Walk into almost any busy warehouse and you will find the same quiet problem. Doors stay open for forklifts, heat pours out, cold air rushes in, and the energy bill climbs all year. The fix is rarely a new heating system. More often it is a far simpler piece of kit hanging in the doorway.
Industrial curtains have become a practical answer for firms that want comfort and lower costs without a major build. One example is AKON Curtains, a distributor whose industrial curtains Ireland and UK firms use to seal openings, supported by its US parent group’s 15 years of industrial PVC expertise. This guide explains what these systems do and why so many businesses now rely on them.
What Are Industrial Curtain Walls?
Industrial curtain walls are heavy-duty partitions that divide and protect interior spaces. They hang from a track or frame and create a flexible barrier where a solid wall would be costly or impractical.
The most common version is the strip curtain. A strip curtain is a series of overlapping PVC strips hung across an opening, wide enough to drive or walk through yet quick to close behind you. PVC is a durable, flexible plastic that resists moisture, cold, and daily wear, which makes it ideal for this job.
The appeal is the balance they strike. A doorway stays usable for people and vehicles, while the curtain holds back heat, cold, dust, and noise. That combination is hard to achieve any other way at the same price.
How Do They Cut Energy Costs?
Open doorways are one of the biggest hidden drains on a building’s energy. Every time a door opens, conditioned air escapes and the heating or cooling system works harder to catch up.
A curtain breaks that cycle. It lets traffic pass through while keeping most of the warm or cool air where it belongs. Managing the temperature of a working space is not just about comfort either. The Health and Safety Executive sets out minimum workplace temperature standards that employers are expected to meet.
What Temperatures Do Workplaces Need?
The guidance is clearer than many managers expect. HSE suggests a minimum of 16°C for most indoor workplaces, dropping to 13°C where the work involves heavy physical effort.
Holding those levels is hard in a draughty building with open loading bays. A curtain helps a space stay within range without running the heating flat out. That steadier temperature is easier on both the workforce and the energy meter.
Do They Improve Workplace Safety?
Safety is the second reason curtains have spread so quickly. A good barrier does more than save energy; it helps separate hazards from people.
In a busy site, mixing pedestrians with moving vehicles is a constant risk. HSE guidance on workplace transport stresses keeping the two apart wherever possible. Curtain walls help mark and divide zones. Foot traffic and forklifts then avoid sharing the same space by accident. Many of the quiet hazards behind everyday workplace injuries come down to poor separation of this kind.
Curtains also cut the spread of dust, fumes, and noise between areas. That keeps cleaner zones cleaner and noisier work contained, which matters for both health and compliance.
Where Do Businesses Use Them?
The range of uses is wider than most people realise. Once a firm fits one, others tend to follow.
Common applications include:
- Loading bays. Sealing large openings against weather and heat loss.
- Cold storage. Holding temperature around chilled or frozen zones.
- Welding areas. Screening the arc flash with curtains rated to BS 5867 Part 2 Type B.
- Production lines. Dividing dusty or noisy stages from clean ones.
- Doorways. Keeping pedestrian routes warm without blocking them.
Each use shares the same logic. A flexible barrier solves a problem that a fixed wall would make worse by blocking access.
| Benefit | Why it matters |
| Lower energy use | Less heat escapes through open doors |
| Steadier temperature | Easier to meet workplace standards |
| Clearer zones | Separates traffic, dust, and noise |
| Fast access | Vehicles and staff pass without delay |
| Low fit-out cost | A fraction of building a solid wall |
The pattern is consistent. Small outlay, quick installation, and a return that shows up on the next energy bill.
What Should Buyers Check?
Not every curtain is equal, and the differences matter for safety. A few standards separate a serious product from a cheap import.
UK and European rules give clear reference points. Welding screens should meet BS 5867 Part 2 Type B, PVC fire retardancy is covered by BS 7837, and EN 13501-1 sets the wider European fire classification. Checking for these is the simplest way to confirm a curtain is fit for a working environment rather than a domestic one.
The other factor is reliability of supply. Open doorways are exactly the kind of weak point that turns into one of the downtime problems that catch local firms out. A supplier that can replace strips quickly keeps a barrier working for years rather than months.
What to Remember
- Industrial curtains seal open doorways without blocking access.
- They cut energy loss and help hold a steady temperature.
- HSE expects a minimum of 16°C in most indoor workplaces.
- Curtains help separate pedestrians, vehicles, dust, and noise.
- Look for BS 5867, BS 7837, and EN 13501-1 compliance.
- Reliable supply keeps the barrier working over the long term.
A Small Change With a Big Return
Industrial curtains are rarely the first thing a business plans, yet they often deliver the fastest payback of any building upgrade. They lower bills, steady the temperature, and make a site safer, all from a barrier that costs a fraction of a wall. For any firm with an open doorway and a rising energy bill, they are worth a serious look. The smartest fixes are often the simplest ones hanging in plain sight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Can Industrial Curtains Save On Energy?
Savings vary by building, but the principle holds. A curtain stops conditioned air escaping through open doorways. That means the heating or cooling system works less hard. In sites with frequent traffic and large openings, the lost air is a major drain. A well-fitted curtain often pays for itself through lower bills within a single season.
Are Industrial Curtains Suitable for Cold Storage?
Yes, and it is one of their most common uses. Curtains help hold temperature around chilled and frozen zones while still allowing forklifts and staff to pass through. They reduce the load on refrigeration equipment. They also limit condensation and ice build-up at the threshold. That keeps the area safer and cheaper to run.
What Standards Should a Welding Curtain Meet?
Welding screens should comply with BS 5867 Part 2 Type B, which covers the flame performance needed near an arc. For wider fire safety, BS 7837 addresses PVC fire retardancy. EN 13501-1 sets the European fire classification. Confirming these standards is the clearest way to check a curtain is genuinely suited to an industrial setting.
Do Industrial Curtains Need Much Maintenance?
Very little. PVC strips are wiped clean as part of normal housekeeping and individual strips can be swapped out if one is damaged. That modular design is a real advantage. A single worn strip is replaced cheaply, without taking down the whole barrier. The doorway stays protected with minimal downtime.