Buying Guides

Adding portable partitions can create temporary classrooms or divide any large room into smaller, private areas. Keeping the following things in mind will help you make the best use of your space:

• Type
• Height
• Length
• Material
• Storage Space

Type

Freestanding partitions have casters and are relatively lightweight, so you can move them around your school. Look for partitions with self-leveling casters so you can set them up on uneven flooring.

Height
Height is the most important point to consider when purchasing folding room dividers. The higher the partition, the more noise it will block. Partition panels can absorb 30 to 50 percent of sound in a room, but height is also a factor. Height ranges from 4 to 8 feet, so keep room dimensions in mind. Shorter partitions are a good choice if you'd rather keep a close eye on students, and higher ones are best if you're more concerned with sound absorption. You'll never entirely block out noise in large gymnasiums because of high ceilings and acoustics.

Length
Dividers range from 6 to 24 feet long. If you'll be using exterior walls in conjunction with your partitions, you'll need a shorter one. If you're planning on creating an entire room from a portable divider alone, you'll need a longer one. Locking hinges allow you to create right angles, so a longer partition can portion off any room into different configurations. It's always wise to purchase longer partitions because you can keep them partially folded and use only as much length as you need. And you can always add to existing units if they're the same height.

Material
Portable partitions are most often made of tackable polyester fabric that absorbs sound and is easy to clean. A mild detergent or dry cleaning agent will clean up stains very well. Panel fabric is available in a variety of light, attractive colors that are neutral enough to match most decors. Most partition panels are fire safe, but often have placement limitations and can't be positioned in stairwells or elevators.

Storage Space
When dividers aren't in use, you can fold them up and put them away. The length of your portable partition determines how much storage space you'll need. Generally, when folded and latched, each unit is 25 inches deep and from 31 ½ inches to 39 inches long. Check the folded dimensions (which are usually clearly listed) to make sure you'll have enough room.

Check out all of our freestanding and wall-mount dividers. If you need help figuring out which height classroom dividers would work best at in your situation, give us a call at 1-800-260-2776. Our friendly sales team knows a lot about portable partitions and is happy to help.