The Framery project was born in 2010 in the Finnish city of Tampere, a city with a strong innovation cultur. It is home to many hot tech start-ups, as well as technological giants like Nokia.
The company was founded by two young guys who were working as engineers at an IT company at the time. They were often distracted by their boss talking loudly on his phone, which made it hard for them to focus on demanding tasks. They started looking for a phone booth for him, but they weren’t happy with what they saw on the market. So, they invented their own.
Today Framery’s range still includes the ever-popular phone booth as well as bigger pods for meetings, interviews, and video conferences. They enjoy global recognition as manufacturer of comfortable private spaces with outstanding acoustic qualities, having won a number of prestigious industry design awards over the past few years, including Gold awards at NeoCon and IIDEX Canada.
The best way to appreciate the Framery booths’ unrivalled acoustics is to try them in person.
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the levels of stress endured on a daily basis by our healthcare workers. We feel the need to change how we design and use hospitals and places of care with greater emphasis on recovery, biophilia and a healthy naturalised environment. With the current changes to all of our work lives, remote consultation and video conferencing are quickly becoming the norm, keeping us safe and increasing productivity. Framery’s private and acoustic pods have a proven record of providing staff with private spaces for calls, work and meetings.
We specialise in staff wellbeing. With healthcare staff’s demanding workload and long hours, we believe that we can make a positive difference to their work life. With exhaustion and stress, the mind is already in overload, and it is difficult to find the mental capacity to help relieve the stress and recover.
In March 2020 during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Welltek answered the call for help from Whipps Cross Hospital in London, part of Bart’s Health Trust.
In the middle of March, just after the UK went into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Jessica Best wrote to Welltek asking for help in their mission to create a Wellbeing room at Whipps Cross. Due to the pandemic, doctors, nurses and other hospital staff were working extremely long hours in very tough conditions. Jessica reached out due to the fact the staff were putting themselves and their families under great strain and stress going above and beyond the call of duty often causing sleepless nights.
They had converted half of their education centre into a Wellbeing Hub. It was important to create a safe place for the staff to rest and recover. They reached out for a solution to aid that recovery especially during short breaks. Welltek was determined to help and we had the ideal product portfolio to make a genuine difference. We provided a Neurosonic Wave mattress and a Neuron Activation Pod by Loook Industries for their make-shift Wellness centre at the hospital. The Wellness Centre provided a space for NHS staff to have a break when working their shifts. We received amazing feedback from Doctors, Nurses and other hospital staff in a short space of time. Due to the popularity, they quickly set up a similar Wellbeing centre for other key workers on site and we were more than willing to lend a second Neurosonic Wave.
Royal London Hospital, East London
Whipps Cross Hospital, North London
“I was the first lucky user of the Neurosonic mattress. I had 10- minute session after work yesterday and loved it. No way I could relax in 10 minuets in normal circumstances. It may be coincidence, but I slept well last night too.”
Dr Megan Hall Jackson Whipps Cross NHS.
“Thanks for providing this. This allows for quick power rests which are essential for recharge on a long night shift. The sensory deprivation helps people who are unable to nap as well. Good to switch off for 10/20 minutes to allow for recharging for shifts. They will be very welcome for the wellbeing of the intensive care clinics team in the coming months.”
Dr Eoin Dore ACCS CT2 Anaesthetics
CT Anaesthetics Trainee Rep
SWBH JDF Chair and Wellbeing Council Co-Chair City Hospital
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust
Sandwell Hospital, Birmingham
Contact us for a consultation on Air Quality and options to deliver clean air to your commercial space.
There are new concerns about the importance of the air we breathe and the effects on health. Our team has reported various benefits from the smart green walls and purifiers being used in our offices, including feeling more alert in the afternoons, better skin and drinking less caffeine.
Air pollution is an invisible killer. It kills more people than wars, natural catastrophes and traffic incidents combined. The latest data and guidelines confirm a long-standing belief. among doctors and experts about the spread of viruses by air. Research shows that virtually all droplets smaller than 50 micromillimeters – many of which are from coughing – dry out before hitting the floor. However, they attach to larger particles that remain floating with the indoor air currents.
Experts believe it is possible that the viral content of these particles may be sufficient to cause coronary infection. Guidance on keeping distance is a good starting point when considering safety solutions for open plan offices, restaurants and other public indoor spaces. However, distance recommendation are difficult to maintain and monitor at all times. The movement of people, the opening of doors and airflow caused by ventilation effectively spread aerosols that carry a risk of adhesion very well. The air suspension time of these aerosol clouds can be reduced to a fraction with air purifiers based on the latest research and technology.
You breathe 10,000 liters of air a day. The most important thing you put in your mouth is the air you breathe. Indoor air quality is affected by several different sources, causing a range of symptoms, illnesses and chronic ailments.
It’s topical to talk about Coronavirus, but most flu threads originate from indoor air problems. In public spaces where large numbers of people move, and at the same time the number of bacteria and viruses in indoor air increases.
