Every PrivacyPod carries eight certifications. Four cover the pod itself: how much speech it stops, whether it is safe to plug in and sit inside, how its panels behave in a fire, and what its materials release into the air. Four more cover the factory that builds it. This page lists all eight, what each one actually measures, and what to ask any pod seller who claims the same.
The eight, at a glance
| Area | Certification | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Acoustics | ISO 23351-1 Class A certified | About 30 dB of speech level reduction. A conversation inside is not intelligible outside. |
| Product safety | UL Listed (UL 962) | Safe to power and occupy at work. This is the one your facilities team and your insurer look for. |
| Fire safety | ASTM E84 Class A interior panels | Flame-rated interior panels, the rating most commercial interiors are specified to. |
| Air quality | GREENGUARD Gold Certified | Low-emission materials, tested to the stricter schools and healthcare threshold. |
| Quality | ISO 9001:2015 | A consistent, defect-controlled build, audited rather than self-declared. |
| Environment | ISO 14001:2015 | A managed environmental system at the plant. |
| Carbon | ISO 14067:2018 | A verified product carbon footprint, which procurement teams increasingly ask for by name. |
| Health and safety | ISO 45001:2018 | A certified-safe factory floor. |
Two different Class A ratings, and they are not the same thing
PrivacyPod holds a Class A rating twice, for two unrelated reasons, and the two get confused constantly.
ISO 23351-1 Class A is acoustic. It is the international standard written specifically for enclosed furniture such as office pods and phone booths, and it measures speech level reduction: how much quieter a conversation is outside the pod than inside it. Class A is the top band. Ours is about 30 dB of speech level reduction, independently tested.
ASTM E84 Class A is fire. It measures how a surface material behaves when flame spreads across it, and Class A is the best of three classes. It says nothing about sound.
If a seller shows you a single Class A badge with no standard number attached, ask which one they mean. Our guide to ISO 23351-1, NIC and STC covers why the acoustic number in particular is so easy to misread across brands.
Why the factory certifications matter more than they sound
ISO 9001, 14001, 14067 and 45001 are not product ratings. They are audits of how the plant runs: quality control, environmental management, carbon accounting, and worker safety. Buyers often skip past them, and then discover their own procurement team asks for exactly these.
ISO 14067 is the one to watch. It verifies a product carbon footprint rather than a company-level pledge, and public sector and enterprise tenders are starting to require that distinction. ISO 9001 is the practical one: it is the difference between a pod line where every unit is built to the same documented spec and one where the panel fit varies by batch.
What to ask any pod seller
- Which acoustic standard, and which class? A bare decibel figure with no standard behind it cannot be compared to anything.
- Is the electrical listing UL, or a self-declaration? UL 962 is furniture-specific and independently tested. "Meets UL standards" is not the same claim.
- Is the air quality certification GREENGUARD or GREENGUARD Gold? Gold is the stricter threshold, written for schools and healthcare.
- Which Class A? Acoustic or fire. Make them say the standard number.
- Can you send the certificate? The document names the tested product. A logo on a website does not.
Frequently asked questions
Are PrivacyPod office pods soundproof?
No pod is soundproof, and any seller who uses that word without a standard behind it is overselling. PrivacyPod pods are ISO 23351-1 Class A certified, about 30 dB of speech level reduction. In practice a conversation inside is audible as a murmur outside but not intelligible, which is what speech privacy in an open office actually requires.
Do office pods need to be UL Listed?
Many building and facilities teams require it, and some insurers ask for it during a fit-out review. A pod contains lighting, ventilation and power, so it is an electrical product as well as furniture. PrivacyPod pods are UL Listed under UL 962, the standard for household and commercial furnishings.
What is the difference between GREENGUARD and GREENGUARD Gold?
Both certify low chemical emissions. Gold applies stricter limits and is written for environments such as schools and healthcare facilities, where occupants may be more sensitive. PrivacyPod pods are GREENGUARD Gold Certified.
Do these certifications apply to every model?
The acoustic, safety, fire and air quality certifications apply across the standard, Arc and ADA pod lines. The open acoustic lounge line is furniture rather than an enclosure, so it is not covered by ISO 23351-1. If you need the certificate for a specific model, our team will send it.
Can I get copies of the certificates?
Yes. Contact our team and tell us which models you are specifying, and we will send the documents that name those products. We would rather you check than take our word for it.
Specifying a pod and need the paperwork?
Send us the models you are considering and we will return the certificates, the acoustic test report, and a delivered quote. Free shipping applies to every order. Browse the office pod collection for every model and price, or contact our team.
Filed under Acoustics & certification
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