As lockdown gradually eases and more people are returning to their places of work, businesses are having to consider how to make their workspaces safe. Government guidance clearly states that social distancing of 2m or 1m with risk mitigation must be maintained wherever possible. Risk mitigation includes the use of screens or barriers to separate people from each other, and a creative and cost effective way of doing this is possible, thanks to some innovative thinking from Kingspan Light + Air in collaboration with Edinburgh based architects GRAS and interior design studio STOREY&CO.
Developed as a prototype screen, this simple, flexible solution potentially allows safe social distancing without needing a full 2m gap between workers, or making people feel disconnected from their colleagues and surroundings.
The product is made from sheets of polycarbonate, a tough, lightweight material with excellent light transmission. Designed as a full height concertina screen or neat table-top divider, the partition can be used to create safe booths without closing down the feeling of light and space within a room or necessitating empty desks or workstations to maintain good levels of health and safety.
Kingspan Light + Air’s UK & Ireland Managing Director, Alex Cooke, explained
“Our business is all about maximising natural light and air quality in buildings. We are used to finding innovative solutions for our clients in the construction industry, and we have been trying to think of different ways we could support other businesses through the current situation. If the materials we produce can also help people get back on their feet, and maybe even achieve some normality, that’s fantastic!”
Gunnar Groves-Raines from GRAS added
“We’ve really enjoyed the explorative process and are keen to help bring this exciting and versatile solution to market. We’ve had positive feedback so far and following some further testing and refinement we’re confident that, in partnership with Kingspan Light + Air, we can provide customers with a high quality and cost-effective range of products.”
Polycarbonate is easy to handle, hygienic and can be disinfected with standard cleaning products. It is also highly impact resistant, making it an ideal material for high traffic areas.
Available as standard in 6m lengths, the basic polycarbonate panels can be sourced from distributors up and down the UK. For larger orders direct from Kingspan the panels can be pre-cut to any size from 0.8 – 5 m. To place an order, find your nearest distributor, or for fully designed solutions such as those created by GRAS, contact info(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)kingspanlightandair.com
You can find the latest government guidance on making workspaces safe at: www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19
For more information about how Kingspan can help, visit the website: https://bit.ly/KingspanPolycarbScreen