Features and Denefits of Office Partitions

Office partitions are a great way in offices to provide separations between staff members. They can be erected in any existing office space to create exactly the type of office layout and design that is needed. They can be made from a variety of materials and provide an effective solution to creating individual offices, meeting rooms and larger offices too within one building.

A certain degree of privacy is important in offices because it prevents distractions that can cause employees to lose focus and concentration. In one open plan room, anytime a phone rings everyone is going to hear it and the ensuing conversation. The same applies to impromptu meetings between staff. And if an individual has a particularly loud voice, everyone in the open plan office has to suffer the distraction. It may seem over the top, but people have actually resorted to wearing the kind of ear defender headsets that civil engineers use. So, it is important that a certain degree of privacy is achieved. Furthermore, large open plan offices can cause some people to feel a little uncomfortable as they may feel they are constantly "on display."

Cubicles or workstations are not ideal however in providing that extra privacy because not only do they look unattractive, they do not prevent the flow of noise around the office and so do nothing to prevent the problem of distractions. Separating everybody in an office in this way is also problematic as it can reduce the level of communication between staff. They might be able to hear each other, but without being able to see each other fully, they may start to rely more on emails than talking to each other.

Partitions are used to create "rooms" in offices without erecting solid, stud walls. Not only are solid walls inflexible and completely permanent, unless you own the building in which the office is situated you are likely to need permission. Partitioning is not a permanent fixture. Although it does need skilled workman to take it down or move it, this can be done more easily than getting in the builders to knock through walls. This allows the partitioning to be altered as and when the office changes or expands.

Partitions are available in different materials. Glass partitions look particularly good in an office. Because they are completely see-through they let in light and display who is in the room. Meeting rooms without windows can cause difficulty as it is impossible to see if the room is in use without knocking on the door. Glass panels provide a very modern and contemporary look. Because colours and designs can be included in the panels and used on the outside, they offer panache and style that many other types of partitioning do not. These designs can match the corporate branding or they can simply incorporate detailing that is pleasing to the eye.

Although some businesses choose non-permanent fixtures such as screens and workstations to separate an office, this is far from ideal. These do not provide stability and they do not offer a preventative measure to deal with acoustic and visual distractions. They also do not blend in well to an office and can leave it looking incomplete and without any proper design. It is much better for everyone, staff and clients to install some good quality partitioning to divide up the floor space in an office.

The best way to create the office layout that you want is with a variety of different office partitions. Glass panels in particular look excellent in an office, providing it with the contemporary look. A room divider made from glass or other type of rigid material will not only look good, but will provide the durability that is so important too. This type of partitioning in offices can provide a much better solution than the alternatives, such as permanent stud walls or temporary screens.

by: Kathryn Dawson

The author invites you to visit:
http://www.appliedworkplace.co.uk 

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