Testing phone boxes: How to find the right one for your office
Phone boxes are in vogue, but have not yet arrived in every office. It can therefore be difficult to imagine what effect a phone box has. In this article, we give you a brief overview of where you can test a phone box and what you should look out for when testing.
Where can I test a telephone box?
You can easily try out the Lendis phone boxes at our Lendis office in Berlin Mitte. We have all the current models on site and will be happy to show you the differences and functions. If you are not from Berlin or the surrounding area, please contact us - we will organize a test at one of our customers in your area. We will be happy to arrange an appointment for you.
What should I look out for in the test?
General preparation
Before your visit to the showroom, you should consider how best to test the telephone box. It's best to bring a colleague with you. That way, you can check the sound insulation and noise reduction from the inside and outside at the same time. If you come to the test alone, Lendis will be happy to support you, or you can use your phone to simulate additional noises.
Acoustics & ventilation test
A high-quality telephone box is characterized above all by its sound insulation. This means that neither disturbing noises from outside should penetrate inside, nor should what is being discussed inside be audible to the outside. To test this, one person sits in the box while another stays outside. This way, you can determine how much noise from outside penetrates inside - and vice versa. Take the time to make a short call to check the sound quality. Pay attention to whether there are any echoes or whether the sound reflection on the walls of the speaker is disturbing. Clapping or snapping your fingers helps you to test the reverberation inside. The less the sound is reflected, the better the acoustics.
In addition to sound insulation, ventilation also plays an important role. Good ventilation ensures fresh air inside without causing disturbing noises. Sit in the box and listen for a constant whirring or humming sound from the ventilation. Of course, the ventilation will never be completely silent, but it should not distract you. Stay in the phone box for about 15 minutes to make sure the air circulation is comfortable and the room doesn't get stuffy. Finally, the phone box should provide a comfortable workspace even during prolonged use, without you feeling like the air quality is deteriorating.
User-friendliness test
The phone box should offer a real alternative to the desk or home office and meet the needs of your team. The lighting is particularly important: it must be pleasant and neither too bright nor too dark. Sit in the box and hold a short meeting or video call. This way you can see whether the lighting falls well on your face or casts unattractive shadows. Will the light stay on while you are working in the box or do you have to constantly change your position to avoid sitting in the dark?
The work surface is also crucial. The table in the box should have enough space for your laptop, a notebook and maybe even a cup of coffee. Test whether the table is big enough and whether you can work comfortably without constantly worrying about something falling off. You should also check whether the box is equipped with power connections and USB ports so that you are not suddenly left without power during a meeting.
Another important detail is the finish of the telephone box. Do all doors and handles work as intended? Does the door close tightly, or are there gaps through which noise and air can penetrate? You should pay particular attention to the workmanship of the door to ensure that it is stable and will not fail in an emergency, such as a fire. Ultimately, the box should be comfortable enough for employees to spend long periods of time in it without restricting their productivity.