The future of office working has never looked so uncertain. According to a recent survey by PWC, less than one in five executives predict a return to the pre-pandemic “five days a week” office schedule. For those who are returning to work, glass office partitions and screens could provide added protection.

This doesn’t mean, however, that offices are no longer important. In the same survey, 87% of employees say the office is “important for collaborating with team members and building relationships”. Most workers will still want to come into the office – just not as regularly as before.

The upshot is that designers and office managers need to think hard about how offices will look post-Covid. With fewer bums on seats (or office chairs), there is now an opportunity to re-imagine how space is used in the office.

One office design trend we can predict with confidence is glass partitions. In this article, we’ll explain why glass office partitions are here to stay, and how offices can best adapt to the “new normal”.

Moveable glass partitions

In the post-Covid office, flexibility is king. Companies that embrace moveable glass partitions will find it easier to re-zone their office space to suit new working patterns. These “walls-on-wheels” offer the same style and professional sheen of regular glass office partitions, while allowing you to shrink, expand, or modify your office space as you see fit.

Movable glass walls offer all kinds of options for office zoning. You can quickly create an impromptu interview room, or even a large conference area. Managers can assign small or large teams to “pop-up” meeting rooms, fostering teamwork and face-to-face communication.

When not in use, moveable glass walls can simply be stacked and put to one side. It really is that simple!

Frosted glass walls

Hot-desking, as well as subleasing of extra office space, are just two ways that companies can save money and find efficiencies post-pandemic. For the latter option, you’ll need an opaque divide between one group and another.

This is where frosted glass partitions come into their own. Sandblasted or frosted glass is a stylish way to achieve privacy in the office. Frosted glass walls are ideal for meeting rooms and other suitable spaces. You can even augment the frosted glass with lettering, graphics, and other patterns.

As a bonus, abc Glass can apply a RITEC ClearShield coating to your frosted glass office partitions. This will prevent any build-up of fingerprints, smudges, water marks on the glass surface.

Screens and full-height glass partitions

With scientists warning of several more years of social distancing, office managers need to be realistic. While open plan offices will remain popular, they are not easily adaptable to Covid safety rules.

There are two ways around this problem. The first is to install glass screens between workspaces. Clear, frameless glass screens made from toughened safety glass can ensure compliance with the 6ft rule without blocking light or sightlines.

The second trick is to use full-height glass partitions. These can be fixed or moveable – either way, the goal is to create a fool-proof barrier between desks and workspaces. What’s more, abc Glass can create cut-outs in the glass to allow for hinges, door handles, and fittings.

If you’re a designer or office manager needing glass office partitions, get in touch. Our expert team will happily answer any questions you may have about glass partitions for offices and guide you through our glass processing services.

Glass processing is a true blend of art and science. A touch of flair is essential – as is a skilled team and state-of-the-art production facility.

Fortunately, at abc Glass our glass processing team includes some of the country’s finest glass technicians, trained to utilise both modern and traditional methods. These wizards make use of industry-leading machines and technologies to create stylish and robust glass products. Jobs that used to take days, such as made-to-measure shower doors, glass balustrades, and bespoke mirrors, can now be turned around in a couple of hours.

Intrigued? Here’s a run-down of some of the niftiest glass-making skills we deploy on a typical day…

1. Machine cutting

20 years ago, when abc Glass started out, we couldn’t have foreseen the vast leaps in glass-cutting technology that would follow. Today our factory is stuffed with ultra-modern kit, such as the brand-new vertical CNC (Computerised Numerical Cutting) machine.

This behemoth allows our technicians to cut and shape glass to virtually any spec, with thickness from 4mm to 19mm. Ideal for cutting complex shapes, the machine also lets us cut precise holes for sockets and hinges in shower doors and glass partitions.

Another essential piece of kit is our water jet cutting machine. Its nimble 3-axis design is suited to cutting even more complex glass shapes than the CNC machine, such as unorthodox curves and sharp angles. See this gorgeous “abc” blue glass script as an example of what water jet cutting can achieve:

2. Hand crafting

As much as we love our big machines (and boy, do they save time…), there are certain limitations to computer-based processing. Some jobs require us to produce fine details that can only be perfected by hand. These tend to be ultra-intricate features such as steep curves and round bevelled edges. Our glass technicians are more than happy to cut and shape glass the old-fashioned way – after all, there’s a certain pleasure in keeping alive this timeless craft.

3. Glass toughening

Now that your glass is cut to size shape, it’s time to toughen up. Our toughened safety glass meets all the safety standards for commercial and domestic use. We create it by heating glass sheets in a special furnace up to 600⁰C, before quickly cooling the outer faces. The result is a robust sheet of glass that, if broken, shatters into to hundreds of small pieces instead of leaving razor-sharp shards. Perfect for balconies, shower screens, staircases and floors, and even bespoke mirrors.

4. Laminating

Our laminated safety glass is used all the time in balustrades, partitions, shower screens, floors and stair treads. We create it by bonding an interlayer between two or more sheets of regular or toughened glass. This interlayer can be clear or fully decorative – take your pick from coloured, frosted or even patterned laminated glass. Multiple bonded layers result in an extremely robust glass panel that keeps its form even when shattered. Other benefits include better sound insulation and blocking out harmful UV rays.

5. Edge polishing

Polished edges are an increasingly common sight in interior design. Trends such as frameless showers and structural glass balustrades have led to increased demand for our glass edge polishing service. Glass edge polishing makes the edges safer but can also be a stylistic choice. Our specialists can polish both standard and irregular shapes of glass and mirrored glass with a flat or diagonal finish.

6. Bevelling

This age-old technique is often found in traditional mirrors, as well as glass door panels, shelves and table tops. Bevelling involves grinding and polishing the glass to an exact angle, creating a “framed” look. Our mighty bevelling machines allow us to bevel straight and curved edges in any glass width from 6mm to 40mm. For the most unusual shapes, we are one of only a handful of companies left in the UK who can apply a bevelled edge by hand.

7. Sandblasting

Better known as frosted glass, sandblasting lets designers get creative with the opaqueness of their glass. It’s also ideal for adding a spot of privacy, especially in bathrooms and bedrooms. Our sandblasting specialists can create custom patterns that block out certain areas of a glass sheet, leaving the rest clear. We use a special non-stick coating to protect the glass from smudges, dirt and finger marks.

8. Back painting

Back painted glass allows designers to colour match their glass to its surroundings. It’s the final possible step in the glass processing chain, and possibly the most impactful. Painted glass splashbacks are now a common alternative to tiles or stainless steel, but we can also produce back painted glass for glass partitions, shower screens and worktops. Just pick any colour from the RAL colour chart range or let our experts colour match to your design.

If you’d like to make use of our team’s glass processing skills, please contact us today. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are on hand to answer any questions you may have about glass processing. We can help to get the ball rolling on your next interior design project, no matter how complex.