Operable Partition Systems
From manually operated acoustic walls to fully automated electric systems — every product is designed, manufactured, and installed by Advanced Equipment Corporation.
What Separates One Operable Partition From Another
An operable partition is a run of panels suspended from an overhead track that divides a large room into smaller ones and stacks out of the way when it is not needed. What differs between manufacturers is almost never the face you see. It is the frame behind it, the track it hangs from, and the seals that close the gaps.
Every Advanced Equipment panel is built on an all-welded steel perimeter frame, fusion-welded every eight inches, rather than laminated gypsum skins over a light frame. That is the difference between a wall that still seals after twenty years of daily use and one that does not — we explain the construction in detail in why all-welded steel wins.
Specifying a system comes down to three decisions: how it moves, what the panels are made of, and what acoustic separation the room actually needs. The first is below. The second runs from individual and paired steel panels through folding glass to true curved track. The third is the one most often got wrong — see NIC, STC and NRC explained before you settle on a number.
Manual, Electric, or Spacematic®
Operation is the first decision and the one that most affects budget and daily use. A fuller comparison is in manual vs. electric operable walls.
Manual
No electrical infrastructure, the fewest moving parts, and the lowest total cost of ownership. Panels move individually or in pairs by hand.
Typical: schools, houses of worship, hotel meeting rooms, corporate training floors.
Electric
A low-voltage motor drives continuously hinged panels along the track, so one person can open or close a wall of any size.
Typical: ballrooms and large divisible rooms reconfigured on a daily schedule.
Spacematic®
A patented power-assist drive that moves individual panels to virtually any configuration with a two-person crew, with automatic safety stops.
Typical: convention centers and exhibition halls with complex, frequently changed layouts.
Manual Systems
View All Manual Systems →No electrical infrastructure required. Lowest total cost of ownership with the same world-class acoustic performance.
Paired Panels
Two panels move as one — cutting setup time and labor requirements in half. Ideal for large ballrooms and multi-purpose rooms that need fast, frequent reconfiguration.
- Reduced labor & setup time
- All-welded steel construction
- Field-tested NIC 42 (ASTM E 336)
- Up to 20-year warranty
Individual Panels
The classic operable wall — ALPHA, SIGMA, and GAMMA series panels moving independently for maximum layout flexibility in any size space.
- Heights up to 60 feet
- Field-tested NIC 42 (ASTM E 336)
- Custom finishes
- LEED qualifying
Image Series (Glass Walls)
Folding glass operable partitions bringing natural light into divisible spaces. No floor track required — welded tube steel framing up to 30 feet tall.
- Heights up to 30 feet
- No floor track required
- Single or double glazed
- Manual operation
Curved Panel Systems
The only manufacturer offering true curved track and curved steel panels in a single integrated system — unlocking unique architectural shapes.
- Custom radius design
- Curved and flat panels combined
- Individual panel movement
- Unique architectural solutions
Pass Doors & Pocket Doors
Integrated access doors that match panel construction and finish exactly — fire-rated options, ADA compliant, acoustically sealed for seamless daily use.
- Matches panel finish
- Fire-rated options available
- ADA compliant
- Acoustically sealed
Electric Systems
View All Electric Systems →Power-assisted and fully automated operation — engineered for high-volume reconfiguration in convention centers, ballrooms, and event facilities.
Continuously Hinged Panels
Fully electric system with panels driven automatically along the track — low-voltage motor drive enables single-person operation for walls of any size.
- Single-person operation
- Low-voltage motor drive
- Field-tested NIC 42 (ASTM E 336)
- Heights to 60 feet
Spacematic® Automation
Patented power-assist drive moves individual panels to any position with a two-person crew — designed for large exhibition halls and ballrooms requiring complex layouts.
- Patented power-assist drive
- Any configuration, 2-person crew
- Automatic safety stops
- Ideal for convention centers
Image Series (Glass Walls)
Folding glass operable partitions in electric operation — single or double glazed for light-filled, acoustically separated spaces.
- Heights up to 30 feet
- No floor track required
- Single or double glazed
- Electric operation
Curved Panel Systems
Electrically operated curved systems with sliding elements that store in a deep narrow pocket or parallel to an adjacent room wall.
- Custom radius curves
- Multi-element configurations
- Individual track per element
- Compact pocket storage
Vision
Electric projection screen shield system with microprocessor and sensor control — panels arrive coplanar and operate simultaneously for seamless AV integration.
- Microprocessor control
- Simultaneous coplanar arrival
- All-steel welded construction
- AV-optimized design
Operable Partition Specifications
Operable partition questions we get most
What is the difference between an operable partition, a movable wall, and an airwall?
They describe the same thing: a series of panels, suspended from an overhead track, that divide one large room into smaller ones and stack away when not needed. "Airwall" is common in hospitality and event venues, "movable wall" in architectural specifications, and "operable partition" in Division 10 22 26. We answer to all three.
How much sound does an operable partition actually block?
Our all-steel panels carry field-tested NIC 42 under ASTM E 336, with laboratory ratings to STC 54 — and we guarantee field sound ratings on our large operable walls. The laboratory number and the number you get in the finished building are not the same thing, which is why we publish both. Sound test reports are in the document library. Open the document library →
Should we specify a manual or an electric system?
Manual systems need no electrical infrastructure and have the fewest moving parts, which usually means the lowest total cost of ownership. Electric systems earn their keep where a wall is moved often, is very large, or must be operated by one person. Spacematic sits above both: a patented power-assist drive that positions individual panels to virtually any configuration with a two-person crew.
How tall and how wide can the panels be?
We build one-piece panels up to 60 feet high and up to 60 inches wide — used in convention centers and exhibition halls where standard systems cannot reach. Image Series glass partitions run to 30 feet.
Can an operable partition be made of glass?
Yes. Image Series folding glass partitions use welded tube steel framing, require no floor track, and are available single or double glazed up to 30 feet tall. They are frequently specified alongside solid panels in the same room — glass where daylight matters, solid where acoustic privacy does.
Who manufactures and installs the system?
We do both. Advanced Equipment has designed, manufactured, and installed operable partitions since 1957, so the crew on site understands every track, trolley, and seal they touch.
Before You Specify
Eight guides covering the decisions that come up on nearly every operable partition project.
How to specify an operable partition
A six-step checklist from opening dimensions to finish schedule.
STC, NIC and NRC explained
What the sound ratings mean and which one belongs in your spec.
Manual vs. electric
How to choose between hand-operated and powered systems.
Panel construction
Why all-welded steel outlasts laminated alternatives.
Track systems, explained
How track selection drives stacking, storage and load.
Glass wall installation
A guide to Image Series glass partitions.
What drives the cost
The variables that move an operable partition budget.
Maintenance and service life
Keeping a movable wall moving for decades.
Not Sure Which System is Right For You?
Our team has specified operable partition systems for every type of facility for over 60 years. Tell us about your project and we'll find the right fit.