Transformable partitions for an office or a trading floor are an ideal tool for combining or zoning space when you need to turn a small room into a system of mini-rooms or a conference room in a few minutes.
Types and application
A wide variety of transforming partitions produced in our time can be divided into two classes. The first of them is represented by sliding walls, consisting of separate panels. If necessary, they can be manually moved forward in turn from the storage location (parking). The second class includes sliding partitions from the same panels, but connected to each other by hinges. For such a design they were called "accordions." They can be installed with either a ceiling or floor rail. In contrast, sliding walls are attached exclusively to the ceiling. Proceeding from this, their indisputable advantage is the parking place, which can be located anywhere, for example, around a corner, in a niche or other place convenient for the user.
There are transformable office partitions, which are made in such a way that they can be cleaned up, namely in the overhead space. However, they are often not able to provide sufficient sound insulation, and it sometimes reaches 52 dB in modern sliding walls. This figure is comparable to the soundproofness of masonry, in which it is 56 dB.
Technical description
Transformable partitions have a base in the form of a guide rail with a parking zone. It is always securely attached to the ceiling, since it carries all the burden on itself. At the same time, the floor remains almost idle. Only those parts of the locks are attached to it, with the help of which the partitions themselves are fixedly fixed.
Sections can be used as swing-open doors, because their lower fastening is made in the form of a latch. Such a lock can fix the partition in the desired position, and also gives it the ability to rotate up to 180 degrees. Special holes are made in the floor to fix the latches, which are closed with lids having a spring mechanism. Such plugs are necessary in order to prevent the ingress of dust and dirt into the structure itself.
The modular structure of the transforming partitions allows you to design parking zones for a specific width of the canvas, as well as almost any configuration of the room. The sections are attached to the rail, and he, in turn, to the supporting ceiling structure, which is held on the ceiling by studs, which allows you to set it strictly horizontally and at a given height.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of transforming partitions include the following factors:
● ease of use;
● rational organization of zoning of space ;
● reliability and durability;
● compactness when storing (parking) sashes;
● the possibility of using individual panels as swing doors for ventilation or passage.
As for the shortcomings, they include the complexity of installation and the relatively low degree of sound insulation, which, however, can be improved if special retractable seals are used. Experts recommend designing the partition in advance, as well as installing it before the general decoration of the room begins.
Commonly Used Materials
PVC is considered the most democratic basis for the manufacture of partitions. Plastic profiles are great for decorating both budget and expensive interiors. In addition, they are easy to care for, and resistance to high humidity greatly expands the scope of their application. Partitions made of PVC profile can be installed not only in the bedroom, but in the kitchen and in the bathroom.
Partitional frameworks are often made of aluminum, as it is a very flexible and reliable material, and it is also very resistant to deformation. Such a profile can be used separately, but sometimes it is combined with plastic or wood, when the structure must be given special strength and rigidity.
The use of glass partitions
Most often, such structures are installed in shopping malls, where they play the role of shop windows. Perhaps this is the best option to attract a large number of buyers. Now it is not uncommon when during the operation of the outlet the transforming partitions are completely folded. As a result, the buyer can freely enter the store without looking for a door and without going around long display cases. At the end of the working day, the partitions stretch and thus close the trading room.
Transformable panels made of glass can be used not only indoors, but also outside. In the first case, they are used to form separate zones, and in the second - as facade partitions. It is worth noting that for the production of such panels, performed on any basis, whether it is wood, plastic or metal, the type of glass does not matter much, since the frame itself is a guarantee of the strength of the partition.
Another thing is all-glass panels. For their manufacture, only the safest materials are used, which include triplex and tempered glass. To verify their reliability, their characteristics can be compared. The reason for the safety and strength of a material such as triplex is that a special film is glued between the two layers of glass and, if the panel is damaged, the fragments do not fly apart, but remain fixed on it. The reliability of tempered glass is also not in doubt, since it has a surface tension and when it is broken, fragments with non-sharp edges are formed.
Acoustic Sliding Transformable Partitions
The design of such panels is much more complicated than glass. However, elegant and lightweight paintings can not provide reliable sound insulation of the newly created premises. Usually their indicator does not exceed 12 dB. In soft partitions, which are equipped with special anthers, sound insulation reaches a mark of 20-30 dB. In order to significantly improve this indicator, you will need to complicate the design, as well as increase the mass and thickness of the paintings.
For example, to increase sound insulation from 40 to 50 dB, you will need to at least double the weight of the canvas, which will be 50-60 kg / m². The real "heavyweights" in this area can be considered mobile walls. They provide a soundproofness of 53 dB, but it is much more difficult to transform them: not only do each of the modules have to be put in place, but also the canvases need to be pressed tightly against each other and fixed with a special key. It is very important to remember that the installation of acoustic partitions should be entrusted only to professionals, since improper installation can significantly reduce the soundproofing properties of the structure.
Soft sliding partitions
More than 10 years ago, the production of transformable partitions that externally resemble a curtain was established. They consist of a hidden frame covered with several layers of material with good soundproofing properties and finished with eco-leather. When folding, their surface is a soft wave, while its minimum size is no more than 20% of the width of the opening itself. Perhaps this is the most comfortable and beautiful transformer, allowing you to use it both in office interiors, and in a cafe or even in an apartment!