Open-plan offices save on real estate costs, but they create a serious problem: noise. Constant interruptions, overheard conversations, and background chatter destroy focus and make confidential calls impossible. Framery soundproof pods offer a solution, but at $14,200 to $31,800 per unit at current Australian pricing, are they actually worth the investment? This guide covers the benefits, the real costs, the measured performance and the warranty conditions, so you can make an informed decision for your workspace.
What problem do Framery pods solve?
Framery pods are fully enclosed, acoustically sealed rooms that sit inside your existing office. They involve no wet trades, no structural work and no permanent modification of the building: the pod is delivered, assembled on site and plugged into a power outlet. That plug-and-play nature is what makes them appealing for fast-growing companies and for businesses in leased space where structural changes are either prohibited or financially unviable. It does not mean they sit outside the approvals system altogether — see the planning note below, because the position in New South Wales changed in 2025.
The key metric is acoustic performance, and it is worth naming the number rather than the adjective. Framery pods are rated Class A, 30 DS,A dB speech level reduction under ISO 23351-1, a test run on the assembled pod with an artificial mouth at the height of a real occupant. Class A means a normal speaking voice inside is not intelligible outside. It does not mean silence, and Class A is not the top of the scale — the bands run to A+ above 33 dB. No pod is genuinely soundproof, and a supplier who says otherwise is selling you an adjective instead of a measurement.
By providing dedicated spaces for focused work and private conversations, these pods help reduce the overall noise level in the office. This creates a better environment for everyone, even those who are not using the pods. When the ambient noise drops, overall productivity and employee well-being tend to rise. If you are looking to improve your office ergonomics further, you might also want to consider upgrading your seating with options like the HÅG Capisco 8106 or the Herman Miller Aeron, which support active sitting and postural variety.
The business case: comparing the options
The cost of a Framery pod seems high until you compare it to the alternatives. Building a traditional meeting room involves construction costs, approvals, and downtime. It also lacks flexibility. If you move offices, you cannot take the built room with you. Traditional construction also tends to bring unpredictable delays and hidden costs that inflate the original budget.
| Solution | Cost | Acoustic performance | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build a meeting room | $30,000 to $80,000+ (indicative, varies widely by tenancy) | Rarely measured after construction | Permanent, cannot relocate |
| Framery Four (4-person pod) | $31,800 | Class A, 30 DS,A dB (ISO 23351-1) | Relocatable, no wet trades |
| Framery One (1-person booth) | $19,600 | Class A, 30 DS,A dB (ISO 23351-1) | Relocatable, 1.22 m² footprint |
| Framery One Compact (1-person booth) | $14,200 | Class A, 30 DS,A dB (ISO 23351-1) | Relocatable, 1.03 m² footprint |
| Acoustic panels | $2,000 to $5,000 | Absorption only — reduces echo, not speech transmission | Permanent installation |
When you factor in construction time (weeks for a built room against a day or less for a pod), the ability to relocate when you move offices, and a published acoustic figure you can hold a supplier to, pods often represent better value than traditional construction. On the tax treatment, be careful with the confident answers you will find online: we could not locate an ATO determination that names office pods, and the treatment plausibly turns on the same room-versus-furniture question raised below, since a fixture is treated differently from plant. Ask your accountant, and treat anyone quoting an effective life without a ruling reference as guessing.
Framery One, One Compact and Framery Four compared
Framery One Compact: the small-footprint phone booth
Designed for one person. Suited to video calls, focused work, and confidential conversations. It has a fold-out desk, integrated lighting, active ventilation and power, and measures 225 cm high by 103 cm wide by 100 cm deep — a floor footprint of 1.03 m². That compact size means you can place these units in underused areas such as wide corridors or corners, creating productive zones without sacrificing valuable floor space. Framery states a minimum room height of 235 cm; confirm that against a measured site dimension, not a ceiling plan. It pairs well with ergonomic accessories from our Accessories collection.
