Office pods carry four categories of certification that matter when you’re making a procurement decision: acoustic performance, air quality, electrical safety, and environmental standards. Each tests a different aspect of the pod. Each is verified independently. This guide explains what each certification measures, why it matters for an occupied workspace, and which Alcove Pods series carries it.
Certifications at a glance
Certification | What it tests | Alcove series |
| Speech level reduction inside a freestanding pod enclosure, independently tested to the highest classification | |
STC 30 dB | Sound transmission through surfaces, US standard for partitions and enclosures | |
| Chemical emissions and VOC levels from materials in an occupied office environment | Atom, Aura |
| Electrical safety for powered furniture with integrated outlets, lighting, and ventilation | Atom, Aura, Element |
ISO 14067:2018 carbon footprint | Product carbon footprint, cradle to gate, independently verified by SGS | Aura |
| Responsible forest management for wood components used in the pod | |
ISO 9001 / 14001 / 45001 | Manufacturing quality, environmental management, and occupational health and safety systems | All series |
Acoustic performance certifications
Acoustic certifications are the most important category for most buyers, and also the most commonly misread. Two pods can both list a 30 dB figure and be measuring entirely different things under different conditions and standards. Understanding what is actually being tested is what lets you compare claims on equal terms.
ISO 23351-1:2020
ISO 23351-1:2020 is the international standard developed specifically for office pods, phone booths, and freestanding acoustic enclosures. It measures speech level reduction: how much a closed pod reduces the intelligibility of speech heard from outside. The standard was designed with pod-sized enclosures in mind and accounts for the full structure, including glass panels, ventilation openings, and door seals.
The standard classifies pods into performance classes based on their DS,A score, which is the A-weighted speech level reduction value:
Class | Speech level reduction (DS,A) | Reverberation time | What it means in practice |
Class A | 30 dB or more | Under 0.4 seconds | Strong privacy for calls, focus work, and sensitive conversations |
Class B | 25 dB or more | Under 0.5 seconds | Good acoustic privacy for most office use cases |
Class C | 20 dB or more | Under 0.5 seconds | Partial acoustic separation, suited to lighter use patterns |
Class D | 15 dB or more | No requirement | Minimal acoustic separation |
Reverberation time is the second measure in the standard. It reflects how long sound takes to decay inside the pod after a source stops. A pod that blocks sound from escaping but creates a reverberant interior is not a good acoustic environment for the person working inside it, or for call quality. Class A requires both a 30 dB minimum speech level reduction and reverberation time under 0.4 seconds. Both measures must be met.
Acoustic testing under ISO 23351-1:2020 is carried out in an accredited reverberation chamber by an independent laboratory. Test results are published in a formal report and the classification is assigned based on the measured results, not a self-assessment. When reviewing a vendor’s ISO 23351 claim, check which class is certified, that the testing was conducted by a named third-party lab, and that the rating applies to the fully assembled pod, not individual panels.
STC (Sound Transmission Class)
STC is a US standard that measures sound transmission through surfaces between two spaces. It was developed for walls, floors, and architectural partitions and remains a widely used and legitimate metric. STC 30 dB indicates strong acoustic performance that covers the majority of office use cases, including calls, focused work, and team meetings.
ISO 23351 was designed specifically for freestanding enclosures and measures the pod as a complete structure. STC tests surface transmission in isolation. Both standards indicate meaningful acoustic performance, but they test different things under different conditions. They are not directly comparable on a number-by-number basis, which is worth noting when reviewing vendor specifications that list both figures side by side.
Air quality certifications
Air quality matters in any occupied space. In an enclosed pod, where one or more people are working in a relatively small, contained volume, often for extended periods, it matters more. The materials inside a pod, including foams, adhesives, fabrics, and finishes, can off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that affect the indoor environment. GREENGUARD Gold is the standard most procurement teams look for.
GREENGUARD Gold (UL 2818)
GREENGUARD Gold is a UL certification for chemical emissions from building materials, finishes, and furnishings. For office pods, it covers total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), formaldehyde, and a range of individual chemical compounds tested under conditions that simulate a private office environment.
GREENGUARD Gold is more stringent than the standard GREENGUARD certification. It applies stricter concentration limits, drawing on California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) chronic reference exposure levels, and is tested to ANSI/BIFMA X7.1 and ANSI/BIFMA M7.1 standards for commercial furniture in a private office environment.
