Technical Article · Movable Wall Systems
Movable Wall Systems: Transforming Flexible Acoustic Spaces for Modern Offices and Education
How operable wall systems are redefining space planning for architects, designers, and facilities managers across the UK.
Speak to a SpecialistIntroduction
The Case for Flexible, Acoustic Spaces
As our work and learning environments continue to change, architects and commercial interior designers are increasingly tasked with creating spaces that strike a balance between flexibility, sound quality, and modern aesthetics. The growing trend of hybrid work, open-plan layouts, and multifunctional learning areas has intensified the need for buildings to adapt — not just once during construction, but repeatedly throughout their lifetime.
Movable wall systems — also known as operable walls or acoustic partitions — have emerged as the definitive solution to this challenge. Rather than committing to a fixed floor plan, building owners, facilities managers, and designers can use movable wall systems to reconfigure spaces on demand: splitting a conference suite into breakout rooms, dividing a school hall into separate classrooms, or creating quiet focus zones within a bustling open-plan office.
At ModernGlide, we design, manufacture, and install a comprehensive range of movable wall systems across the UK — from high-performance acoustic operable walls achieving Rw 59 dB to fully glazed sliding partitions. This guide explores how these systems are transforming the way we design and use modern spaces, and which systems are best suited to different applications.
"The most flexible building is one that can change its configuration as quickly as its occupants change their minds."
ModernGlide Design Philosophy
Application · Commercial
Movable Walls for Modern Offices
The modern office has undergone a fundamental transformation. Where once a fixed grid of enclosed offices and corridors defined the workplace, today's commercial interiors favour openness, collaboration, and adaptability. But with openness comes noise — and with noise comes reduced productivity, increased stress, and a failure to support the focused work that organisations still need.
Movable acoustic wall systems resolve this tension elegantly. A large open-plan floor plate can be instantly divided into a series of private meeting rooms for a morning of client presentations, then reopened for an afternoon of all-hands collaboration — without a single tool, and without any permanent structural change to the building.
This agility is particularly valuable in the context of hybrid working. As companies right-size their office footprints and ask spaces to serve multiple purposes across the working week, movable walls provide the acoustic infrastructure that makes genuinely flexible working possible.
Key Benefits for Offices
- Create private meeting rooms from open-plan floor space in seconds
- Achieve acoustic separation for confidential discussions (Rw up to 59 dB)
- Support hybrid working by offering both collaborative and focused environments
- Eliminate the cost and disruption of permanent partition construction
- Reconfigure spaces as your team grows or your working patterns evolve
- Retain natural light with glazed panel options across the MG500–MG700 range
Certified
BB93 Compliant
Application · Education
Movable Walls for Schools and Universities
Educational buildings face some of the most demanding space-planning challenges of any building type. A school hall must serve as an examination venue in the morning, a dining hall at lunch, a drama studio in the afternoon, and a community hire space in the evening — often all within the same day.
Movable acoustic wall systems give educational establishments the ability to meet this challenge without compromise. High-performance operable walls allow a large hall to be divided into two or three independent teaching spaces, each acoustically separated to meet the requirements of Building Bulletin 93 (BB93) — the government's acoustic guidance for educational buildings.
At university level, large lecture theatres fitted with movable wall systems can be split into smaller seminar rooms to accommodate varied timetabling demands, maximising the return on capital investment in high-value teaching spaces.
- Divide school halls for simultaneous year-group assemblies or examinations
- Split large teaching spaces to create smaller, focused classroom environments
- Transform lecture theatres into multiple seminar rooms for flexible timetabling
- Accommodate PE, drama, and community events within the same multi-use hall
- Meet BB93 acoustic guidance for schools with certified acoustic performance
- Reduce capital expenditure versus constructing permanent additional classrooms
Product Range
Types of Movable Wall Systems
The ModernGlide MG Series covers every application — from maximum acoustic performance to full-height glazed transparency. Each system is manufactured in the UK and available with NBS specification.
MG100
Movable Acoustic Wall
Our flagship operable wall system achieving up to Rw 59 dB. Top-hung, self-sealing panels in a vast range of finishes. The benchmark for acoustic performance in commercial interiors.
- Up to Rw 59 dB
- Top-hung system
- Self-sealing panels
- 100mm panel depth
MG200
Sliding Folding Partitions
Hinged folding partition system ideal for dividing large spaces quickly and efficiently. Panels fold neatly to the side, maximising usable floor area when open.