Framery One: the roomier single booth
The same single-person brief with more room to work in: 122 cm wide against 103 cm, a 1.22 m² footprint, and a sit-stand desk in place of the Compact's fold-out surface. Choose it where people work inside for longer sessions rather than dipping in for a ten-minute call. One counter-intuitive point from Framery's own data: the Compact moves more air than the One, 36 L/s against 26 L/s, into a smaller volume — so ventilation is not the reason to step up.
Framery Four: the meeting pod
Seats up to four people. Suited to small team meetings, interviews, and collaborative sessions that require privacy. It includes a central table, seating, lighting, ventilation at up to 100 L/s, and connection options, in a 3.04 m² footprint. Four interior layouts are offered — Base, Lite, Essentials and Accessible — so identify the one you want early, because it changes the furniture and the accessible threshold. For the workstations around it, you might also explore our sit to stand desks. The Four works as a huddle room, freeing a traditional boardroom that is otherwise booked for meetings of two or three people.
Key features across all Framery pods
- Class A speech privacy: 30 DS,A dB speech level reduction under ISO 23351-1, measured on the assembled pod rather than on a wall panel in isolation. A normal speaking voice inside is not intelligible outside.
- Framery Smart: occupancy sensors and anonymous usage analytics let facility managers see how often the pods are used and adjust the office layout accordingly.
- Active ventilation: published in litres per second rather than adjectives — a maximum of 36 L/s in the One Compact, 26 L/s in the One and 100 L/s in the Four, with a boost after use. The benchmark to check it against is AS 1668.2, which asks for 10 L/s per person in offices and meeting rooms.
- Warranty by component: Framery's warranty is not a single flat term. It runs 5 years on the structure and standard parts; 2 years on wear parts such as gas lifts, levelling gliders, fabrics, felt, carpet, the door, door seals, hinges and locks; 2 years on electronic components such as LED lights, fans, power and USB chargers, wireless chargers, screens, motion sensors and motor-driven height adjustment mechanisms; and 1 year on Framery Connect sensors. Cover depends on the warranty being activated by completing the installation report form, the pod being installed by a Framery-trained installer, indoor use in normal office conditions with maintenance per Framery's instructions, and defects being notified to Framery within 21 days of discovery. Normal wear and tear, textile pilling, non-approved third-party parts or materials, unauthorised repairs or customisations, and improperly moved or dismantled products are excluded, and all software is provided without warranty of any kind. This warranty is in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
- Relocatable: can be disassembled and moved to a new office, making them an asset that moves with your company. Plan the move rather than improvising it, because improper dismantling is a warranty exclusion.
- No wet trades: assembled on site and plugged in, avoiding the dust, noise and disruption of traditional office renovations.
Approvals: the part that changed in 2025
Pods are commonly marketed as furniture that needs no approval. In New South Wales that is no longer a safe assumption. Building Commission NSW practice advice issued 24 January 2025 states that office pods are rooms rather than furniture, and that their installation is to be treated as building work — which brings construction and occupation certificates into play, along with fire services, egress, accessibility under AS 1428.1, internal room height and ventilation. No other state has published an equivalent position, so elsewhere the question is open rather than settled in either direction.
Two practical consequences. Supplier compliance letters — including ours — do not bind an Australian certifier, so hand them to your building surveyor rather than treating them as a clearance. And ask for the pod to be tested with the door shut against the building's occupant warning system, because a pod that is good at containing speech is also good at muffling an alarm. Our guide to comparing acoustic pods honestly sets out the detail and the ten questions to put to every supplier.
Integrating pods into your office design
When planning to add acoustic pods to your workspace, placement is crucial. You want them easily accessible but not in the middle of high-traffic walkways, and clear of fire equipment, accessible paths and emergency exits. Placing them near teams that frequently make calls, such as sales or customer support, tends to yield immediate benefits — a pod that is inconvenient goes unbooked. Consider the visual impact too. Framery pods come in a wide range of finishes and colours, so they can either match your existing corporate branding or work as a deliberate architectural feature.