The certification is issued per product and production site, with ongoing surveillance from UL. It contributes to LEED v4 and v4.1 credit under the Low-Emitting Materials category within Indoor Environmental Quality, which is relevant for organizations pursuing LEED certification for their workspace.
GREENGUARD Gold is not a product-line claim that can be applied broadly without testing. It requires physical sampling of the product, laboratory analysis, and formal certification with a published certificate number and validity period. A certificate that has lapsed is not a current GREENGUARD Gold certification.
Electrical safety certifications
Most office pods include integrated electrical systems: power outlets, USB charging, lighting, and ventilation fans. These electrical systems need to meet recognized safety standards, particularly for products installed in commercial occupancies, where insurance and building code compliance are relevant.
UL 962: Household and Commercial Furnishings
UL 962 is the UL standard for powered and nonpowered furniture. It covers electrical construction, insulation, grounding, heat generation, and general safety requirements for furniture that incorporates electrical components. For an office pod with integrated power and lighting, UL 962 is the applicable standard.
UL certification under this standard requires physical testing of representative samples by an accredited UL laboratory and ongoing follow-up services to verify continued compliance. Pods that carry UL 962 certification bear the UL Mark on the product, which is verifiable through the UL Product iQ database.
Aura and Atom carry dual UL 962 certification covering both the US market (evaluated against UL 962, Edition 5) and the Canadian market (evaluated against CSA C22.2 No. 250.0:21). Element carries UL electrical safety certification. The dual US and Canadian certification is relevant for organizations with offices in both markets or procurement processes that require CSA compliance.
Environmental and materials certifications
This category covers certifications that address the environmental credentials of the product: where materials come from, what the carbon footprint of manufacturing is, and how the production facility operates. These are increasingly relevant for organizations with ESG reporting requirements or sustainable procurement policies.
ISO 14067:2018: Carbon footprint verification
ISO 14067:2018 is the international standard for quantifying and reporting the carbon footprint of products. A study conducted to this standard covers the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of the product across defined life cycle stages, expressed in kilograms of CO2 equivalent per functional unit.
The Aura series has undergone independent product carbon footprint verification by SGS, an internationally accredited testing and certification body, in accordance with ISO 14067:2018. The scope covers the product from cradle to gate: raw material acquisition and manufacturing. Primary data was collected from the manufacturing site and the study was independently verified by SGS with a reasonable level of assurance.
This is a transparency measure, not an offset or net-zero claim. It provides a verifiable, independently confirmed baseline for the product’s carbon footprint, which is the starting point for any meaningful environmental product assessment or ESG supply chain evaluation.
FSC: Forest Stewardship Council
FSC certification covers wood and wood-derived materials sourced from responsibly managed forests. It is a chain-of-custody certification, tracing material from forest management through processing and manufacture.
The Arc series uses FSC-certified wood throughout its ash wood interior, including desk surfaces and shelving. FSC certification is relevant for organizations with sustainable materials sourcing requirements in their procurement policies.
ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001: Manufacturing management systems
These three ISO certifications cover the systems used across the production facility: ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management, and ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety. All three apply to the full production process for all Alcove pod series.
These are process certifications, not product certifications. They confirm that the manufacturing operation is audited against internationally recognized standards for quality control, environmental impact management, and worker safety. All three are subject to independent annual audit and formal renewal.
What to ask any office pod vendor
A few specific questions cut through vague acoustic and quality claims quickly:
Which acoustic class is certified, and can you share the test report? Class A, B, and C are meaningfully different levels of performance. The class should be stated explicitly, and the test report should be available.
Was acoustic testing conducted by an independent third-party laboratory? The name of the testing body should be identifiable. An accredited testing facility or university acoustics laboratory is appropriate. Self-reported testing is not equivalent to independent verification.
Does the air quality certification apply to the fully assembled pod in a private office environment, or only to specific component materials? GREENGUARD Gold for foam or fabric alone is not the same as GREENGUARD Gold for the finished product.
Is the electrical certification for the integrated product, or for individual components only? A pod with integrated power, lighting, and ventilation should carry product-level electrical certification, not just component-level marks.
Are the certifications current? GREENGUARD Gold has an expiry date. A certification that has lapsed is not a current credential and should not be treated as one.
