In today’s fast-paced and health-conscious world, businesses across all industries must prioritise safety, hygiene, and customer confidence. Protective safety screens, also known as sneeze guards, safety barriers, or hygiene screens, have become essential fixtures in workplaces, retail stores, offices, and hospitality settings.
Originally popularised during the COVID-19 pandemic, these barriers continue to play a crucial role in maintaining cleanliness, ensuring staff and customer safety, and enhancing overall business operations.
Below, we will explore the importance of protective screens, their various applications, material options, and key benefits for businesses of all sizes.
What Are Protective Screens?
Protective screens are transparent or semi-transparent barriers designed to create a physical shield between individuals in public or professional spaces. They are typically crafted from durable plastic materials such as acrylic (Perspex), polycarbonate, or PETG, offering excellent visibility while providing an effective safeguard against airborne germs, dust, and physical contact.
These screens come in various shapes, sizes, and configurations, including freestanding, hanging, desk-mounted, and countertop models.
Businesses can opt for custom-made protective screens to fit their specific workspace needs, ensuring maximum functionality and aesthetic appeal.
❓ Did you know? Many protective screens feature anti-glare coatings to improve visibility and prevent reflections from overhead lighting in retail and office spaces.
Why Are Protective Screens Essential for Businesses?
Here are 5 key reasons why protective safety screens are deemed essential for so many different types of businesses across various sectors:
1. Hygiene and Infection Control
One of the primary reasons protective screens have become a workplace necessity is their ability to reduce the spread of airborne viruses, bacteria, and germs. Whether in retail stores, offices, restaurants, or healthcare facilities, these screens act as an additional layer of defence, minimising direct exposure between employees and customers.
2. Compliance with Health and Safety Regulations
Many industries are required to adhere to stringent health and safety standards. Installing protective barriers can help businesses comply with workplace safety regulations, including those set by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and other industry-specific guidelines. In sectors such as healthcare and food service, sneeze guards are often mandatory to prevent contamination.
3. Improved Customer Confidence
Customers are more conscious than ever about hygiene and personal safety. Businesses that install protective screens demonstrate their commitment to providing a safe environment, which can significantly enhance customer trust and encourage repeat business. This is especially important for high-traffic establishments such as supermarkets, banks, and hospitality venues.
4. Enhanced Workplace Safety and Productivity
Protective screens contribute to a safer and more structured work environment by reducing unnecessary contact, providing clear separation between workstations, and minimising distractions. This can help employees feel more secure, leading to improved morale and productivity.
5. Versatile Applications Across Multiple Industries
Protective screens are widely used across various sectors, including:
- Retail & Supermarkets – Checkout counters, customer service desks, and self-service kiosks.
- Offices & Workspaces – Desk dividers and meeting room barriers.
- Hospitality & Restaurants – Buffet sneeze guards, bar counter shields, and front desk barriers.
- Healthcare & Pharmacies – Reception areas and consultation rooms.
- Education & Public Buildings – School desk dividers and communal space partitions.
Types of Protective Screens for Businesses
Businesses have a wide range of protective screen options to choose from, depending on their specific requirements:
Freestanding Protective Screens
- Portable and easy to move.
- Ideal for offices, retail counters, and salons.
- Available in clear or frosted finishes for added privacy.
Countertop & Checkout Screens
- Commonly used in supermarkets, banks, and pharmacies.
- Provides a barrier between staff and customers while allowing easy transactions.
- Often includes cut-out sections for payment processing.
Desk Divider Screens
- Used in offices, call centres, and educational institutions.
- Helps maintain personal space while ensuring visibility and communication.
Hanging Protective Screens
- Suspended from ceilings or hooked over items to create a barrier without occupying floor space.
- Often used in restaurants, retail stores, and medical reception areas.
Mobile Protective Screens
- Often fitted with wheels for flexibility and easy repositioning.
- Ideal for dynamic work environments such as hospitals and conference rooms.
💡 Tip: Consider custom branding! Many businesses add logos or messages to their protective screens for a professional, branded look.
What Materials Are Used for Protective Screens?
Selecting the right material for protective screens is essential to ensure durability, clarity, and ease of maintenance.
The most common materials include:
Acrylic (Perspex)
- High optical clarity and transparency.
- Lightweight and impact-resistant.
- Easy to clean and maintain.
Polycarbonate (PC)
- 250 times stronger than glass, offering superior impact resistance.
- Scratch-resistant and durable for high-traffic areas.
- UV-resistant options available for outdoor use.
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)
- Strong, impact-resistant, and shatterproof.
- Food-safe and commonly used in healthcare settings.
- More flexible than acrylic, making it less prone to cracking.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
- Cost-effective and chemical-resistant.
- Suitable for industrial and commercial applications.
- Less transparent than acrylic or polycarbonate.
How to Maintain and Clean Protective Screens
Regular cleaning and maintenance ensure the longevity and effectiveness of protective screens.
Here are some best practices:
- Use a mild soap solution or a dedicated plastic cleaner to prevent scratches and cloudiness.
- Avoid harsh chemicals like ammonia-based cleaners, as they can damage the surface.
- Use a microfiber cloth instead of paper towels to prevent streaks.
- Regularly inspect for damage and replace cracked or heavily scratched screens to maintain safety and clarity.
