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by HEPACART on Dec 08, 2025
Infection control isn’t what it used to be, and that’s exactly the point.
The risks are greater, the standards are higher, and the environments are more complex than ever before. Between airborne pathogens, stricter inspections, and shrinking budgets, facility managers are being asked to solve problems that didn’t exist twenty years ago.
Yet many facilities are still relying on containment methods that are twenty years old — plastic sheeting, drywall partitions, and duct tape. These stopgap fixes were never designed for modern healthcare or education environments. They tear, leak, create waste, and slow down work. In short, they’ve become more liability than solution.
Modern problems need modern solutions.
And when it comes to infection control, that means moving away from disposable materials and toward purpose-built containment systems designed for flexibility, compliance, and long-term value.
The Problem with Traditional Containment
Ask any facility manager who’s been through a renovation. Plastic barriers and drywall might do the job for a day, but not for the long haul.
They tear, leak, and create more cleanup than control. They’re also single-use, which means every project starts from scratch. That’s time, labor, and cost you never get back.
On phased or occupied projects, these old methods fall apart incredibly quickly. They don’t move with the project. They don’t hold negative pressure well. And they don’t meet the fire or acoustic standards you need for ICRA compliance.
When inspectors walk through, they can spot a corner-cut containment setup immediately, and the result is usually a delay, a fine, or a rework.
Trends and Innovation in Temporary Containment Solutions
Fortunately, the tools have caught up with growing demands and compliance standards.
Today’s temporary containment solutions are built specifically for healthcare, education, and other critical environments. They’re faster, stronger, and designed to help you meet compliance with less hassle.
Here’s what’s changed:
Reusable & Modular by Design
Panels aren’t disposable anymore, and that’s a good thing. Modern containment systems are built with modular panels and lightweight aluminum framing that can be set up, taken down, and reused across dozens of projects. It’s a smarter, cleaner approach that cuts waste, keeps materials out of landfills, and pays for itself after just a few uses.
Faster Setup & Teardown
Speed matters when your work is happening in occupied spaces. Today’s pre-engineered panels connect quickly and cleanly with no cutting, no taping, no mess. Most systems can be installed by a small crew in a few hours, not days, keeping patient areas, classrooms, and hallways open and operational. Faster turnaround means fewer shutdowns and less downtime for your facility.
Better Infection Control
Containment is directly tied to your facility’s overall safety and air quality. The latest systems integrate directly with HEPA filtration and negative air machines to maintain clean airflow and prevent cross-contamination. Tight seals, gasketed doors, and built-in negative air ports help create true negative pressure zones that meet ICRA standards and keep work isolated where it belongs.
Durable & Safe
Modern containment has to stand up to real, long-term use instead of just one single project. Panels are fire-rated, antimicrobial, and fully cleanable with hospital-grade disinfectants. They don’t sag, crack, or absorb sound, and they hold up under constant setup and teardown. The result is a safer, cleaner, and quieter workspace for staff, contractors, and patients alike.
In short, the new generation of containment systems lets you stay ahead of compliance instead of chasing it.
Industry-Leading Temporary Containment Solutions
When it comes to building smarter, more compliant containment strategies, STARC® Systems and HEPACART® work hand in hand. STARC delivers the structure and durability of modular wall systems, while HEPACART provides the mobile, on-demand containment solutions needed for everyday maintenance and above-ceiling access. Together, they create a complete system for facilities that can’t afford downtime or compromise.
STARC Systems: Permanent Strength With Temporary Flexibility
STARC’s modular wall systems have set a new standard for temporary containment. Instead of relying on plastic or drywall that looks makeshift and wastes time, STARC walls offer a clean, professional-grade finish that performs under pressure.
The RealWall™ system features airtight, sound-dampening panels that reduce renovation noise by up to 25 decibels while maintaining ICRA Class IV compliance. Its telescoping design adapts to varying ceiling heights, and smooth, wipeable surfaces make cleaning and disinfection easy. For lighter-duty or transitional work, LiteBarrier™ delivers the same modular benefits in a more portable form. Both install quickly, last for years, and often pay for themselves after just a few projects.
HEPACART: Mobility That Works as Hard as You Do
While STARC provides structure, HEPACART brings mobility. Our containment carts, anterooms, and negative air machines make infection control possible wherever it’s needed; above ceilings, in corridors, or between occupied rooms.
HEPACART’s dust containment carts, like the Classic, AutoLift, and DUSTBUGGY® models, combine speed and safety with built-in HEPA filtration and negative air capability. The AutoLift model automates lift and seal at the push of a button, reducing labor time without sacrificing control. Every unit is rigorously tested for airflow, filtration integrity, and electrical safety, ensuring consistent, verified performance across every deployment.
The ROI That Speaks for Itself
It’s easy to see why more facility managers are moving to modular and mobile containment. The return on your investment is long-term efficiency and smarter use of every project dollar instead of wasted time, energy, and money.
Lower Labor Costs
Traditional drywall and plastic setups can take a crew an entire day — sometimes two — to install and tear down. Modular systems cut that time by more than half. Across multiple projects, that can save $2,000–$5,000 in labor per project, depending on scale and local rates.
Fewer Delays
Failed inspections and containment rework are expensive setbacks. A single project delay can cost thousands in downtime, not to mention the pressure it puts on patient rooms or classrooms. Airtight, code-compliant systems dramatically reduce those risks and often cut project timelines by up to 20–30%.
Less Waste
Plastic and drywall containment is single-use by design. Once it’s torn down, it heads straight to the landfill. Reusable modular panels, on the other hand, can last for dozens of projects, eliminating recurring material costs and disposal fees that often reach $500–$1,500 per phase. Not only does this save money over the long term, but it also supports your facility’s environmental impact for the better.
Longer Lifecycle
A well-maintained modular containment system can last five to ten years or more, providing consistent performance across hundreds of deployments. When you factor in reduced material purchases, labor savings, and faster turnaround, facilities often see full ROI in the first year or two of use.
Infection Control Has Evolved. Have You?
Temporary containment doesn’t have to mean makeshift.
Modern systems are stronger, cleaner, and built to keep pace with the environments they protect. With modular walls and mobile units from trusted leaders like STARC and HEPACART, you can reduce risk, stay compliant, and keep your facility running safely project after project.
It’s time to move past short-term fixes and build a containment strategy that lasts.
Discover how advanced filtration and modern containment work together in our HEPA vs. ULPA Guide.
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