Any food business with a buffet, salad bar or display of saleable food needs sneeze guards for protection from air-borne contaminants. The size of the food area determines the amount you need to budget for custom sneeze guards or regular plastic sneeze guards. If the food area is oddly shaped or would cause difficulty for sneeze guard installation, custom made sneezeguards may be the only option.

Sneeze guard restaurant equipment varies in price depending on the type of material used in manufacturing, size, weight and portability. The average price range for one food shield is between $200 and $400, and that doesn't include shipping costs. When researching the pricing and costs of restaurant sneeze guards, look for the following:

1. Companies that offer free shipping or free shipping over a certain amount of money spent can save you hundreds of dollars.

2. Surcharges for custom work are sometimes negotiable, so question any extra charges that seem unreasonable.

3. Watch the weight of each restaurant sneeze guard, since this will affect the shipping cost and the overall amount spent.

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Check price comparisons online for different sneeze guard suppliers

Price comparison websites can show you different sneeze guards and include all the pertinent pricing information with the listing. These sites sometimes give dimension information, shipping information and additional information right on the listing. This helps save time when trying to find the best sneeze guard suppliers.

I recommend: Zesco Products gives a listing, including pictures, of different sneeze guards. Pricing and manufacturing information is available. NexTag is a popular resource for comparison shopping, with sneeze guards listed as low as $72 to over $400.

Use companies that offer free shipping on sneeze guards

Because sneeze guards are so heavy, the shipping costs can increase your total cost by $200 or more. By looking for manufacturers that offer free shipping, or using suppliers that offer free shipping, you can greatly reduce your overall investment.

I recommend: SuiteSupply.com gives a large listing of sneeze guards from a variety of sneeze guard suppliers. If shipping is free, it's listed next to the item. Save money on shipping by ordering from The Globe Equipment Company. They offer free shipping on all orders over $250, meaning most sneeze guard orders qualify.

Get estimates for custom made sneezeguards

A custom buffet sneeze guard or salad bar sneeze guard usually costs a little more due to extra charges for custom work. However, most companies will give you an online estimate, provided you give them accurate requirements for your sneeze guards.

I recommend: ADM Sneezeguards offer a whole line of custom sneeze guards and can give you estimates for your sneeze guard project. SneezeGuard Solutions offers a custom option with a downloadable custom width information packet on their website.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Save money on a small food business, such as a snack cart or grocery store recipe chef, by buying one portable food guard. This way you can tote the food guard with you to different events, without needing a custom sneeze guard built.

Sneeze guards are those angled glass or plastic food shields that sit at face level over salad and soup bars or other buffet spreads. They reassure your fussier clients that you’re running a sanitary operation and they’re most likely required by your local health code. You can buy these food guards from a wide variety of restaurant equipment suppliers and specialty sneeze guard makers.

Keep these points in mind when planning for restaurant sneeze guards and other food shields:

1. Check the code on size and placement of sneeze guards
2. Plan for fixed and portable sneeze guards and food shields
3. Know your budget: Sneeze guard styles range from simple, standard-sized models to pricier custom jobs made to match any restaurant décor.
   

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Check your local sneeze guard regulations

Codes may vary but the general rule is that buffet sneeze guards sit in front of the average customer's mouth (around five feet high for adults) and leave room for the customer to reach the food in the back of the bar.

I recommend: See model specs for buffet sneeze guards from the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Codes often follow the sneeze guard standards created by product certification lab NSF International so one safe way to shop is to look for “NSF Certified” labels.

Choose between ready made or custom sneeze guards

On a tight budget, order sneeze guards and other food shields in ready-made sizes or as part of a package buy for a salad bar. For more sophisticated restaurant design, sneeze guard makers create custom lengths, curves and other looks.

I recommend: Try big restaurant supply houses such as Instawares or ACityDiscount for standard sized sneeze guards. ADM Sneezeguards, English Manufacturing and Sneezeguard Solutions are sneeze guard specialists that stock ready-mades and do custom work.

Choose portable buffet sneeze guards for catering or moveable stations

Portable food guards can be folded and put in storage bags or hung on racks, perfect for catering or other situations in which you move stations.

I recommend: Guards Now! offers a nice selection of portable buffet sneeze guards. The ZGuard sneeze guard modular system can be quickly reconfigured.

Choose the right sneeze guard materials

Glass has a richer look, can be ordered in tempered form to block heat and steam and can be easily cleaned with window cleaner. Acrylic is cheaper, lighter and less breakable but easier to scratch and takes special fluids to clean and protect. Fittings are typically chrome but you can also work with brass or other classier looks.

I recommend: See C. R. Laurence Co. for a wide variety of polished and painted metal fittings or Brassfinders for brass food guard holders.

