Temporary Site Screening is a practical and effective way to hide construction work, refurbishment areas and unfinished spaces from staff, visitors and the general public. It helps keep working environments looking professional while essential building work is taking place behind the scenes.
At Project Print Management, we are normally involved in large-format printing, building wraps, scaffold wraps and printed hoardings. However, not every project requires printed graphics.
One unusual project for BNP Paribas in London involved creating a discreet Temporary Site Screening solution to conceal an internal construction area while replacement glazing was being manufactured.
The requirement was simple in principle: hide the works completely and keep the entrance area looking clean and presentable.
In practice, the installation presented several challenges.
Why Temporary Site Screening Was Required
A large section of glazing within the atrium needed to be replaced. The replacement glass had to be specially manufactured, and the process was expected to take at least a month.
During that period, the exposed work area would have made the main entrance and atrium look much more like an active construction site.
For a major corporate office, this was not considered acceptable.
Visitors, staff and clients would continue using the building while the work was underway, so the construction area needed to be concealed as effectively as possible.
Project Print Management was asked to design and install a short-term Temporary Site Screening system that would hide the work without having a significant impact on the surrounding office environment.
Creating a Discreet Site Screening Solution
Unlike many of our projects, the client did not require printed graphics.
The main objective was to create a simple, clean screening system that would blend into the surrounding environment.
Temporary screening does not always need to be promotional or decorative. In some situations, the best solution is something intentionally understated.
A plain PVC screen can conceal tools, materials, temporary structures and unfinished building work while allowing the rest of the property to continue operating normally.
Where required, we can also digitally print Temporary Site Screening with colours, graphics, branding, architectural imagery or other designs.
For particularly discreet installations, the printed colour can even be matched closely to surrounding walls and interior finishes.
Challenges Installing Temporary Site Screening
The main difficulty on this project was access.
There were very few suitable points within the atrium from which the screening could be fixed or tensioned.
Normally, we would look for a solid structure or suitable anchor points around the perimeter of the work area. However, this particular location provided very limited fixing opportunities.
Access equipment was another consideration.
A mobile access platform would usually provide an efficient way of working at height, but steps leading into the atrium prevented suitable machinery from being positioned in the required area.
As a result, the installation team had to work from mobile scaffold towers.
The work had to be carefully planned so the screens could be installed safely while also creating a smooth and professional finish.
Timber Frame Temporary Site Screening
To overcome the lack of suitable fixing points, we constructed a simple timber batten support system.
The Temporary Site Screening material was then carefully tensioned onto the frame.
Tensioning the PVC was important because loose screening can quickly become unsightly. Sagging material, folds and creases can make a temporary installation appear unfinished.
By creating a supporting frame and correctly tensioning the material, we were able to produce a clean, flat surface that concealed the construction area effectively.
Although the screen was temporary, the finished appearance still needed to reflect the quality of the surrounding commercial environment.
Installing the Screening Without Disruption
The BNP Paribas offices remained operational throughout the project, so avoiding disruption was an important consideration.
The installation was therefore carried out during evenings and over the weekend.
Working outside normal office hours allowed our team to complete the Temporary Site Screening installation without significantly affecting staff, visitors or normal business operations.
This type of scheduling is often important when working within occupied offices, hotels, hospitals, retail environments and other buildings where construction work cannot simply bring the surrounding property to a halt.
Temporary screening allows building projects to continue while helping maintain a professional appearance in public-facing areas.
What Is Temporary Site Screening Made From?
The screening used on this project was manufactured from fire-retardant PVC.
PVC is particularly suitable for temporary construction screening because it is durable, flexible and available in large-format sizes.
Depending on the specification, PVC screening can be produced in sections several metres wide and in long continuous lengths, allowing large areas to be covered with relatively few joins.
The material can be used for many different internal and external applications.
Typical uses include:
- Office refurbishment screening
- Construction site protection
- Temporary walls and partitions
- Retail refurbishment
- Hotel renovation projects
- Hospital construction areas
- Internal atrium works
- Building maintenance projects
- Temporary visual barriers
The exact material specification should always be selected to suit the installation environment and project requirements.
Printed Temporary Site Screening
Although no printing was required for this particular project, Temporary Site Screening can also become an effective communication or branding opportunity.
Digital printing allows almost any artwork to be reproduced onto the screening.
For example, temporary screens could feature company branding, project information, architectural graphics, directional information or promotional messages.
For refurbishment projects, we can even produce printed designs intended to replicate the appearance of the finished wall or surrounding architecture.
This can be particularly useful in prestige buildings where the client wants construction work to remain as discreet as possible.
Temporary Site Screening from Project Print Management
Temporary construction works do not have to dominate the appearance of a building.
A carefully designed Temporary Site Screening system can hide work in progress, protect the surrounding environment and help occupied properties continue to look professional throughout refurbishment or maintenance projects.
The BNP Paribas project demonstrates how even a relatively simple screening requirement can require careful planning, bespoke framing and specialist installation.
Whether the requirement is for plain fire-retardant PVC screening or fully printed graphics, Project Print Management can provide temporary screening solutions tailored to the building, access conditions and duration of the project.
For more information on Temporary Site Screening or Printed PVC screening please contact us or visit our blog.
Other projects we have produced for BNP Paribas please click here.
