Sensory Pods for Autism-Friendly Offices: What to Look For

A sensory pod for an autism-friendly office is an enclosed booth where an employee can step away from noise, harsh light and interruptions. The features that matter most are sound insulation, adjustable lighting, quiet ventilation and enough space to feel unconfined. Just as important is an access policy that lets people use it the moment they need it.

Key takeaways

• Judge a sensory pod on sound, light, air, space and visual privacy before style or extras.
• Ask suppliers for an ISO 23351-1 test result and for the noise level of the ventilation inside the pod.
• Placement and access decide whether the pod gets used: keep it away from busy routes and don't make people book it or explain why.
• Under the Equality Act 2010, employers must consider reasonable adjustments, and a sensory pod can be one of them.

What is a sensory pod?

A sensory pod is a small, enclosed space that reduces sensory input: sound, light, movement and people. In an office it usually takes the form of an acoustic booth with a door, adjustable lighting and its own ventilation.

The difference from a phone booth is purpose rather than structure. A phone booth is designed to keep a conversation in. A sensory pod is chosen to keep the busy office out, so lighting control, a calm interior and quiet ventilation matter as much as acoustic performance. Many offices use one booth for both, which works if the booth meets the criteria below.

Why do autistic employees benefit from a sensory pod?

Open-plan offices combine many of the things autistic people often find hardest to filter out: overlapping conversations, sudden noise, bright or flickering lights and constant movement. Over a working day that load builds up and can affect concentration, energy and wellbeing. A pod gives a predictable place to reset without leaving the building or finding a free meeting room. For more on the wider problem, see our guide to avoiding sensory overload in open-plan offices. Autism is one form of neurodivergence. For ADHD, dyslexia and other needs, see our guide to office pods for neurodivergent employees.

There is a wider business case too. The Buckland Review of Autism Employment (2024) found that only around 3 in 10 autistic adults of working age in the UK are in work. It also found that over a quarter of autistic employees who asked for adjustments were refused. Quiet, controllable space is one of the more straightforward adjustments to get right.

Key insight: Only around 35% of autistic employees are fully open about being autistic at work, according to the Buckland Review. Researchers also estimate that 59% to 72% of autistic people in England may be undiagnosed (O'Nions et al., The Lancet Regional Health Europe, 2023). If a pod is reserved for people with a diagnosis or a formal request, many of the people it is meant for will never use it. Make it available to everyone.

For building-level guidance, BSI's PAS 6463:2022, Design for the mind, covers lighting, acoustics, layout and quiet spaces for neurodivergent people. We summarise it in our guide to PAS 6463 and neuroinclusive workspaces.

What to look for in a sensory pod for autistic employees

Sound: what comes in, and what is made inside

Most office pods are tested to ISO 23351-1. It measures speech level reduction (D_S,A): how much quieter speech is outside the pod when someone talks inside it. For enclosed pods, results typically fall between about 15 and 30 dB. The same walls and door also block noise coming in, so a higher figure is a reasonable guide to how quiet the pod will feel.

Ask any supplier two questions: what is the pod's tested D_S,A value, and how loud is the ventilation inside it? A quiet, steady fan is usually easier to tolerate than chatter that starts and stops. A fan that hums loudly or cycles on and off can undo the benefit. For the full list of questions to ask suppliers, use our sensory booth buying checklist.

Light the user can control

Many autistic people are sensitive to bright, harsh or flickering light. Others actively seek out certain kinds of light, so control matters more than any single setting. Look for flicker-free, dimmable LED lighting that the person inside can adjust, ideally with warmer settings. Check that the lights can be turned right down without switching off the ventilation.

Quiet, steady ventilation

An enclosed pod needs active ventilation to stay comfortable for longer than a short call. Ask for the air change rate and the fan noise level, and check that the airflow is diffused rather than blowing directly at the user. Draughts and sudden changes in fan speed are sensory triggers in their own right.

Enough space, and an easy way out

A cramped pod can add stress instead of relieving it. Single-person pods are often sized for a chair and a desk; for regulation breaks, more floor space lets someone stand, stretch or change position. The door should open easily from inside, and nobody should ever need help to leave. If a wheelchair user will use the pod, check the points in our guide to wheelchair accessible office booths.

Visual privacy without feeling shut in

Movement seen through glass can be as distracting as noise. Frosted or filmed glazing cuts visual input while keeping some connection to the room. On Soundbox Store pods, privacy film is an optional extra for the front and rear glazing, applied when the pod is assembled.

