fast charging on the Solo Pod. For the Philippines, confirm the socket type: pods designed for another market may ship with that market’s sockets. Ours are specified per order.

4. Will it fit: floor, ceiling and lift?

Three measurements, all before you order:

• Floor area. Footprint plus a walkway and room for the door. These pods take 1.10, 2.14 and 3.61 m².
• Clear height. All three stand 2.30 m tall. Measure under the lowest sprinkler, duct or light fitting, and allow a little extra for assembly.
• The lift. The crate has to reach your floor. Ask every supplier for crate dimensions and weights, not just the size of the finished pod.

The size page has the full dimensions, and what to check before a pod reaches your floor covers the building side.

5. Who assembles it, and does it need trades?

Some pods need an electrician or a specialist installer, which adds cost and a booking to coordinate with building admin. Ask how many people it takes, how long, and whether the wiring is plug-in. The Workform pods are a two-person job with standard tools: about 30–35 minutes for a Solo Pod and about 90 minutes for a Duo or Team Pod, with pre-fitted panels and plug-and-play wiring.

6. What does the warranty cover, and who honours it here?

A long warranty is only useful if someone in the Philippines will act on it. Ask what parts are covered, for how long, and who handles a claim locally. In Australia, Deskup gives these pods a five-year warranty on the frame, desk surface, electrics, glass, lighting, fans and internal hardware; the terms for a Philippine order are confirmed on the quotation. See the warranty page.

7. What is the lead time, and does it hold for more than one?

Most pods are made to order, so the lead time depends on the specification and on shipping. Get it in writing on the quotation, and if you are ordering several, ask whether they arrive together or in stages.

8. What does the price leave out?

A pod price usually covers the pod and nothing else. Freight, duties, VAT, delivery and installation can each be quoted separately. Compare landed, installed prices, not catalogue prices. How we quote, and what sits outside the pod price, is on the pricing page.

9. Can it move with you?

One reason to buy a pod instead of building a room is that it leaves with you when the lease ends. Check that it can be dismantled and reassembled without losing its seal, and that moving it does not void the warranty. These pods sit on levelling feet with concealed wheels and can be dismantled and moved following Deskup’s instructions.

10. What happens if you choose the wrong size?

Made-to-order pods generally cannot be returned for change of mind once production starts. Settle the size before you sign. The phone booth or meeting pod article helps with that choice, and our returns page sets out what applies to damage and defects.

A short checklist

• Acoustic figure and the test method behind it
• Ventilation method, fan noise, and when the fans run
• Built-in power, USB charging and Philippine socket type
• Footprint, clear height, crate size and crate weight
• Who assembles it, how long it takes, and whether trades are needed
• Warranty coverage and who handles claims in the Philippines
• Lead time in writing, and staging for multi-unit orders
• Landed, installed price, with freight, duties and VAT shown