In the manufacturing and finishing of textiles, furniture and clothing, various chemicals are utilised to prevent mould and wrinkling and to increase ease of care. These chemicals are released into the air for a long time during their use.
The human metabolism produces carbon dioxide and odours in the air. Stale air, contaminants and strong odours cause allergic respiratory, ocular and other symptoms.
Chemical compounds are used in building materials such as plaster board, mineral wool, paints and adhesives. Due to emissions, for example new buildings have a set ventilation time, which can be several months. The compounds released from the materials, aldehydes and ammonia, often with very strong odours, can cause severe symptoms to the most sensitive individuals.
Particles and gases pass through ventilation and structures : Do you live in a major town or city? Is your office located along a busy main road? Did you know that up to 80% of outdoor air pollutants end up as indoor air through doors, windows and ventilation. Hence vehicle exhaust fumes from outside can continue to worsen the quality of air inside.
Microplastic is formed when plastic waste decomposes. Scientists estimate that by 2050, the Sea will have more plastic than fish in terms of weight. Microplastics are not just a problem in water. The Archipelago Sea Research Institute found that there is also a lot of microplastics in the open air, which is transported into our bodies with the air we breathe.
Room dust is constantly released into the air from workspace surfaces, textiles, furniture, clothing, plants, insects and the skin of people. Room dust is susceptible to indoor air symptoms. Regular, careful cleaning reduces the number of particles, but at the same time it spreads dust from surfaces to the room air.
Many substances used in general cleaning are toxic and dangerous if swallowed and harmful if inhaled. Because detergents are usually handled on a daily basis, they are a significant part of the indoor air hazards in commercial and domestic settings.
Perfumes, shampoos, soaps and other cosmetics are made to please the senses. However, even good scents are allergenic and cause symptoms for sensitised people. Many cosmetics also contain micro-plastics that are harmful to breathing.
Pollen causes allergic symptoms in about one-fifth of people. In addition, global warming has extended the season from February to August. Up to 80% of outdoor air pollutants end up in indoor air through doors, windows and ventilation systems.
Moulds and microbes grow in structures and on the surfaces of building materials when there is enough moisture present. Moisture damage is a major cause of mould problems. Mould spores spread easily in the air and can cause conditions such as allergic rhinitis and allergic alveolitis. Respiratory and skin problems can occur as well as nose bleeds, flu like symptoms, headaches, muscle and joint pain, memory issues and nausea.
Animals are also a burden to the indoor air. Hair, feathers, dandruff and other particles coming of pets, dogs, cats and rodents and birds cause allergy symptoms.
The idea of an Indoor air purifier is that it circulates the indoor air through the machine thus removing pollutants, particles, VOCs, Bacteria, viruses etc. thus returning clean air to the room. This is not only essential for dealing short term pandemics, but also to maintain healthy spaces for the long term.
Filtration efficiency
It is very important to know how much of the pollutants the purifier can remove when the air passes through the machine. This is called filtration efficiency. It can get close to 100%, which is often something that the air purification companies like to promote as it is relatively easy to reach this level. But what really matters is the actual air flowing through the purifier, which is something that
is not always talked about. For us to have clean air, filtration efficiency alone does not tell us enough. Only the air circulated through the purifier is filtrated. If only a portion of the room’s air goes through the purifier, the rest stays polluted, no matter how high the filtration efficiency is.
Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)
Generally, the whole air volume of a room should be fully circulated through the air purifier at two to five times per hour. The amount of air flow through the machine is as important as the filtration efficiency of the purifier. Because of this the best criteria for selecting a proper air purifier is the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR), the amount of clean air delivered per hour (m3/h), which is calculated by multiplying the purifier’s filtration efficiency with the air flow through the purifier.
Particle size
When it comes to air pollutants, the ultrafine particles are the most harmful as they are most easily absorbed into the lungs. They are also the most difficult to observe with sensors and the hardest ones to catch with filters without compromising on the air flow.
When comparing different CADR values, the filtration efficiency should be measured for the same particle size, preferably for smaller particleslike PM1 or even smaller, not only for PM2.5. Before buying an Air, Purification check your CADR rates are shown and what particles are being measured in that CADR rate.
Please feel free to contact us for a free consultation on Air Quality and options to deliver clean air to your commercial space.
Here at Welltek, we aim to practise what we preach. We encourage clients to invest in their workforce for better health and performance. We have the luxury of being surrounded by our wonderful products, which improve our wellbeing in the physical environment. But what about our overall lifestyle? We are all in control of our diet and exercise, but wouldn’t it be great to actually understand our stress levels on a daily basis. Several members of the Welltek team have recently undertaken a lifestyle review using some very clever technology which has allowed us to see our stress patterns, to understand what makes us stressed and most importantly what breaks the stress cycle.
Lifestyle assessment – what you can learn.
Modern life can be pretty stressful. A little stress is fine and indeed it can help us in certain situations, but prolonged stress without recovery can be very detrimental to our health.