- Acoustic rated
- Hinged folding panels
- Compact storage
- Multiple finishes
MG400
Sliding Walls & Doors
Elegant pocket-door and sliding wall system for creating seamless transitions between spaces. Ideal where a clean, minimal aesthetic is required alongside practical division.
- Pocket or surface track
- Single & double leaf
- Acoustic options
- Frameless design
MG500
Flush Glazed Sliding Folding
Combines acoustic performance with full-height glazing for spaces that demand both visual openness and sound separation. Frameless glass panels fold to a compact stack.
- Flush glazed panels
- Acoustic rated
- Frameless option
- Natural light retained
MG600
Glazed Office Partitions
Floor-to-ceiling glazed partition system for modern office environments. Creates private offices and meeting rooms while maintaining visual connection across the floor plate.
- Floor-to-ceiling glazing
- Single & double glazed
- Integrated blinds
- Demountable
MG100E
Fully Electric Movable Walls
Automated operable wall system with motorised panel operation. Ideal for large spaces where manual operation is impractical, or where seamless, effortless reconfiguration is required.
- Fully motorised
- Remote operation
- Up to Rw 59 dB
- BMS integration
Technical
Understanding Acoustic Performance
When specifying a movable wall system, acoustic performance is typically the primary technical consideration. Sound insulation is measured using the Rw (weighted sound reduction index) — a single-number rating derived from laboratory testing to ISO 717-1 that indicates how effectively a partition reduces airborne sound transmission.
A higher Rw value indicates better sound insulation. For context, a standard stud partition wall with plasterboard might achieve Rw 40 dB, while a high-performance movable wall such as the MG100 achieves up to Rw 59 dB — comparable to a solid masonry wall.
It's important to note that in-situ performance (the actual sound reduction experienced in a completed building) is typically 3–5 dB lower than the laboratory-tested Rw value. This reduction, caused by flanking transmission through the building structure, means that specifying the highest possible Rw value is always advisable for acoustically sensitive applications.
ModernGlide can provide full acoustic test data for all MG Series products.
MG100 Maximum Rating
59
Rw dB
Confidential-grade acoustic separation. Comparable to a solid masonry wall.
Rw Rating Guide
Basic Privacy
Speech audible but not fully intelligible. Suitable for low-sensitivity open areas.
Good Privacy
Speech barely audible. Adequate for general office meeting rooms.
Very Good Privacy
Speech inaudible. Appropriate for boardrooms and HR suites.
Excellent Privacy
Confidential-grade. Ideal for legal, medical, and executive environments.
Precision Engineering
Every seal, every panel, every track — precision engineered to exacting standards.
Why ModernGlide
The UK's Specialist in Movable Acoustic Walls
From initial specification through to installation and long-term servicing, ModernGlide provides end-to-end expertise across every project.
UK Manufacturer
All MG Series systems are designed and manufactured to exacting quality standards — ensuring shorter lead times, tighter quality control, and direct technical support.
FIS Accredited
ModernGlide is a registered member of the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) — the industry body for interior fit-out specialists. We are also CHAS and Constructionline registered.
Nationwide Install
Our directly employed installation teams operate across the whole of the UK — from Cornwall to Edinburgh — with no subcontracting, ensuring consistent quality on every project.
NBS Specification
Full NBS Chorus specification clauses are available for all MG Series products, making it straightforward for architects and specifiers to include our systems in project documentation.
Accreditations & Registrations
Further Reading
Technical Guide
Acoustic Ratings Explained
A complete guide to Rw and what dB values mean in practice for architects and specifiers.
Design Guide
Flexible Space Design
How to design reconfigurable commercial interiors that serve multiple functions without compromise.
Education Guide
Flexible Classroom Design
A sector-specific guide to movable wall systems in schools, colleges, and universities.
Get Started
Ready to Transform Your Space?
Whether you're an architect specifying a new build, a designer refitting an existing office, or a facilities manager looking to maximise your building's flexibility — our team is here to help. We offer free technical consultations, NBS specification support, and nationwide installation.
Contact ModernGlide
Phone
01932 918338
sales@modernglide.co.uk
Showroom
Unit 15A Highway Farm
Horsley Road, Cobham KT11 3JZ
UK Manufacturer · FIS Accredited · Nationwide Supply & Install