ISO Standards for Interpretation Equipment
The audio chain is the invisible half of every interpreted event. Three ISO standards tell you whether it is fit for purpose.
ISO 4043 — mobile booths
Defines the construction of mobile interpreting booths: minimum internal dimensions (1.6 × 1.6 × 2.0 m for two interpreters), acoustic insulation, ventilation, lighting and sightlines. Non-compliant booths are cramped, noisy, poorly ventilated — and they visibly degrade interpreter output within an hour.
When you brief a supplier, ask for the make and model. Serious rental houses publish the reference and can produce a compliance sheet on request.
ISO 20109 — equipment
Covers the technical characteristics of interpreter consoles, microphones, headsets and audio distribution. Key requirements include a frequency response of at least 125 Hz to 15 kHz, protection against acoustic shock, and channel monitoring.
This is the standard that guarantees a delegate on channel three actually hears the interpreter cleanly, without hiss, dropout or lipsync drift.
ISO 20108 — audio and video input
Specifies the quality of the sound and image reaching the interpreter. Full-band audio, low latency, and — critically — a direct video feed of the speaker's face. Interpreters read lips, gestures and slides in parallel; a poor video feed forces guesswork.
Why it matters commercially
Institutional and diplomatic clients now write ISO compliance into their RFPs. A supplier who cannot demonstrate 4043/20108/20109 conformity is disqualified before pricing is discussed. Even for corporate events, ISO-grade equipment is the fastest route to a calm, professional room.
