Phone calls expose the weaknesses in office design faster than almost anything else. An office can look calm and well organised, but if people struggle to take calls without being overheard or distracted, the space is not doing its job.
Choosing the right type of partition for phone calls is about sound control, privacy, and comfort, not appearance.
Why Phone Calls Are A Special Case
Phone calls create two problems at once. The person on the call needs privacy and concentration, while the people around them need protection from distraction.
Unlike meetings, calls are frequent, unplanned, and often short. This makes it impractical to rely solely on bookable meeting rooms. The space and partitions used for calls need to support quick, everyday use.
Why Open Areas Rarely Work For Calls
Open-plan areas offer no meaningful acoustic separation. Even low voices travel, especially across hard surfaces. People on calls instinctively lower their voices or move away, which usually makes conversations less clear and more tiring.
Trying to solve this with etiquette or policies rarely works. The issue is physical, not behavioural.
Glass Partitions And Phone Calls
Glass partitions provide visual separation but limited acoustic privacy. They reduce direct sound paths but do little to absorb sound, especially at speech frequencies.
For occasional, non-sensitive calls, glass rooms can be acceptable if paired with good acoustic ceilings and well-sealed doors. For frequent or confidential calls, glass often feels exposed, even when technically compliant.
People tend to avoid glass rooms for longer calls if they feel visible or overheard.
Plasterboard Partitions For Call Spaces
Plasterboard partitions perform significantly better for phone calls. When insulated and properly sealed, they block and absorb sound more effectively than glass.
They are better suited to phone rooms, quiet rooms and focus spaces where privacy is expected. The trade-off is reduced light and visibility, which needs to be managed through layout and lighting rather than ignored.
Acoustic Booths And Partial Enclosures
In some offices, purpose-built acoustic booths or partially enclosed call spaces provide a practical solution. These work best when they are genuinely acoustically treated, not just visually screened.
Partitions around these spaces should extend high enough to control sound and be paired with absorptive finishes. Low screens and decorative panels rarely provide meaningful benefit.
The Role Of Doors And Seals
Partitions alone do not determine performance. Door quality, seals and gaps are often the weakest point in call spaces. A well-built wall with a poorly sealed door will fail acoustically.
This is one of the most common reasons call rooms underperform.
Choosing Based On Frequency And Sensitivity
The best partition choice depends on how often calls happen and how sensitive they are. Occasional calls can tolerate lower privacy. Regular or confidential calls cannot.
Designing call spaces around real usage avoids frustration and misuse of meeting rooms.
Designing Spaces For Better Conversations
If an office does not support phone calls properly, people adapt in unhelpful ways. They avoid calls, speak quietly, or work from elsewhere.
The right partitions remove that friction. They allow calls to happen naturally, without drawing attention or causing disruption.
Get Started With Complete Office Fitouts
If you’re planning an office fit-out, Complete Office Fitouts can help you manage the entire project from budgeting and design to construction and handover.
📞 Call 1300 60 93 93
📧 Email info@completeofficefitouts.com.au