Surfaces, texture and smell

Touch and smell matter too. Soft, matt interior finishes tend to feel calmer than glossy ones, and new materials can carry a noticeable smell for a while after installation. Ask what the interior is made of and, where possible, let a new pod air out before it goes into daily use.

Where should a sensory pod go in the office?

Put the pod in the calmest part of the floor: away from kitchens, printers, entrances and main walkways, and not directly under an air-conditioning outlet. The route matters as much as the pod. Someone who is already overloaded should not have to cross the busiest part of the office to reach it.

Check three practical points before ordering. You need a power socket nearby, a floor that can take the pod's weight, and a place in your fire risk assessment and evacuation routes. Larger booths can weigh several hundred kilograms, so ask for the weight of the exact model.

How should staff access a sensory pod?

Access policy is where many sensory pods fail. Sensory overload does not follow a calendar. A pod that must be booked in advance, or that doubles as a meeting space, may be taken at the moment someone needs it. Rules that tend to work:

• Keep it free to use without booking, or protect time for it if it has to sit in a booking system.
• Encourage short, regular breaks before overload builds, not only use in a crisis.
• Don't ask people to give a reason for using it.
• Agree a simple "occupied" signal so colleagues know not to knock.
• Review use after a couple of months and add capacity if it is regularly full.

Is a sensory pod a reasonable adjustment in the UK?

It can be. Under the Equality Act 2010, employers must make reasonable adjustments where a disabled employee would otherwise be at a substantial disadvantage. Autistic employees can be covered by this duty. Whether a pod is reasonable depends on the person's needs, the workplace and the cost. Agree it in conversation with the employee and, where useful, an occupational health assessment.

Access to Work, run by the Department for Work and Pensions, can help with the cost of specialist equipment beyond what an employer is required to provide. It does not pay for adjustments the employer has a duty to make, and the employee makes the application. Check eligibility and current rules on GOV.UK. Northern Ireland runs its own scheme. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sensory pod options at Soundbox Store

Our Sensory Booth is designed primarily for calm and sensory regulation, with customisable LED lighting, a cushioned interior and controls for the lighting and ventilation. Need a smaller footprint? A single-person booth with dimmable lighting, quiet ventilation and privacy film can also work as a retreat space: browse our acoustic phone booths.

Frequently asked questions

What is a sensory pod for autism?

A sensory pod is a small, enclosed space where someone can step away from noise, bright light, movement and interruptions. In an office it is usually an acoustic booth with a door, adjustable lighting and quiet ventilation. For autistic employees, it offers a predictable place to reset during the working day without leaving the building or booking a meeting room.

What are examples of workplace adjustments for autistic employees?

Common adjustments include a quieter place to work, such as a sensory pod or quiet room, and adjustable lighting. Others are noise-cancelling headphones, an allocated desk even in a hot-desking office, advance notice of changes, clear written instructions and flexible start times. The right mix depends on the individual, so agree it in conversation with the employee.

How much noise reduction should a sensory pod have?

There is no single required figure. Enclosed office pods tested to ISO 23351-1 typically achieve a speech level reduction of about 15 to 30 dB, and a higher figure suits a calming space better. Ask for the tested value. Also ask how loud the ventilation is inside the pod, because a loud or cycling fan can matter more to the user than the rating.

Should a sensory pod be available to all employees?

Yes, in most offices it should. Many autistic people do not disclose their diagnosis at work, and others are undiagnosed. A pod reserved for people with a formal request will miss many of the people it is meant for. Open access also helps colleagues with ADHD, anxiety or migraines, and reduces any stigma around using it.

Do you need building work to install a sensory pod?

Usually not. Most office pods are freestanding units assembled on site that need a nearby power socket. Before ordering, check floor loading, ceiling height, the delivery route into the building and how the pod fits your fire risk assessment and evacuation routes. If you lease your office, confirm the installation with your landlord first. Our guide to UK building regulations for office pods covers the checks.

How many sensory pods does an office need?

There is no recognised ratio. Start with one pod in a quiet location, make it free to use and keep an eye on how often it is occupied. If people regularly find it in use, or stop trying to use it, add a second pod or set aside a quiet room as well.

The bottom line

A sensory pod helps autistic employees only if it is genuinely calm inside and genuinely available. Check the tested acoustic performance, lighting control, ventilation noise and space, then put it somewhere quiet and let people use it without booking or explaining. Explore our Sensory Booth or the full range of office pods to find the right fit for your office.