OCIP JUNE 2023 NEWSLETTER
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Category Archive: Acrylic
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.
Acrylic (Plexiglass) Sneeze Guards
At Orange County Industrial Plastics (OCIP), we design, engineer, and manufacture high-quality plastic components for customers across a wide range of industries. One of our core product offerings is acrylic sneeze guards.
Sneeze guards are barriers or partitions installed in public-facing locations (e.g., banks, restaurants, and offices) to protect employees or products against contamination by bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms expelled by nearby people coughing, sneezing, or exhaling. They are generally made from glass, Lexan (a polycarbonate resin), or Plexiglass (an acrylic material), all of which provide a smooth and transparent surface that does not disrupt visibility or require significant maintenance. The material of a sneeze guard is generally chosen with regard to the cost (i.e., the price of the material) and permanency of the application (i.e., how long the product will be installed).
Types of Sneeze Guards
Sneeze guards are available in several designs and configurations. For example, they can be temporary or permanent. Temporary sneeze guards are only used for shorter periods of time, so they are generally designed for portability to make them easy to move from one place to another and remove and place into storage when they are no longer needed. Permanent sneeze guards are installed in locations that require continuous protection over a longer time period, so they are designed and manufactured with long-term durability in mind.
Two of the most common configurations for temporary and permanent sneeze guards are counter-mounted and suspended. Counter-mounted sneeze guards are attached to countertops or other flat surfaces by brackets or other mounting hardware. Suspended sneeze guards are hung from the ceiling such that they fall in front and above the people or products that need protection.
Benefits of Using OCIP Sneeze Guards
Sneeze guards are ideal for protecting employees and materials in a wide range of industrial and commercial facilities, including, but not limited to, banks, convenience stores, healthcare clinics, restaurants, supermarkets, salons, and more. However, beyond serving as an effective transmission barrier, they also must not interfere with normal operations or need significant maintenance requirements.
Our sneeze guards are made from clear Plexiglass. As such, employees can see through them to interact with customers, and products can remain visible to passersby. Additionally, the smooth surface finish makes them easy to clean and sanitize. By using our products in public-facing facilities, both employees and customers can have peace of mind that they are safely protected from the spread of disease.
Contact OCIP for Your Standard or Custom Sneeze Guard Needs Today
At OCIP, we are one of the top sneeze guard manufacturers in the United States. We offer several standard partitions and barriers and customization capabilities for customers with highly specific requirements. Our experts are ready and willing to help create a custom design if needed. Both standard and custom product solutions are available with lightning-fast turnaround anywhere in the United States.
For more information about our sneeze guard products, contact us today. To make an inquiry about a custom order, fill out our custom order form.