The lifestyle assessment involves wearing a small heart monitor for 3 days. It’s very discreet and easy to wear under your clothes and whilst you are asleep. The device measures dynamic heartbeat signals with near-laboratory accuracy and the follow-up reports translate the data into a personal assessment of the user’s stress.
An elevated activation level in the body, and it can be positive or negative.
A calming down of the body: Important recovery periods include sleep and peaceful moments during the day.
Physical loading during which energy expenditure is significantly increased.
Here Neil shares his personal results. The monitoring takes place over 3 days, and Neil chose one weekend day and two work days to see how different types of days and activities affected his stress levels.
Neil is a devoted Football Dad, from coaching the under-12 team for his youngest to running the line as a volunteer for his eldest son’s under-14 team. He was surprised at how intense a workout he was actually getting from running the line, shown here by the strong blues from 10am and burning calories at quite a high rate. He was also a little surprised by how much stress is shown by the U-12’s training, but this is a good example of stress showing up when you don’t actually realise it. Neil’s had a good moment of recovery, aside from sleep, at 9pm when he had a 10 minute recovery session on the Neurosonic Wave mattress. This is the same technology which is built into the N.A.P.
We see quite a lot of continuous red on Monday morning, showing signs of stress. Neil was preparing for an important meeting with a key supplier. Neil clearly enjoys family mealtimes; at 6pm we see a period of recovery. He had a better percentage of recovery from sleep on Monday night compared to Sunday, even though he was in bed for a shorter amount of time.
Day 3 shows a good recovery period in the morning then a steady, manageable level of stress throughout the day. Neil was pleasantly surprised to see that the monitoring showed he wasn’t stressed during the important presentation and management meetings. Time inside the GoSleep Pod and N.A.P provided short periods of recovery.
Once into the evening and after a successful day Neil went for a celebratory drink with some of the team. This provided Neil with the most shocking data of the trial. Despite not having an excessive amount of alcohol he was concerned to see how drastically it affected his sleep that night.
The data shows that he slept for 7 hours but he only had 48 minutes of recovery sleep due to the alcohol in his system.
This helps to explain how alcohol affects our ability to function and be productive the next day.If you would like to book a Lifestyle Assessment for your own team, please get in touch.
“My overall review after the 3-day assessment showed a relatively good stress level and highlighted the positive impact of taking short breaks during the day. I was personally very disappointed in my fitness level of “good” as I’ve always enjoyed exercise. It allowed me to be honest with myself in the fact my exercise routine had dipped and my fitness levels dropped with it.
I’m happy to report six months on I have dropped my resting heart beat by 6-7 beats per minute down to the low 50’s. I continue to allow for recovery time during the work day and encourage all our staff to do the same. And I tend to think about that next beer and whether it is necessary, and I have plenty of Alcohol-free days and weeks, which have unbelievable results.
If you or your team are interested in taking the lifestyle assessment please feel to get in touch and I/we will happily talk you through our personal experiences. I can’t recommend it enough!”
There’s been a lot of talk of improving wellbeing and health in the workplace over the past few years. Some consulting firms have named wellbeing as the next major trend in green building.
But it’s no longer enough to offer lunchtime yoga classes and free fruit on Fridays. To really make an impact companies need to look at the effects of the built environment and other factors such as managing stress in order to positively influence their team’s physical and mental wellbeing. High levels of employee wellbeing means improved staff retention, less absences and improved efficiency.
The elements which influence wellbeing can be broken down into 4 main areas:
Looking at this list you could be forgiven for thinking that much of this is outside the scope of the employer. But when we break this down it becomes clear that the employer can have a significant influence on many key factors for improving wellbeing. Welltek can provide a meaningful contribution to all of the highlighted elements.
Temperature. Is there a constant, comfortable temperature?
Air quality. Is air quality properly managed to reduce or eliminate the amount of pollution, virus and bacteria, allergens and VOCs in the air?
Light and nature. Is enough daylight or circadian lighting provided in working zones? Can staff see natural elements such as plants?
Comfort. Are all employee zones designed for ergonomic comfort and to support agile working? Is noise pollution dealt with in an effective way?
Stress. Does the company know if staff are stressed? Is there a plan in place to avoid and support work-related stress? Are there quiet areas where staff can make confidential calls and do focused work to eliminate noise pollution?
Rest. Are there suitable facilities for quality rest and recovery?
Sleep quality. Is there an area for people to take naps at work? Does the company positively influence sleep quality?
Purpose. Do employees feel their job role makes a worthwhile contribution to the business?
Autonomy. Are employees micro-managed or are they trusted to make decisions?
Learning. Are staff constantly given the opportunity to improve their knowledge?
Lifestyle. Does the company encourage a good work-life balance?
Pain and illness. Does the company support working from home if required? Is there an area to fully relax and to help alleviate stress and pain?
Exercise. e.g. does the company provide shower facilities to encourage cycling to work or lunchtime exercise?
Nutrition. Are healthy drinks and snacks provided for staff and visitors?
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