Glass partitions make a medical or allied health practice feel open and bright, but a consult room still has to be private. Patients need to know they cannot be seen and, just as importantly, cannot be overheard. Getting both right comes down to the glass you choose and how it is installed.
Visual privacy options
- Frosted or sandblasted glass. A translucent finish that lets light through while blurring what is behind it. It can cover the whole panel or a band at seated and standing eye level.
- Acid-etched glass. A smooth, even translucent finish that is easier to keep clean than sandblasted glass, which suits clinical spaces.
- Decorative bands. Frosted bands with a logo or pattern give privacy where it matters and act as manifestation so the glass is visible.
- Clear glass with blinds. Flexible, but blinds collect dust and are harder to keep clean.
A common approach is clear glass above head height for borrowed light, with a frosted band across the middle of the panel.
Acoustic privacy is the harder part
Sound insulation is measured as Rw: the higher the number, the less sound gets through. As a guide, the partition systems we install perform roughly like this:
- Single-glazed frameless, 10 mm toughened: about Rw 32.
- Single-glazed framed, 10 mm: about Rw 34.
- Acoustic laminated, 6.38 mm: about Rw 40 single glazed, about Rw 50 double glazed.
- Double-glazed partition with a 10 to 12 mm gap: about Rw 42.
For consult rooms, psychology and counselling rooms, acoustic laminated or double glazed partitions are the usual choice. Our article on sound and thermal ratings explains how these figures translate to what you hear.
Gaps undo good glass
A high-rated glass panel will not perform if sound leaks around it. The weak points are the door, the gap under it, and the junctions at the ceiling and walls. Use seals on doors, a drop seal at the bottom, and make sure the partition head is sealed above the ceiling line if the ceiling void is shared between rooms.
Doors and accessibility
Frameless glass doors look clean but are less acoustically effective. Aluminium-framed glass doors seal better and suit higher-traffic and accessible entries. Plan door widths and hardware with accessibility requirements in mind from the start.
Planning the fit-out
Glass is one of the last trades in a fit-out, and timing matters. Our guide to office partition fit-out mistakes covers the common hold-ups. Bring us in at the design stage so the partition, ceiling and door details work together.
Talk to us about your practice
We install glass partitions and handle commercial glazing for practices across Kingswood, around the Nepean Hospital precinct, as well as Penrith and Western Sydney. For an example of our partition work, see the glazed partitions at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre. Call 02 4722 2787.
