Phone booth, acoustic pod, video pod: sizing, choosing and deploying. Kytom method, costs, ROI and field feedback for workplace directors in open space.
"We are short on pods for video calls"
A 12-seat room tied up for an individual call costs around 18 euros excl. VAT per hour in real estate charges (<a href="https://www.jll.fr/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">JLL</a> study 2023). Multiplied by 8 daily occurrences on a 200-person floor, the annual loss exceeds 30,000 euros, not counting meetings postponed for lack of available space.
The INRS establishes that a noise level above 55 dB in open space degrades concentration by 15%. Unisolated video calls generate peaks at 65 dB. A survey conducted in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia reveals that 44% of participants report that their company does nothing to address noise at work (<a href="https://www.worktechacademy.com/" rel="nofollow">WORKTECH, 2021</a>), with a direct impact on absenteeism and team turnover.
The regulatory framework requires acoustic conditions compatible with the activity, and precise thresholds govern office spaces according to their use. A documented shortcoming can be raised in the works council and engage the employer's liability in psychosocial risk litigation or a labour inspection visit.
Kytom sizes the pod fleet based on a real occupancy measurement, not a theoretical ratio. Our space planners analyse 2 weeks of data (badge, booking, on-site observation) to calibrate the number of individual booths and 2-to-4-person pods. The rule observed across our 1200+ clients: 1 phone booth for every 12 to 15 workstations, 1 video call pod for every 30 workstations. We select models according to measured acoustic attenuation (Dw 30 to 37 dB), ventilation (air renewal at least every 2 minutes), and electrical integration. The deployment includes signage, the booking system and preventive maintenance over 5 years.
Usage audit over 10 working days with occupancy survey, count of video calls at workstations and interviews with 8 to 12 representative employees. Deliverable: needs mapping by zone, target booth/pod ratio, and identification of saturation hours. This step determines correct sizing.
Programme definition: number of pods, types (1, 2, 4 seats), floor plan layout, target budget and schedule. We arbitrate technical constraints with the workplace director (floor load, ceiling height, connections). Deliverable: validated programme, budget range and operational timeline within 3 months.
Selection of models acoustically tested in the showroom, integration design for the floor (colours, materials, booking signage). We compare 3 referenced manufacturers on Dw, ventilation, warranty and lead time criteria. Deliverable: consultation file, validated technical sheets and scaled layout plan.
Logistics coordination, assembly outside working hours, electrical and network connection, commissioning of the booking system. Training of the facility team and on-site measured acoustic report. Deliverable: operational fleet, maintenance documentation and a 5-year preventive service contract to secure the investment.
"Before the deployment, our salespeople held client video calls in the stairwells. Three months after installation, the room occupancy rate fell back below 70% and HR feedback dropped sharply."
The field rule observed at Kytom is 6 to 8 individual phone booths and 3 to 4 pods of 2-4 seats for 100 workstations in hybrid mode. The precise ratio depends on the measured video call rate: a 10-day audit makes the sizing reliable.
For an individual booth, a Dw of 30 dB is sufficient for everyday calls. For a confidential pod (HR, legal, management), aim for 35 to 37 dB. Acoustic thresholds vary according to the type of office space and the expected level of confidentiality.
Purchase remains more cost-effective beyond 36 months of use, with a measured ROI between 18 and 24 months. Rental suits short leases (less than 3 years) or test phases of 6 to 12 months before full deployment.
The models referenced by Kytom comply with the M1 or B-s2,d0 classification required in public-access buildings. We also check accessibility compliance (pods accessible from 4 seats) and the declaration in the building's fire safety register.
Allow around 3% of the acquisition cost per year: ventilation filters every 6 months, annual electrical check, cleaning of acoustic seals. A preventive contract secures the useful lifespan, generally estimated at 10 years in intensive office use.
Yes, most manufacturers offer a module compatible with Outlook, Google Workspace or flex office tools (Sharvy, Deskare). Allow 200 to 400 euros excl. VAT per pod for the sensor and the booking screen, with a 2-week deployment.