Acrylic Partitions for Schools

How Can Acrylic Sheets Help With COVID?

As the COVID-19 pandemic began sweeping across the globe in 2020, businesses and schools everywhere started implementing measures to slow the spread of the virus and keep employees, patrons, and students safe. One area that has seen an immense surge in demand is that of acrylic partitions and barriers, which a wide array of industries have begun installing in their workplaces.

Plexiglass partitions have a vast number of benefits when it comes to slowing the spread of COVID-19. Whether they are utilized as sneeze guards to protect food or as barriers to separate essential workers from customers, these partitions serve a vital function in reducing the potential spread of airborne pathogens in close quarters.

There are three main materials from which these partitions are composed:

• Lexan (Polycarbonate Resin Thermoplastic)
• Standard Glass
• Plexiglass (Acrylic)

The most appropriate material will depend largely on the organization’s budget, as well as the level of permanence expected from the barrier installation. In reducing the spread of COVID-19, many organizations are recommending the use of plexiglass partitions throughout a wide range of industries to help protect against droplet transmission. These barriers are also invaluable in a classroom setting to reduce reliance on masks and enforce physical distancing.

What Types of Acrylic Partitions Can Schools Use?

There are a variety of professionally designed school desk partitions which schools may choose to implement in order to reduce the risks involved with in-person education. These include:

• Suspended/Hanging
• Desk Mounted
• Portable
• Permanent

The CDC has advised school districts across the nation to begin incorporating physical barriers in their classrooms. While some schools have been making their own, it is preferable to seek out acrylic partitions designed by experienced professionals to ensure that they are high quality and dependable.

Physical barriers of this kind are particularly beneficial in areas where it is difficult or impossible for people to consistently maintain six feet of distance from one another. School desk partitions are also a useful safety measure in classrooms for young children who are unable to wear masks. Since partitions are clear and can be designed with aesthetics as well as functionality in mind, school desk partitions keep a classroom feeling open and spacious while still allowing for separation and effective communication.

Benefits of Acrylic/Plexiglass Partitions & Barriers from OCIP

Plexiglass partitions and barriers are clear and easy to clean, making them ideal for indoor use. Due to their ability to create a barrier against droplet transmission, the medical industry has utilized this type of partition for decades. Their benefits can now transfer easily to a classroom setting.

While acrylic school desk partitions have many advantages, there are several key factors that make them particularly beneficial in controlling the spread of COVID-19. First and foremost, plexiglass partitions provide a barrier that can catch airborne pathogens and respiratory droplets. By intercepting these droplets before they come into contact with another individual, plexiglass partitions reduce the risk of virus transmission.

Barriers and partitions also aid in the reinforcement of physical distancing requirements. This is especially useful in a classroom where younger students may forget to be mindful of their proximity to each other.

In larger groups, it is more likely for people to wear masks incorrectly, forget to wear a mask, or be unable to wear a mask due to age, illness, or other special circumstances. As school administrators install school desk partitions, they have better control over the safety of students, teachers, and other school professionals. These partitions reduce the reliance on masks as the sole means of preventing the transmission of droplets.

Due to the many benefits of acrylic partitions, the WHO and CDC are recommending that school officials begin using physical barriers as one strategy for slowing the spread of COVID-19 in the classroom. Used in combination with other best practices, school desk partitions are a vital component in any safety plan.

Learn More & Request a Quote

Since 1982, Orange County Industrial Plastics has grown to become one of the nation’s leading suppliers of acrylic partitions. We specialize in turnkey solutions and are able to create custom plexiglass partitions specific to your needs if you are unable to find what you’re looking for in our product list. With nationwide shipping and lightning-fast delivery speeds, you’ll be able to begin using your barriers and partitions in no time. Contact us or request your quote today to work with us on your acrylic partition needs.