How do I put up a temporary partition wall?

What is a temporary partition wall?

A temporary partition wall is a freestanding wall you can put up and take down without a builder. It splits a hall into breakout rooms, screens off a back-of-house area at an event, or gives an open-plan team a quiet corner. When the job's done, the wall folds, rolls or packs away and the space goes back to normal.

We supply two kinds, and neither needs tools:

• Screenflex room dividers: concertina walls on castors. They come in 7, 9, 11 or 13 panels (4m to 7.3m wide) and 1.8, 2.0 or 2.2m high.
• Portable display panels: light 750 x 1100mm boards that join with poles and clips. An 8-panel kit makes a wall about 3m wide and 2.2m high.

Which one do I need?

If the wall will be moved every day, or its main job is to divide a room, choose a folding divider on castors. If the aim is to display posters or work rather than divide a room, light display panels are the practical choice. Our partitions and room dividers page compares the range.

Use the following steps to put up a folding room divider

1. Roll the folded divider into position. It arrives fully assembled, so there's nothing to put together, and one person can roll it on its castors.

2. Release the latch. Pull the tab marked "Pull to open" on the base rail to free the folded panels.

3. Pull the divider open and position the panels as you want them, even in a straight line. The panels are joined by full-length, top-to-bottom hinges, so the wall can zig-zag or run straight.

4. Lock it in place. The corner and castor wheel locks stop the panels moving once they're set, and the self-levelling castors cope with uneven floors.

5. For a longer wall or a closed room, roll another divider alongside and link the two together.

Note: Leave a gap as a doorway if people need to come and go. Doors are also available.

6. Finally, pin up your signs. The panel surface is tackable and pinnable, so posters and signage go straight onto it, and you're done! To pack away, release the locks, fold the panels back together and roll the divider away.

Use the following steps to put up portable display panels

1. Stand the first two panels side by side. Each panel comes separately.

2. Join them with a connecting pole. The pole locks into the clips fixed to the panels, vertically or horizontally. Add the next panel the same way.

3. Set the angle, or fit feet. Panels set at an angle to each other stand on their own. A straight run or a free-standing notice board needs the support feet.

IMPORTANT: The panels are very light for their size, so take extreme care if you use them outdoors.

4. Attach your posters and signs with self-adhesive hook-and-loop dots or pins.

5. Finally, to pack away, take the poles out, then pack the panels into their carry bags. Each bag holds up to four standard panels, and you're done!

Note: Need panels for a single conference or expo? Our display board hire kits include the panels, poles, feet and carry bags. Screenflex dividers aren't available for single-event hire.