The material was previously banned due to its flammability characteristics, but the NYS Education Department recently revised its guidelines to allow its use.
School districts are anticipating reopening and are installing dividers and sneeze guards to ensure student and faculty safety.
NYSED previously released guidance on May 29 banning the use of acrylic as dividers, due to the material not complying with the NYSED Manual of Planning Standards (MPS) Sections S205-2 & S205-3 for plastic “incorporated into construction.”
However, the Education Department now acknowledges that typical dividers and sneeze guards do not need to meet the above standards, being that they are not typically incorporated into construction. Rather, they are small accessories or furnishings, either detached, or only temporarily attached to ceilings or countertops.
See the revised July 28 Guidance for more details.
It should be noted that although most clear dividers do not need to comply with the NYSED Manual of Planning Standards (MPS) Sections S205-2 & S205-3, some larger dividers will need to comply with those sections, as they may be considered partitions according to the Building Code.
In a case where your installations need to comply with the above code, you can contact your sales rep and ask about our polycarbonate. Our polycarbonate is fully code-compliant, and is highly recommended for school applications, as it is highly durable and capable of withstanding abuse.
Questions? We'll be delighted to help you! Contact your sales rep to discuss all your acrylic and polycarbonate needs.
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