PVC strip curtains are flexible, transparent strips made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that hang from doorways or openings. They are used to control temperature, reduce noise, prevent contaminants from entering, and allow easy access for people and equipment in various industrial and commercial settings. Although the benefits of strip curtains may differ from one site to another, they will generally:
- save electricity
- reduce noise
- improve productivity
- promote employee comfort
- restrict air flow (hot and cold)
- restrict ingress of pollutants/insect/dust/birds
- keep your workplace cleaner
How to measure a door opening?
In order to install a strip curtain door, you will need to know its size. Dimensions always appear as width (mm) x height (mm).
- measure the width horizontally from left to right
- measure the height vertically from top to bottom
We call this the daylight opening. The size of a doorway is the main factor affecting the cost of your installation. Smaller doorways openings require less material hence they cost less while larger door openings require more material and are therefore more expensive.
Mounting options
Lintel mount would be the same size as the daylight opening. The PVC curtain rail is secured from underneath directly to the lintel of the door opening. Consequently it will fill the width of the door opening. Sometimes this is the only option available to mount strip curtains, but it is the less preferred method.
Wall mount, however, would sit above the door opening and extend wider than the width of the door opening. With this method the rail is in other words longer than the width of the daylight opening. The result is a better looking, more effective installation.
Static vs Sliding Curtain Doors
A static curtain door is always closed and stays at the same place. A sliding curtain door can slide open (to expose the daylight opening) and slide close (to cover the door opening).
The benefit of a static installation is that you cannot leave it open because its normal position is closed. Staff and vehicles can still pass through thanks to the flexibility of the pvc strips, but it will close once they went through it. A static installation costs less.
Sometimes, certain conditions dictate the use of a sliding strip curtains door. These installations tend to be more expensive, costing 30% more than static installations. Unless your staff maintains discipline, they may leave the curtain door open for extended periods, which defies the initial reason for installing a PVC curtain door. Nevertheless, they do provide a way to utilize the opening as if there are no PVC strip curtains at all.
Note that sliding pvc curtain require space either to the left of the opening, or to the right of the opening, or half of it on both sides. A sliding pvc curtain door can use either fixed track or swivel track.
Strip Curtain Components
A typical strip curtain door consists of the following parts (from top to bottom):
- a pvc strip curtain rail mounted horizontally at the top of the aperture
- plates to secure each strip to the pvc strip curtain rail
- PVC curtain strips hanging vertically from the curtain track to the floor, and
- lots of bolts and nuts
Depending on your specific requirements, the exact parts might look slightly different. In the next few paragraphs we will cover the various options you have.
Strip curtain rails
The economical option is the fixed track. It features an angled shape section and securely attaches to the wall. You can use fascia plates to fasten the PVC curtain strips to the fixed track with bolts and nuts.
Fixed tracks offer a simple design, or, less complicated than swivel tracks. They use less steel, weigh less, and consequently costs less. The downside of using this type of track is you will sacrifice convenience.
Our second type of curtain rail is the swivel track. This product is arguably the best hardware money can buy and is very popular. Each PVC curtain strip receives one swivel plate (2 piece). The front and back plate clamps the curtain strip and the whole assembly slots onto the swivel track.
Furthermore, we galvanize all steel products (including PVC strip curtains hanging rails, swivel & fascia plates, bolts and nuts) to safeguard the steel against rust. If your site is located in a corrosive area, you can also choose stainless steel for the same parts as an optional extra.
Fascia plates & swivel plates
Fascia plates secure PVC curtain strips to the curtain hanger. If you are using a fixed track, then you would use fascia plates to secure your pvc curtain strips. Fascia plates are available in 200 mm, 300 mm and 400 mm and its a 1 piece item. We use 8 mm galvanised bolts and nuts.
However, if you are using a swivel track, then you would use swivel plates to secure your pvc curtain strips. Swivel plates are available in 200 mm, 300 mm and 400 mm and its a 2 piece item. Every strip on your pvc strip curtain gets one.
Strip Curtain Sizes
The three most popular strip curtain sizes are:
- 200 mm x 2 mm = light duty, typically for pedestrian traffic
- 300 mm x 3 mm = medium duty, suitable for pedestrian & pallet jack traffic
- 400 mm x 4 mm = heavy duty, definitely used where forklift traffic exist
Four factors or conditions that affect the selection of strip size:
- height of door opening (or more accurately, height of the installation)
- the higher a door opening, the wider the strip must be
- force of draught through the door opening eg internal vs external door
- for example, internal doors are less exposed the the elements than external doors
- type of traffic which will pass through the pvc curtain door
- pedestrian traffic uses light duty strips
- forklift traffic require heavy duty strips
- how efficient the barrier needs to be
- you can increase or decrease the number of strips aka density
Colour your Strip Curtains
Partition curtains are available in a number of colours. The most popular colour is clear. Additionally. certain colours are for with specific applications. For example:
- clear pvc strip curtains ranging from normal temperature, air conditioned areas to cold rooms and freezer rooms
- transparent yellow is an anti-insect product
- light green and red pvc strip curtains are welding curtains
- various non-transparent (or opaque) colours to partition an area for privacy
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