To complete the ergonomic setup of your office, consider how the pods interact with other furniture. Someone moving from a Humanscale World One LM chair at their desk to a pod for a meeting should experience a seamless transition in comfort and support. Ensuring that all areas of your office promote good posture and movement is key to a healthy workplace, a concept we explore further in our Ergonomics & Movement guide.
Is it worth it for your office?
Yes, if: you have an open-plan office with 20+ people, your team makes frequent video calls, you need confidential meeting space, or you are leasing and cannot modify the building. If employees are routinely retreating to stairwells or hallways to take calls, the shortage is real and a pod addresses it directly.
Probably not, if: you have fewer than 10 people in a quiet office, you already have adequate meeting rooms, or your lease is ending within 12 months (though pods can move with you). If the whole floor is simply too loud, broad acoustic treatment — ceiling baffles, soft floor finishes, sound masking — will do more for less than a single booth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does a Framery pod cost in Australia?
At current Chair Dinkum pricing the Framery One Compact is $14,200, the Framery One is $19,600 and the Framery Four is $31,800. Final project cost varies with configuration, finishes, delivery and installation, so ask for a written quote against your floor plan.
Are Framery pods completely soundproof?
No, and neither is any other pod on the market. Framery pods are rated Class A, 30 DS,A dB speech level reduction under ISO 23351-1, which means a normal conversation inside is not intelligible to someone outside — the sound carries, the words do not. That is speech privacy, not silence, and Class A is not the top band either: A+ sits above 33 dB. Treat "soundproof" as marketing language and ask for the standard, the figure and the test report.
Do Framery pods require special ventilation?
No. Framery pods have built-in active ventilation and do not connect to the building's HVAC. Framery publishes a maximum of 36 L/s for the One Compact, 26 L/s for the One and 100 L/s for the Four, with a boost after use. Compare that against AS 1668.2, which asks for 10 litres per second per person in offices and meeting rooms, and ask any supplier at what fan setting their figure was measured and whether the fan is motion-gated.
Can Framery pods be moved after installation?
Yes. They can be disassembled, moved within your office, or transported to a new building if you relocate. Two cautions: Framery's warranty excludes pods moved or dismantled improperly, so use a qualified team; and in New South Wales the certification question can arise again at the new location.
How long does it take to install a Framery pod?
A single-person pod is typically installed in a few hours and a larger meeting pod can take a full day — far faster than the weeks required to build a room. Note that Framery's warranty requires installation by a Framery-trained installer and activation by completing the installation report, so this is not a job for a general furniture crew.
What power requirements do Framery pods have?
Framery pods run from a standard power outlet rather than needing to be hardwired into the building. Confirm the outlet location, cable route and whether your tenancy requires a dedicated circuit with your electrician and facilities team before delivery, so the pod is not left tethered to an extension lead across a walkway.
What warranty applies, and what can void it?
Cover is per component: 5 years structure and standard parts, 2 years wear parts, 2 years electronics and 1 year Framery Connect sensors. Crucially, two conditions decide whether cover exists at all — the warranty must be activated by completing Framery's installation report form, and the pod must be installed by a Framery-trained installer. Miss either and Framery is not obliged to remedy defects. Defects must be reported within 21 days of discovery, and software is supplied without warranty. This warranty is in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
Upgrade Your Office Today
Chair Dinkum is an authorised Australian Framery dealer, based in Sydney and delivering Australia-wide. Because we complete the installation report and use Framery-trained installers, your warranty is live from handover rather than dependent on paperwork nobody filed. Browse our full Framery range to find the right pod for your team. If you are also upgrading individual workstations, see our task chairs and monitor arms. Contact us or call 02 9640 0642 to discuss your layout with our team.
