{"id":74303,"date":"2026-05-01T08:41:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T13:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/?p=74303"},"modified":"2026-04-28T16:23:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T21:23:26","slug":"look-through-tips-for-specifying-food-shields","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/articles\/look-through-tips-for-specifying-food-shields\/","title":{"rendered":"Look Through Tips for Specifying Food Shields"},"content":{"rendered":"

Breath guards, sneeze guards, food shields\u2014<\/b><\/span>whatever you like to call them\u2014have been around since the \u201950s and have become a main staple of food protection,\u201d says one manufacturer.<\/p>\n

Some of the latest innovations within the category aim to improve ease of use for operators as well as aesthetics for customers. To help guide you on your journey to outfit your operation with the latest food shields, we asked manufacturers to share the latest trends as well as how to sidestep some common specification mistakes.<\/p>\n

\"Hatco

Select units enable a single operator to temporarily move a shield, whether to replenish food wells or clean the glass. Courtesy of Hatco.<\/p><\/div>\n

Ease, Efficiency and Adjustability<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

One pain point manufacturers are solving for is the need to temporarily reposition shields from the height required by NSF, whether for cleaning or to refill wells during service. One manufacturer\u2019s answer to this problem is a new hinge, offered on an existing line. \u201cYou can adjust the angle of the food shield and wherever you push it down to, it stays,\u201d they say. \u201cWith the old designs, there were wingnuts or screws you would have to undo to change the position and retighten. In small spans, having one person make the adjustment wasn\u2019t too bad \u2026 but when it came to larger spans, it became a two-person job. We thought, how can we make this easier? It allows the operator to make adjustments with minimal personnel.\u201d Another maker with a similar feature allows a single operator to move and lock the glass, then gently nudge it to activate soft-close, enabled by a guard stop, which returns the shield to the height required by NSF.<\/p>\n

Convertible shields that can shift between full-service and self-service have been around for years, but some manufacturers are innovating to solve for common complaints. \u201cWhen you closed the shield (from one position to the other) there would still be the glass side panel sticking out,\u201d one manufacturer says. \u201cWe created a universal side panel that when you lower the front glass, the panel tucks away. Aesthetically, it looks better and now it\u2019s unbreakable because it\u2019s not in the way.\u201d This option also can be retrofitted to previous models.<\/p>\n

An Eye on Aesthetics <\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

The latest printed glass options allow food shields to become part of the decor. \u201cWe are doing a lot more printed glass, which allows the operator to really take the visual up a notch,\u201d says one manufacturer. \u201cThe design is embedded into the glass; it is UV-resistant, heat-resistant and you can clean it with anything and it is not going to scratch.\u201d A school mascot or company logo can be printed on the end panel to serve as decoration without entirely obscuring visibility. In cases where equipment needs to be hidden\u2014like the backside of a coffee station\u2014glass can be printed with a geometric pattern or coffee bean motif as an alternative to traditional frosted glass.<\/p>\n

Rather than stand out as a decorative element, you might prefer shields that blend in. Fixed-position, all-glass food shields aim to look virtually invisible to put the focus on the food below. \u201cIn recent years, UV-bonded, all-glass food shields have increased in popularity,\u201d one manufacturer says. \u201cThey eliminate the need for any metal hardware, providing an uninterrupted view of your showcased products and cleaner lines throughout. \u2026 The enhanced visibility helps attract customers while making cleaning and maintenance easier for staff.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"PMG

Custom-printed glass can help set your food shield apart. Courtesy of PMG.<\/p><\/div>\n

Questions To Ask<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

To narrow your search, manufacturers recommend thinking through the following:<\/p>\n

\u2022 What is my service model? <\/b><\/span>Not clearly defining the service model<\/a>\u2014such as full-service or self-service\u2014marks one common misstep, says one maker. \u201cThis makes a big difference in which food shield configuration will work best, so it\u2019s important to clarify this early in the process.\u201d Even if you\u2019re set with a mode of service now, consider whether you might like the flexibility to change in the future without undergoing a significant remodel.<\/p>\n

\u2022 What does my local municipality require? <\/b><\/span>Be sure you are up to speed on local codes, advise manufacturers. \u201cManufacturers are aware of NSF requirements, but check your codes because every single municipality, they can supersede whatever NSF has required,\u201d says one maker.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Am I doing a new build, remodel or a retrofit? <\/b><\/span>These are different beasts when it comes to food shields, manufacturers say. If there\u2019s an existing counter, for example, you\u2019ll need to check if it\u2019s in decent shape. Can you reattach posts for shields, or do you need an entirely new counter because it\u2019s falling apart? Will your holding equipment be changing? \u201cIf your wells are staying the same, the location of your posts (for the food shields) will probably be the same, but if you are relocating or adding or taking away, you might need to reposition the posts so you\u2019re not blocking anything behind it.\u201d Once you\u2019re set on those design decisions, you\u2019ll be ready to think about the shields themselves.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Do I need built-in heating, lighting or both? <\/b><\/span>\u201cA lot of times, heaters or lighting have been an afterthought or left for someone else to incorporate,\u201d one manufacturer says. By deferring that decision, you\u2019ll miss out on the opportunity to incorporate shields with built-in strip heaters or lights. Some manufacturers even offer adjustable lighting. \u201cIn the past, everyone wanted sort of a default yellow bulb. Now there have been studies that show that the lighting definitely changes how people see and perceive the food,\u201d they say. \u201cFor example, cold foods show much better and look fresher when lighting is 4000 Kelvin, while hot foods look more appetizing at 3000 to 3500 Kelvin,\u201d says one manufacturer who offers shields with built-in lighting strips with adjustable levels. \u201cYou could have a well that could be hot in the morning and cold in the afternoon and make the switch on your light source without having to change bulbs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2022 What\u2019s the vision for the servery? <\/b><\/span>Consider your aesthetic vision: What look and feel are you trying to achieve? For example, all-glass shields might complement clean-lined, modern decor. Also take time to think about how diners will move through the space. \u201cFor larger spaces or longer serving lines, an important consideration is how customers will flow through and interact within the space,\u201d one maker says. \u201cCombining different food shield styles and adding partitions in the right places can keep tra\ufb03c flowing smoothly by creating distinct, visually appealing sections to the area.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

With all of the above questions answered and a budget in mind, it\u2019s time to comparison shop. \u201cDo your research and see all the different options and styles that each manufacturer has and see what fits your vision and what you want to accomplish,\u201d says one maker. \u201cNow\u2019s the time to ask, are they only capable of selling a standard piece, or can they customize? Who can produce the product for you in a timely fashion with a reasonable cost?<\/p>\n

\n

Look Through<\/h2>\n

Glance at details on six makers\u2019 newest introductions for food shields, several of them convertible.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some of the latest food shield models offer upgrades in aesthetics and ease of use.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":124,"featured_media":74306,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5231,3188],"tags":[],"segment":[],"manufacturer-category":[],"manufacturer-subcategory":[],"manufacturer-tag":[],"byline":[],"article-level":[],"class_list":["post-74303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buying-guides","category-furnishings-and-decor"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/124"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74303"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74324,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74303\/revisions\/74324"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74303"},{"taxonomy":"segment","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/segment?post=74303"},{"taxonomy":"manufacturer-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manufacturer-category?post=74303"},{"taxonomy":"manufacturer-subcategory","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manufacturer-subcategory?post=74303"},{"taxonomy":"manufacturer-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manufacturer-tag?post=74303"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=74303"},{"taxonomy":"article-level","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-level?post=74303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}