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The HEPACART Blog

How do HEPACART® and STARC® Systems Offer Flexibility in Containment?

How do HEPACART® and STARC® Systems Offer Flexibility in Containment?
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When maintenance or renovation work happens inside a healthcare or education facility, the stakes are high. You are balancing timelines, tight budgets, and patient or student safety while trying to keep daily operations running smoothly. And every facility manager knows the same problem well: containment is often the first place things fall apart.

Plastic barriers tear. Taped seams loosen. Dust escapes at the worst possible moment. Noise disrupts nearby patient rooms or classrooms. And as soon as the work changes or moves even a short distance, you are rebuilding containment from scratch. It is time consuming, unpredictable, and risky.

Today’s environments need containment that adjusts with the work instead of slowing everything down. Flexible containment, both modular and mobile, has become essential. HEPACART and STARC Systems make it possible to maintain infection control, comply with ICRA and ASHRAE, and still keep work moving safely.

Flexibility Is No Longer Optional

No two maintenance projects look the same. One might require quick above ceiling access in a high acuity area. Another might involve a multi month renovation in a busy corridor. Airflow patterns differ. Room sizes vary. Staff traffic ebbs and flows. And you are expected to protect people, meet compliance requirements, and stay on schedule regardless of what surprises appear.

Rigid containment methods, especially disposable ones, simply cannot keep up with that level of variability. Flexible containment makes it possible to work in occupied spaces without compromising air quality or safety. It adjusts with the environment, not against it. Using mobile units and modular walls together gives you a setup that changes with the work and the space.

HEPACART Brings Containment Directly to the Work Zone

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If you spend any time managing a busy facility, you already know the biggest risks are not always tied to major construction. They show up in the everyday work your team has to do to keep the building running. A ceiling tile comes up, a tech needs access to ductwork, someone has to track down a leak. Those routine moments are exactly when dust and debris sneak into occupied areas.

A Fully Contained Workspace Wherever It Is Needed

HEPACART units move with you. Roll one into place, raise it, and the ceiling work is suddenly happening inside a sealed, controlled space. True HEPA filtration steadily captures particles before they can drift into patient rooms or classrooms. It is a simple change, but it brings a level of confidence that plastic and tape never will.

Faster Setup and Less Disruption

You know how long temporary containment can take when you are using disposable materials. Tape, retape, fix a corner, rebuild the whole thing when you move ten feet. HEPACART eliminates that. You roll it in, set it up, and your team is working again minutes later. It keeps the hallway clear, keeps staff from being interrupted, and helps everyone stay focused on the task instead of the barrier.

Facilities rely on HEPACART for everyday tasks such as:

  • Ceiling tile replacement
  • Electrical and IT wiring
  • HVAC repairs and inspections
  • Plumbing leak investigation
  • Scheduled preventative maintenance

Reliable Isolation for Larger Work Zones

When a single room or small area needs to be fully isolated, the HEPACART AnteRoom gives you a dependable way to create that separation. Paired with a HEPAFORCE machine, it maintains stable pressure and protects the spaces around it. Whether a job lasts one hour or several days, you can trust the environment to remain consistent.

A More Predictable Way to Manage Above Ceiling Work

What stands out across all HEPACART products is how much easier they make your day. You are not chasing down airborne dust. You are not rebuilding barriers. You are not worrying about whether the space is safe. HEPACART creates a cleaner, more controlled environment so you can focus on the work that actually matters.

STARC® Systems Offer Modular Walls for Larger Projects

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When you move from quick fixes to multi week or multi month renovation work, the needs change. You need containment that stays put, holds up to real traffic, and does not look like a temporary fix. That is where STARC Systems really prove their worth. They provide steady, reliable containment during projects that often feel unpredictable.

Durability That Reduces Rework

STARC panels solve a problem every facility manager has dealt with: temporary walls that do not stay intact. Instead of tearing or collapsing when equipment rolls by, STARC panels stay solid. They seal cleanly, hold their shape, and stand up to the constant movement in a healthcare or education environment. That dependability leads to fewer interruptions, fewer rebuilds, and fewer ICRA headaches.

Quieter and More Professional for Occupied Areas

Noise is one of the most common complaints during construction. RealWall panels help keep noise levels manageable and maintain a calmer environment. The panels look like finished walls and blend into the space, and the acoustic control makes a noticeable difference for patients, staff, or students nearby. It is a straightforward way to minimize disruption in sensitive areas.

Fast Installation and Easy Adjustments

Every renovation shifts as it moves forward. STARC systems are designed for that reality. The panels go up quickly, and when your work area expands or changes direction, you can adjust the walls without tearing everything down.

Most facilities rely on two options, depending on the job:

  • RealWall™ when the space is occupied or noise-sensitive
  • LiteBarrier™ for shorter, less complex projects

Long Term Value for Facilities With Ongoing Projects

If your facility renovates frequently, the long term value becomes clear fast. Because the panels are reusable, you stop paying for materials you will just throw away later. 

What you get is a more consistent renovation experience. With a professional, durable barrier in place, you can keep more rooms open, maintain compliance, and reduce the stress that construction typically brings to your team.

Mobile and Modular Systems: Better Together

Most facilities need to manage quick fixes and long term projects at the same time. That is why the strongest containment approach uses both mobile and modular systems. Mobile units support fast, above ceiling or spot maintenance. Modular walls provide the stable barrier needed for extended renovation work. Together, they give you a system that adjusts as the work changes.

A cardiac wing renovation is a good example. STARC RealWall panels separate patient rooms from the construction corridor while a HEPAFORCE® AIR NEGATIVE Air Machine & Scrubber unit maintains negative pressure. Outside that zone, maintenance still needs access to IT lines or HVAC components. Instead of expanding the construction area, a HEPACART cart is rolled in to contain the above ceiling work on its own.

The result is straightforward: fewer disruptions, more rooms kept in service, and consistent infection control across multiple job scopes. It is a simple, scalable way to keep people safe while allowing essential work to move forward.

Flexible Containment Supports Compliance and Long Term Value

ICRA and ASHRAE 170 requirements only continue to get stricter, which means consistent, reliable containment has never mattered more. Reusable systems make that easier. They hold a seal, maintain negative pressure, and stand up to daily use, giving you dependable performance during both short maintenance tasks and long renovation cycles.

The results will be obvious all around your facility. More rooms stay open. Projects stay on track. Dust and noise stay in check. And reducing disposable materials supports both cost savings and sustainability goals.

Flexible Containment Across Different Industries

While healthcare facilities use HEPACART and STARC every day, their value extends well beyond hospitals. Schools rely on them for maintenance during class hours. Pharmaceutical labs use them to protect clean zones during upgrades. Commercial buildings keep tenants operating through improvements. Senior living communities appreciate the quieter, more polished appearance compared to plastic barriers.

Across all of these environments, flexible containment keeps people protected while allowing necessary work to continue.

The Future of Containment Is Adaptable

Facilities need containment that adjusts as quickly as the work does. HEPACART and STARC Systems make that possible. Mobile units bring negative air protection directly to above ceiling and spot maintenance. Modular walls provide long term durability, noise control, and a clean, finished appearance for larger projects.

Together, they give facilities a dependable way to maintain infection control and stay compliant while essential work keeps moving. It is a practical, low-disruption approach to managing construction and maintenance in occupied spaces.

To see how filtration fits into your containment plan, download the HEPA vs. ULPA Guide below.

Download ULPA vs. HEPA Guide

 

HEPA vs. ULPA Filter Guide