Places that sell readymade food items, produce, or that serve food, especially in buffets are at high risk of contamination. These areas provide a breeding ground for germs and bacteria to spread and infect others. So, the safety of customers and staff alike requires that there be a protective screen or barrier to prevent infection.
This is prevalent in high-traffic surfaces where a lot of customers come in and out, touching things on their way. If you’re not sure about the benefits of an acrylic barrier in shops and restaurants, read along to find out. Here’s why a sneeze guard or barrier made of acrylic glass is used to protect food items.
Curved-shaped sneeze guard advisable for food protection
Sneeze guards or other barriers made of acrylic glass are a necessity in grocery stores as well as restaurants. These shields can help protect food items from all sorts of contamination. Not just that, they give a safety measure that each facility serving or selling food should install.
This is especially important in self-serving buffets where food sections are a high touch area. In addition to that, they play a detrimental role in protecting both customers and employees alike. Physical and bacterial contamination is very common in restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, and food joints.
So considering that, an acrylic barrier is essential to provide a shield in surfaces with high traffic. The curved-shaped guards are perfect for this purpose since they protect the food both from the sides and from above. In particular, it’s critical whenever there is the possibility of a customer getting near the food or touching it.
Acrylic is a shatter-resistant and durable option
When considering the installation of a barrier to protect food items, there are many materials to choose from. With that said, the main options would certainly be glass or acrylic. Glass can definitely do the job, and where safety is an issue, tempered glass is a great choice.
However, since it’s a safety glass, it does come at a higher weight and a much higher price. So, in turn, it doesn’t sound so practical to install over massive surfaces. On the other hand, acrylic is, for sure, the best option to go for. Not just is it incredibly shatter-resistant but it’s also extremely durable.
Acrylic can survive an impact that’s ten to twenty times more powerful than glass would. And even if impact occurs, acrylic will break into large pieces with blunt edges. This, in turn, makes it much safer to use, as opposed to glass.
Reflect more transparent lights to display food items to customers
Acrylic is a great material, not only in terms of durability and shatter resistance, but also in light transmission. For instance, acrylic has a much higher ratio in that than glass, around 92%. In addition to that, it’s ideal for diffusing harsh light, which further enhances its energy conservation properties.
Moreover, acrylic won’t be damaged or discolored due to long exposure to light, whether it be natural or not. An acrylic shield will do a great job of protecting food products. Not only that but it will also offer a softer reflection of light for a clearer display to clients.
So in that regard, this makes it ideal for lots like stores, shops, and other service providers. While glass will need to be low in iron (which will run more costly) to provide better clarity and light transmission.
Much lightweight and easily moved
One of the greatest pros of choosing acrylic over glass is not just its durability, but how light it is. It’s highly versatile as it’s easy to make and is much stronger and sturdier than other options. So despite how robust and rigid it is, all in all, it’s less than half the weight of glass.
Whether it’s in a cast or it’s in extruded forms, acrylic is much less expensive and much more reliable. This makes for easy installation when it comes to large surfaces. Since they’re easy to move and carry around, the installation will go smoothly, without risk of damage.
So there won’t be an issue in lifting and moving it across the available space. Putting up these acrylic barriers to protect food products will be hassle-free considering how weightless it is.
Versatile designs of acrylic glass sneeze guard
Acrylic guards are very versatile in terms of designs, styles, and sizes. So whatever the purpose is, you will definitely be able to find an acrylic-based shield for that usage. The sneeze screens that can protect food items come with flat and curved tops in varying heights and widths.
These screens are ideal to protect food from germs and bacteria, mainly those spread through touching or sneezing. Plexiglass guards combine safety and durability with aesthetics. In addition to that, they’re fairly easy to clean and maintain. They also use creative designs and they will last for a long time.