What are Plastic Curtains?

Plastic Curtains are known by a number of different names including PVC Curtains,Industrial Curtains and many variations on a similar theme.

Different names are used depending on their intended use, but essentially they are variations of the same product. Plastic Curtains are, as the name suggests, curtains made from PVC plastic sheeting. The PVC sheeting is cut into long, narrow strips which are hung together to form what looks like a curtain. Plastic curtains were all the rage during the 70’s, multi-coloured strip curtains used to decorate doorways and keep insects and other pests out of the kitchen. Since then Plastic Curtains have been redesigned and made to work more effectively.

Because of the insulating properties of PVC, these curtains are now used in hundreds of different settings to save money on energy bills, increase food hygiene and as protection from the debris caused by heavy machinery.

Why are Plastic Curtains made from PVC?

The long and short of it is; PVC is really the only suitable material to make these Plastic Curtains. As mentioned previously PVC is a great insulator against heat and noise pollution, which are the main properties which can shave money off energy bill costs. Also these curtains are used in industrial premises and so are frequently used by small vehicles like forklifts and lollops, so they need to be strong and durable. PVC is one of the most durable materials on the market, but due to the chemical makeup, it is also extremely flexible. For this reason it is used all the time in industrial settings as the

likelihood of general wear and tear is very slim. Because of the weight of the PVC strips, when hung in a curtain, each individual strip of PVC falls together seamlessly to form a partition. When a vehicle or pedestrian needs to pass through, they can simply push through the curtain, which then falls back into place within a few seconds.

So how can Plastic Curtains save you money on your energy bills?

Any company operating in an industrial setting will find many issues of concern when it comes to the sheer cost of their energy bills. Particularly in warehouses and storehouses, the required temperature can vary dramatically from area to area. Without some form of insulation, the cost of heating particular areas can be huge. For instance, in a food processing plant often there are foods which require refrigeration in the same storehouse as food that does not. In this situation the two separate areas would require a partition wall with a throughway for pedestrians and small vehicles like trolleys to pass through. Installing a physical door to separate the two areas is costly, the door needs insulating and traversing through with a trolley is time consuming and awkward. In this situation a PVC Plastic Curtain is a much more efficient choice of partition between the two areas. Because PVC is a superb insulator of heat and the curtain falls together seamlessly the ambient temperature on each side of the partition will remain stable when not in use.

When a vehicle or pedestrian requires access the curtain is pushed through leaving a much smaller gap around the sides of the object passing through. This means less heat is dispersed than the use of a conventional door, which would have to open much wider and have more space around the object or vehicle for the heat to escape. Once the vehicle has passed through the plastic curtains the individual strips of PVC will fall back into place in an instant, much quicker than even an automatic door. Less work for the refrigeration equipment, less work for the heating system, more savings on your energy bills.

Can Plastic Curtains save money on energy bills outside of an industrial setting?

Plastic PVC Curtains can save money spent on energy bills almost anywhere. In hospitality environments like restaurants, pubs and takeaways they can be especially useful, not only to save money but also to minimise pests and insects, rodents and other issues surrounding food hygiene. For instance having a small Plastic Curtain between the kitchen and front of house in a restaurant can decrease the cost of your energy bills by better maintaining the temperature in each area. Heat coming from the kitchen will disperse into the eating area, which increases the temperature and the need for air conditioning, and vice versa. The plastic curtain would stop this problem for a negligible cost. Plastic Curtains are also very good noise insulators, which although won’t save money on your bills, would almost certainly improve the general dining experience of your customers.

Plastic PVC Curtains are also incredibly effective for office environments which require regular access for deliveries of equipment, stationary and other bulk order items. It is expensive enough to heat an office all day, especially during the winter months which only seem to be getting longer. If your offices are situated on a ground floor and have delivery access, a lot of heat can be lost through loading doors which need to be kept open for the duration of the delivery. Having PVC plastic curtains over the loading doors would help to insulate the premises while also protecting the goods from adverse weather conditions. Also the cost of electricity used to light an office for eight hours plus is extortionate, more so when computers and other display equipment is in regular use. Having small, thin and slightly tinted PVC curtains would allow sunlight into the office without causing glare on the display equipment, thus reducing the need for electric lighting, conserving money and the environment in one fell swoop.

Final note on plastic curtains

PVC plastic curtains cost very little to have produced and so are much more cost effective than the alternatives. Installation takes up very little time as well, so the smooth running of your operations will not be effected much during this process. This article covered just a few of the different ways of saving money on energy bills through the use of PVC plastic curtains, there are of course many, many more.

You can also read our article on industrial curtains to find out more about how PVC Curtains can reduce your energy bill costs.