Alcove Pods certifications by series
Certifications across the Alcove lineup vary by series because the series are built differently: different materials, acoustic targets, and electrical systems. The table below shows what each series carries.
Certification | Arc | Element | Aura | Atom |
ISO 23351-1:2020 Class A acoustic |
|
|
| ✓ |
ISO 23351-1:2020 acoustic (>29 dB) |
|
| ✓ |
|
STC 30 dB acoustic |
| ✓ |
|
|
GREENGUARD Gold air quality (UL 2818) |
|
| ✓ | ✓ |
UL electrical safety certification |
| ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
UL 962 dual US and Canada coverage |
|
| ✓ | ✓ |
ISO 14067:2018 carbon footprint (SGS verified) |
|
| ✓ |
|
FSC materials certification | ✓ |
|
|
|
ISO 9001 / 14001 / 45001 manufacturing systems | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Arc’s certification profile reflects its design-led positioning: FSC-certified ash wood materials and the full set of manufacturing system certifications. It is a lighter-use product built for spaces where the visual experience and interior comfort are the primary specification.
Element delivers STC 30 dB acoustic performance and UL electrical safety certification for organizations that need a certified, reliable pod at a direct price. It is built to do the work without complexity in the specification or the purchase.
Aura carries the broadest certification profile in the lineup: ISO 23351-1:2020 acoustic performance, GREENGUARD Gold air quality, dual US and Canadian UL 962 electrical safety, and the only SGS-verified ISO 14067:2018 carbon footprint in the range. It is the series for organizations that hold the quality of the environment inside the pod to the same standard as the acoustic spec.
Atom holds ISO 23351-1:2020 Class A certification, the highest classification in the ISO acoustic framework, alongside GREENGUARD Gold and UL 962 dual-market electrical safety. It is the specification choice for procurement processes where acoustic performance leadership is a requirement.
Frequently asked questions
Do office pod certifications contribute to LEED points?
Yes, in some cases. GREENGUARD Gold certification supports LEED v4 and v4.1 credit under the Low-Emitting Materials category within Indoor Environmental Quality. ISO 14067 carbon footprint documentation can support Environmental Product Declaration requirements in certain LEED pathways. The specific credit applicability depends on your project’s scope and LEED version. Confirm requirements with your project’s LEED administrator.
What does independently tested mean in practice?
An independently tested certification means physical samples of the product were submitted to an accredited third-party testing laboratory, tested under controlled and documented conditions, and the results reviewed and certified by a recognized certification body. For ISO 23351, that means an accredited acoustics laboratory. For GREENGUARD Gold, it means a UL-designated test facility. It is distinct from in-house testing or self-reported specifications, which may be accurate but are not externally verified.
Can I see the certificates?
Yes. Certification documentation for Alcove Pods series is available on request for qualified procurement and facilities inquiries. Certificate numbers are verifiable through the issuing bodies: UL certifications can be verified through UL Product iQ at iq.ulprospector.com. We do not summarize or paraphrase our certification documents. If your organization requires original test reports or certificate numbers for procurement records, we can provide them.
Does GREENGUARD Gold matter if a pod has active ventilation?
Both matter, and they work differently. GREENGUARD Gold tests the off-gassing characteristics of the pod’s materials under office conditions. Active ventilation moves air through the pod during use, which helps manage CO2 levels and occupant comfort. It does not eliminate off-gassing from materials. A well-ventilated pod with high-emitting internal materials is still a worse option for air quality than a low-emitting pod. The certifications address different aspects of the same outcome.
Why does the Arc series have fewer certifications than Aura or Atom?
Arc is built around different priorities. Its ash wood interior, fabric exterior, and lounge seating make it the right pod for design-led spaces where the environment and visual experience inside the pod are the primary specification. It is built for lighter use patterns. Organizations where acoustic certification, GREENGUARD Gold, and full UL 962 electrical safety are non-negotiable requirements should look at Element, Aura, or Atom.
Is the ISO 23351 acoustic rating for the Aura the same as Class A?
Aura carries ISO 23351-1:2020 certification with speech level reduction greater than 29 dB. ISO 23351 Class A requires 30 dB or more. Aura’s rating is independently tested and falls within the Class A threshold range. Atom is Alcove’s certified Class A series and the specification choice for procurement processes where Class A is a stated requirement.
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