How soundproof are Zenbooths?

Zenbooths are designed for strong speech privacy and real-world noise control, not total isolation, so you can work comfortably without disrupting the people around you.

📉 Lab Tested Performance

Independent testing for acoustic performance to ASTM E596 and ISO 22351 standards shows that Zenbooths provide up to 30.8 dB of speech level reduction. This reflects full-booth performance including walls, door, seals, ventilation, and fans.

What this means in practice:

• Conversations inside sound like muffled, indistinct noise outside the booth
• Most office sounds outside become significantly quieter inside the booth
• A few feet away, speech from inside generally blends into normal office background noise

Zenbooths are intentionally not 100% soundproof so alarms and building signals remain audible.

🔇 What “around 30.8 dB noise reduction” means

Zenbooths are engineered to reduce sound both ways, from inside out and from outside in. Independent full-booth testing has measured around 30.8 dB of speech level reduction for Zenbooth.

The goal is speech privacy and focus.

In real use, this typically looks like:

• Conversations inside the booth are heard as a muffled murmur just outside, not intelligible sentences
• General office noise outside the booth is significantly reduced, making calls and focused work more comfortable

Hear It for Yourself

Step into a quiet space right when you walk inside. 😌

🚨 Why Zenbooths Are Not 100% Soundproof

Fully soundproof pods may seem appealing, but they can be unsafe in real workplaces.

Zenbooths are intentionally not completely soundproof so occupants can still hear:

• Fire alarms
• Emergency announcements
• Security notifications
• Life-safety communication systems

Most building codes and life-safety guidelines require that occupants remain aware of emergency signals, especially in small enclosed spaces.

Zenbooths balance privacy and safety, providing meaningful acoustic reduction while keeping critical sounds audible.

⚖️ How Zenbooth Compares

Across the office pod industry, many pods report 25–32 dB of speech level reduction when tested under ISO-style methods.

• ~25 dB → basic speech privacy
• 28-32 dB → high-performing range for premium privacy pods

Zenbooth’s measured ~30.8 dB reduction puts it within the top tier of pods that publish acoustic data.

🎯 What Influences Real-World Results

A few practical factors will change how quiet a booth feels in your space:

• Door fully closed – A latched door matters. Hinges, weather stripping, seals, and tight, level closure all help.
• Background noise level – In quieter offices, any sound leakage is more noticeable; in louder ones, it tends to be masked.
• Distance from the booth – Sound dissipates with distance; most people won’t pick out individual words beyond a few feet.
• Room finishes – Hard surfaces reflect sound more than carpet or soft furniture.
• Type of use inside – Normal speech & video calls: the booth is designed for these. Loud shouting or music: less so.

🧱 Floor Surfaces & Model Considerations

• Zenbooth Duo & Quad:
  These models do not have a built-in floor.
  For best acoustic performance, place them on carpet or an area rug to reduce sound transmission beneath the booth.
• Zenbooth Solo Pro:
  For enhanced performance in sensitive spaces, optional Exterior Acoustic Side Panels add an extra layer of acoustic insulation.

🎧 STC / NIC Ratings

We’re often asked for STC (Sound Transmission Class) and NIC (Noise Isolation Class) ratings.

While those are useful metrics for fixed wall assemblies in lab conditions, they’re not designed for fully enclosed furniture with doors, vents, and fans. They don’t fully capture how a complete, real-world booth behaves because they ignore:

• Door frames and seals
• Ceiling structure
• Vent and fan paths
• The way people actually use the booth

Because of this, there is no clear STC or NIC rating for a privacy booth, and the acoustic standards privacy booths are typically measured by are ASTM E596 and ISO 23351-1. Independent testing for acoustic performance to these standards shows that Zenbooths provide up to 30.8 dB of speech level reduction. This reflects full-booth performance including walls, door, seals, ventilation, and fans.

📝 Need Full Acoustic Testing Data?

If you're evaluating Zenbooth for recording, audio production, or other applications with specific acoustic requirements, we can provide the full acoustic test report upon request with a signed NDA.

Email support@zenbooth.net or your Zenbooth representative to begin the process.