Things to Know About Wall Protection

Wall protection is a necessity in busy environments to preserve the look of a building and reduce continuous maintenance and repair costs. Here are three things to keep in mind when choosing wall protection.

1. Location.
Deciding on the placement of wall protection can be a challenge. Common areas, like gymnasiums and cafeterias, are prone to wall damage from moving furniture and equipment and may be good starting points. Knowing where damaging objects may regularly hit a wall can help determine where the protection should be placed.

2. Levels of impact.
Wall protection products should be chosen based on the amount of impact the wall may encounter. These products include feature rails, crash rails, rigid sheet, and more. Feature rails can withstand lighter impact from objects such as chairs. Crash rails and corner guards are thicker and designed to keep items further from the wall while withstanding more frequent, intense impacts. Rigid sheet wall protection provides significantly more protection from damage than Type II commercial wall covering. Wall panels are an even more durable option for protection from heavier impacts, as they are considerably thicker. Utilizing wall protection will reduce maintenance and labor costs like drywall repairs and repainting.

3. Special conditions and applications.
Curves and radiuses play a large role in architecture. Graphic wall protection can be used around a column to create unique design elements, such as the imitation of a marble column in a highend space. Certain handrails can be specified for wide or tight wall radiuses. They can even be formed at custom angles on a horizontal plane for ramps and transitions, ensuring mobility and stability for those who rely on both.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management October 2018 issue of Spaces4Learning.

About the Author

Renee Hite is the assistant Business Development manager for interior wall protection at Construction Specialties. To learn more visit www.c-sgroup.com, call 800/233-8493 or email Renee at [email protected].

Featured

  • classroom with crystal ball on top of a desk

    Call for Opinions: Spaces4Learning 2026 Predictions for Educational Facilities

    As 2025 winds to a close, the Spaces4Learning staff is asking its readers—school administrators, architects, engineers, facilities managers, builders, superintendents, designers, vendors, and more—to send us their predictions for educational facilities in 2026.

  • North Dakota State University Completes Music School Renovation

    North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., recently announced that construction on the Challey School of Music has finished, according to a news release. The university partnered with Foss Architecture & Interiors for design and Kraus-Anderson for construction services, and construction began in July 2024.

  • Massachusetts K–12 District Selects Architect for New Junior High

    Swansea Public Schools in Swansea, Mass., recently announced that it has selected Finegold Alexander Architects to design a new junior high school for the district, according to a news release. The firm will create the Feasibility Study and Schematic Design for Joseph Case Junior High School after a lengthy selection process by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

  • UCNJ Launches $30M Modernization of Physical Education Center

    The Union College of Union County (UCNJ) in Cranford, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $30-million modernization project for its Physical Education Center (PECK), according to a news release. The college partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the project’s design, transitioning the existing 42,000-square-foot structure into a campus hub for student athletics and campus life.

Digital Edition