Sneeze guards have become a common fixture in shops, garden centres, offices and even schools as the UK moves out of lockdown.
While social distancing remains so vital to stopping the spread of coronavirus, both glass and Perspex sneeze guards will be an invaluable aid to keep staff, visitors and customers safe.
But which is the better option to go for when choosing your sneeze guards - glass or Perspex? Here at Glass & Mirror Solutions, we supply both, and they each have their plus points, so how do you choose?
Perspex sneeze guards v glass sneeze guards
Glass & Mirror Solutions offer a choice of 6mm smooth edge Perspex sneeze guards, and toughened glass sneeze guards in either 6mm, 8mm or 10mm.
Both the glass and acrylic options are available in a range of standard sizes or can be made to order in custom sizes, and both can be further customised with cut-out cashier notches.
This table summarises some of the options available for each material:
But other than these physical differences, what are the advantages and disadvantages of the two and which option would be best for you?
One of the common misconceptions when it comes to choosing between glass and Perspex sneeze guards is that Perspex will be a safer option in a high-traffic public area. In fact, the reverse is true.
Glass sneeze guards are made from toughened glass, which has gone through a process called tempering. This process, which involved heating and rapidly cooling the glass, creates centre tension in the glass, making it around five times stronger than standard annealed glass.
Toughened glass is stronger, more durable and more scratch-resistant than Perspex, so will stay looking good for longer. And, even in the unlikely event toughened glass should break, the pane will crumble into small pebbles, with no razor-sharp shards to injure anyone.
Toughened glass is also easier to clean and maintain. Using the wrong cleaning solvents on Perspex can actually scratch the surface and cause it to fog. These microscopic scratch marks can be a haven for dirt, bacteria and viruses, meaning your Perspex sneeze guard may not be as hygienic as you would like.
Are Perspex sneeze guards cheaper?
With demand for acrylic products at an all-time high and many producers working with a reduced staff, the availability of Perspex has been impacted. This has consequently pushed prices up.
Fortunately the raw materials for glass are in plentiful supply. This means you can now expect to pay considerably less for a glass sneeze guard than the equivalent Perspex screen.
All things considered, we believe that when it comes to picking between glass and Perspex sneeze guards, there really is no competition. Toughened glass would be our material of choice every time.
If you would like to find out more about sneeze guards from Glass & Mirror Solutions, or to order, contact us today.
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