No doubt you have noticed that clear sneeze guards and hygiene barriers have appeared in nearly every store and service centre since the arrival of COVID-19.
Just about any business you can think of that is open to the public has taken the initiative to protect their employees, customers and visitors by installing clear acrylic or polycarbonate screens.
These screens provide safety while maximising transparency. So, what are the available choices and how should institutions such as schools, universities and workplaces be ready for once certain restrictions have been lifted by the government?
Allplastics Engineering has been fabricating hundreds of these over the last two months, applying the company’s 40-year experience in the industry.
Firstly, clear bent acrylic sneeze guards are made to the user’s requirements, generally from 4.5mm or 6mm thick acrylic with a base that can be attached to a counter or benchtop. These can be fabricated as individual units for each counter or in a continuous barrier with customised cut-outs at the bottom.
Acrylic Known in the industry as PMMA (Polymathy Methacrylate) is widely recognised with brands such as Perspex, Plexiglas is a rigid thermoplastic that’s more economic and shatterproof alternative to glass with half the weight of glass options.
The second option in hygiene barriers is designed for applications where they need to be flat packed for ease of transport and for quick assembly. Polycarbonate in 4.5mm thick or 6mm thick is cut to shapes with matching slotted interlocking “feet” with double sided tape. “Feet” that can go on a counter or a desk. Polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable and 250 times the strength of normal glass.
Polycarbonate is well-known with brands such as Lexan, Makrolon, Tuffak and Paltuff. It offers the unique features of being lightweight and being virtually unbreakable ideal material for security glazing.
The third variation in clear barriers is designed to set business back to work by segregation of patrons in venues such as cinemas, clubs, pubs, restaurants, cafes as well as classrooms, lecture theatrettes and offices. Both clear acrylic (PERSPEX) and clear polycarbonate are used in thicknesses from 4.5mm, 6mm and 10mm depending on the situation.
Allplastics can fabricate bespoke barriers to heights and widths suited for your specific use. In addition, we have just introduced powder-coated frames that can be moved easily in the classroom, office or a hospitality venue.
The robust Made in Australia partitions are portable with strong powder coated steel and durable casters built to last. This gives venues the option to easily relocate the barriers from one section to the other with ease.
The partitions have clear polycarbonate inserts but can also be supplied as whiteboards or magnetic chalkboards.