Choose other forms of food shields

Sneeze guards are one of several types of see-through food guards that you'll need for a cafeteria, buffet or fast-food restaurant where customers get close to the food to order or be served.

I recommend: Check English Manufacturing’s gallery of food guard styles for ideas on glass food shields for pizza, bakery, candy, and other food shops.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Wipe food shields often during service and clean thoroughly on both sides between meals.
• •  For easy cleaning, get sneeze guards that tilt up to wipe, then lock back in place at the correct angle.

A restaurant sneeze guard protects buffet-style food from air-borne contaminants. Restaurants that offer buffets, portable food carts and school cafeterias all need sneeze guards. State and national health regulation laws require sneeze guards and provide proper instruction on utilization.

Plastic sneeze guards are the most common type of sneeze guard seen in restaurants. However, glass sneeze guards are another option for custom sneeze guards and regular stock sneeze guards. One advantage glass has over plastic is that it's harder to scratch, making a glass sneeze guard's professional appearance last longer. When researching sneeze guards, remember the following:

1. The height of any food guard needs to be tall enough for the average customer, who is between 5 and 6 feet tall.

2. A buffet sneeze guard should blend in with the decor of the restaurant. Frame color, shield size and installation affect the appearance of a restaurant.

3. All sneeze guards, including custom made sneezeguards, must not be movable by the customer or staff. Swinging sneeze guards cannot protect food.

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Order custom made sneezeguards

If typical manufacturing of restaurant sneeze guards doesn't meet your needs, order custom made sneezeguards. A custom food shield can fit any style counter and can be made without visible screws or with sneeze guard posts that match your restaurant decor.

I recommend: English Mfg. works with restaurants, hotels and food management companies, creating custom sneeze guards to a variety of specifications. FASTRAC CARTS custom builds a variety of sneeze guards for restaurants and other food businesses.

Buy sneeze guards from reputable suppliers

When ordering sneeze guards, use sneeze guard suppliers with a good reputation in the food business. Talk to business associates and read reviews online before making a purchase. Consider how long a company's been around, too.

I recommend: CafeProducts.com offers a sneeze guard selection, and they also offer the option to speak with references for their company upon request. A company like Carlisle FoodService Products has a good reputation, having been in business for 50 years.

Get safety information about sneeze guard restaurant equipment

There are rules and regulations governing the use and installation of sneeze guards. The thickness of the guard, height, construction and use is all regulated by local and international health departments. Before purchasing any sneeze guards, read up on the laws governing sneeze guards.

I recommend: Order standards from NSF International through Tech Street, and stay up-to-date with the latest changes in food safety regulations. Find national and state regulations through the United States Department of Agriculture.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check that any salad bar sneeze guard or buffet sneeze guard meets NSF standards. This helps prevent any problems with future health inspections and ensures that your sneeze guards adequately protect the food.

Any restaurant that is going to offer food to the public buffet-style needs to think about using sneeze guards. Sneeze guards are the simple (or sophisticated), clear surfaces that sit between customers and the food they are ladling onto their plates. It's not just a trend in business; these days, the government has made some sneeze guards mandatory for some food service installations. Business leaders can learn about basic key terms for using sneeze guards and getting them integrated into a restaurant startup plan.

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HACCP

HACCP, or Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points, is familiar to many within the food service industry. This set of federal standards applies to any food service business, and includes guidelines for using sneeze guards.

I recommend: Find out more about HACCP at International HACCP Alliance.

FDA regulations

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration includes sneeze guards in its regulatory standards for food service businesses. The FDA regulations include making businesses label where they will include sneeze guards in a restaurant or other business.

I recommend: See details at FDA Food Establishment Plan Review Guide.

Sneeze guard kits

Some companies offer modular sneeze guard kits, sometimes called 'custom sneeze guard' units, for outfitting a buffet or salad bar that may change with time. Sneeze guard kits can also help when buffet or salad bar sizes may be slightly irregular.

I recommend: Get visuals and details on sneeze guard kits at GlassDivider.com.

Acrylic guards

Many of the top-selling sneeze guard models come in acrylics. These high-density plastics have some benefits over glass, including portability and durability.

I recommend: Find specs on some acrylic sneeze guard models and their attributes at Gala Source.

Elevator set

The elevator set is a simple piece (usually metal) that allows for space between the sneeze guard and a table top or other surface. This is just one of several sneeze guard items that can help to customize the setup of an existing salad bar or buffet area.

I recommend: Find out more about the elevator set and other sneeze guard accessory items at SneezeGuard Solutions.

Lexan

Lexan is another sneeze guard material choice. Lexan is a polycarbonate sheet that provides durability in all kinds of installations.

I recommend: Find out more about Lexan polycarbonate sheets for sneeze guards at Modern Plastics.