Many warehouses, production facilities, and other commercial buildings will need PVC strip curtains or doors. These help to control and maintain temperatures in a space and keep out dust and debris, while still allowing for easy access by forklifts and even pedestrians. If you need a new PVC strip curtain for your facility, first note if there are any legal regulations; these might dictate the material used in food storage facilities, as an example. Once you know those requirements, note a few other details to consider so you know you get the right type of door or curtain for your facility.

Material thickness

The thicker the material, the more temperature insulation it will provide and more protection from dust and other debris. However, some PVC strips can be so thick that they actually cause resistance to forklifts and other vehicles, and remember that the flap will run over the load being carried by the forklift, potentially causing damage to lighter materials. Thicker flaps can then also slow down the workflow of loading and unloading at a dock or anywhere in your facility. Very thick doors may also be more difficult for foot traffic, so they may not be good for actual doorways.

The thinnest PVC may be .06" and this is good for light protection and areas with foot traffic; the heaviest might be closer to .160", and this may not be good for pedestrians but is better for actual vehicle traffic, such as for a car wash or commercial garage. Choose a thickness in this range depending on your own application and needs.

Strip width

As with thickness and weight, consider that the width of strip may also impede smaller vehicles like forklifts and also get in the way of pedestrian traffic. Very thin strips just a few inches or centimetres wide make it easy for pedestrians to push their way through but may also easily blow around in the wind. Wider strips more than a foot or meter across will provide more protection from dust, dirt, and sand, as well as rocks and other flying debris but won't open very easily for narrow vehicles like pallet handlers.

Colour and material

Opt for a safety orange hue in areas where there is a lot of forklift traffic, to alert pedestrians to this danger. Anti-static strips will have an added coating that will ground any static electricity, a good choice for use around electrical outlets or dry areas where static might build up and cause a shock. Ribbed materials can also lock more tightly, providing a better seal for freezers and walk-in coolers.

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