❓ Did you know? Sneeze guards were first introduced in the 1950s by a restaurant owner named Johnny Garneau to prevent contamination of buffet-style food displays.
📖 Read: Where to Place Protective Screens for Maximum Effectiveness
Protective screens have evolved into an essential safety feature for businesses, offering hygiene protection, compliance with health regulations, and enhanced customer trust. Whether used in retail, office, hospitality, or healthcare settings, these barriers provide a practical solution to maintaining safe and efficient business operations.
By investing in high-quality protective screens, businesses can create a safer, more professional, and more reassuring environment for both employees and customers.
If you’re looking for bespoke plastic protective screens, Dipec offers expertly crafted solutions tailored to your specific requirements. Contact us today at sales@dipec.co.uk or call 029 2059 8393 to discuss your needs.
FAQs
A protective screen, also known as a sneeze guard or safety barrier, is designed to create a physical barrier between individuals in public or workplace settings. These screens help prevent the spread of airborne particles, such as germs, bacteria, and viruses, by blocking direct transmission from coughs, sneezes, and speech. They are commonly used in retail stores, offices, healthcare settings, and hospitality businesses to enhance hygiene, improve workplace safety, and reassure both staff and customers.
Our bespoke protective screens are typically made from quality plastic materials such as acrylic (Perspex), polycarbonate, or PETG.
Each material has its own advantages:
– Acrylic: A cost-effective, lightweight, and optically clear material that resists impact and is easy to clean.
– Polycarbonate: Offers superior impact resistance (almost unbreakable), making it ideal for high-traffic or high-risk environments like hospitals or banks.
– PETG: A flexible and food-safe material that is often used in restaurant or hospitality settings.
Protective screens act as a physical barrier to reduce the direct transmission of airborne droplets when people talk, cough, or sneeze. This is particularly useful in high-contact environments such as shops, offices, schools, banks, and medical facilities. They are most effective when combined with other health and safety measures, such as regular hand washing, mask-wearing, and social distancing. Many screens also come with antimicrobial coatings for an added layer of protection against bacteria buildup.
Protective screens are widely used across multiple industries, including:
– Retail & Supermarkets: Positioned at checkout counters to separate staff from customers.
– Offices & Workspaces: Desk dividers help create safer work environments while maintaining visibility and communication.
– Hospitals & Healthcare Clinics: Used in reception areas and between patient beds to reduce infection risks.
– Restaurants & Cafés: Placed between tables or on counters to maintain hygiene in food service areas.
– Educational Institutions: Installed in classrooms and libraries to safeguard students and staff.
Yes, Perspex is a brand name for acrylic plastic, much like how “Hoover” is often used to refer to vacuum cleaners. Acrylic (or PMMA – Polymethyl Methacrylate) is a transparent thermoplastic material that is lightweight, impact-resistant, and widely used for protective screens due to its optical clarity and durability.
To maintain clarity, hygiene, and longevity, follow these steps:
1. Use a microfibre cloth to prevent scratches.
2. Avoid harsh chemicals like ammonia-based cleaners, which can cause acrylic or polycarbonate to crack over time. Instead, use mild soap and warm water.
3. Apply an anti-static cleaner to reduce dust build-up.
4. Disinfect regularly with isopropyl alcohol (diluted) to kill bacteria without damaging the material.
Absolutely! Many manufacturers, including us here at Dipec, offer bespoke protective screens tailored to fit your specific requirements.
Custom options include:
Size & Shape: Made to fit countertops, desks, or floor-standing areas.
Cut-outs & Openings: Pass-through sections for payments or documents.
Branding & Design: Logos, colours, and printed messages for a professional look.
Mounting Options: Freestanding, hanging, or desk-mounted variations.
No, protective screens made from high-quality acrylic or polycarbonate offer excellent optical clarity, ensuring that visibility and communication remain unaffected. Some screens also feature anti-glare coatings to prevent reflections from overhead lighting. If soundproofing is a concern, screens can be designed with small perforations or pass-through sections to aid conversation.
The durability depends on the material:
Acrylic: Stronger than glass but can scratch if not properly maintained.
Polycarbonate: Almost unbreakable, with extreme impact resistance.
PETG: Flexible and resistant to cracking but slightly softer than acrylic.
For high-traffic environments, polycarbonate is the best choice, while acrylic remains a great option for standard commercial use.
Protective screens come with various installation options, including:
Freestanding models: Require no installation – simply place them where needed.
Hanging screens: Mounted using ceiling hooks or cables.
Desk dividers: Clamped onto desks or secured with adhesive strips.
Wall-mounted barriers: Installed using brackets for permanent fixtures.
Most businesses choose freestanding or desk-mounted options for easy repositioning.
Yes! While originally popularised during the COVID-19 pandemic, protective screens continue to be widely used for hygiene, safety, and workplace efficiency.
Many businesses still use them to:
– Improve health and safety compliance.
– Reduce the spread of seasonal colds, flu, and other infections.
– Provide privacy and noise reduction in open-plan workspaces.
– Offer a more professional, structured environment in customer-facing roles.
Yes, weather-resistant materials like polycarbonate or PETG are ideal for outdoor use as they are impact-resistant and can withstand UV exposure without yellowing. Outdoor protective screens are commonly found in restaurant patios, drive-thru windows, and ticket booths.
