Transparent PVC Strip Curtains: Thickness, Overlap and Where They Work Best

Walk through almost any cold store, kitchen passage, workshop or loading bay and you will see them: clear plastic strips hanging from the top of a doorway. They look simple, yet the difference between a well chosen set of transparent pvc strip curtains and a poorly chosen one is large. The right strips keep cold air in, keep dust and insects out and let forklifts or trolleys pass without fuss. The wrong ones crack in winter, stick together in heat, yellow in the sun or leave gaps that defeat the purpose. Aircon Engineers surveys doorways of all kinds, and the same handful of questions decides almost every purchase.

This guide explains how to choose thickness, width and overlap, how to measure a doorway properly and how to look after the strips once they are up.

Why Thickness and Width Matter More Than Colour

Colour deserves only a short mention. Clear strips let people see what is on the other side, which is a safety benefit where vehicles and pedestrians cross. Some sites add ribbed strips for extra impact resistance in the traffic lane, or coloured strips to warn people in specific zones. These variations are useful, but they should follow the main decision about thickness, width and overlap, not replace it. Start with the basic function and add options only where the traffic pattern justifies them.

Strips are sold in a range of thicknesses and widths, and each combination suits a different job. Thin, narrow strips are light and flexible, which suits small doorways with pedestrian traffic and mild temperature differences. Thicker and wider strips are stiffer and heavier, which helps them hold their shape in wide openings, in places with moving air and where vehicles pass regularly.

A common mistake is to choose by price alone and end up with strips that are too thin for the opening. In a wide doorway, thin strips flutter in any breeze and leave gaps. In a cold room doorway, very thin material becomes brittle and breaks. On the other hand, strips that are far thicker than needed are harder to push through and can slow down staff and trolleys.

Think about the temperature too. Standard clear strips are made for normal and moderately cold use. Rooms that run at very low temperatures need special low-temperature material that stays flexible instead of cracking. If your doorway leads to a freezer or a deep cold store, tell the supplier the lowest temperature so that the correct grade is quoted.

Overlap, Mounting and Measuring the Opening

Installation quality is worth a paragraph of its own. Even a well chosen curtain performs badly if the rail is not level or the strips are cut to uneven lengths. Make sure the installer checks the top mounting point, spaces the strips evenly and tests the curtain by walking through it a few times. Ask for a quick demonstration of how to remove and replace a strip, so that your own staff can handle small repairs without waiting for a technician to visit the site.

Overlap is the detail that decides whether the strips actually seal. When strips hang side by side with no overlap, air passes through the gaps. Most installations overlap each strip by about a third to a half of its width, so that the curtain forms a continuous barrier even when the strips move. Wide strips with a generous overlap give the best seal, while narrow strips with little overlap leak the most.

Measure the clear opening carefully, from the top mounting point to a little above the floor, and from the left to the right edge. The strips should hang close to the floor without dragging, because dragging causes wear and dirt. Leave a small gap, then check how the doorway is used. Where forklifts cross frequently, a slightly higher hang height reduces damage, but may allow more air movement near the ground.

Mounting hardware also matters. Stainless steel rails and fittings last longer in damp or washed-down areas, while painted steel is fine in dry settings. Quick-release hooks make it easy to remove a single strip for cleaning or replacement without taking the whole curtain down. Ask how each strip is fixed, and whether spare strips are available locally.

Where Strips Work Well, and Where to Add Other Solutions

Consider the whole doorway, not just the opening. A curtain hung inside a damaged frame or beside a door that never closes properly will not perform as it should. Check the floor threshold, the side seals and the condition of any existing door before you decide. Sometimes a modest repair or a short side skirt next to the curtain makes a bigger difference than upgrading the strips, and a good supplier will tell you so honestly after a site visit.

Strip curtains are excellent in cold stores, food preparation areas, workshops, warehouses and loading bays, where doors are open frequently and a rigid barrier would get in the way. They reduce temperature loss, limit dust, restrict the movement of flying insects and help separate noisy or dirty areas from cleaner ones.

They are not a complete answer on their own. Entrances with heavy human traffic, where people expect a completely clear opening, may be better served by an air curtain, or by a combination of both. If insects are a particular worry, for example in a kitchen or a food packing area, an electric fly killer machine placed away from food surfaces catches the ones that slip through.

For readers weighing alternatives, the comparison of air curtains and PVC strip curtains explains where each one shines, and the walkthrough on protecting a busy entrance shows how all three can work together. If you want a closer look at fans for wider openings, the buying notes on commercial air curtains cover sizing and running costs.

Cleaning, Wear and When to Replace

Keep a simple record of when the curtain was installed and when strips were replaced. A short note on a maintenance sheet helps you predict the next replacement and compare the cost of different grades over time. Sites that track this often discover that a slightly better material lasts much longer and costs less per year, which is a useful insight when you plan next year's budget.

PVC strips are easy to maintain, but they do need attention. Wipe them with mild soapy water and a soft cloth to remove dust and grease, and avoid harsh solvents that can cloud or stiffen the material. Cloudy, scratched strips reduce visibility and can be a safety issue where people or vehicles cross, so replace them when they become hard to see through.

Inspect the curtain regularly. Look for cracks near the top, strips that have curled or stuck together and fittings that have loosened. Replace individual strips as soon as you notice damage, because a single torn strip leaves a gap that wastes energy. Keep a few spare strips in the store, so that replacement takes minutes instead of days.

Heat and sunlight age the material over time. If the curtain hangs where the sun falls directly on it, expect it to yellow earlier. Some suppliers offer strips with extra protection for outdoor or sunny use. Mention the location when you order, and ask how long the strips typically last in similar conditions.

A short buying checklist. Measure the opening width and height. Note the lowest temperature in the room. Decide the thickness and width that suit the traffic. Choose a generous overlap. Pick mounting hardware that suits the environment. Ask about spares and the cleaning routine. Confirm delivery and installation timelines before you place the order.

Final thought. A good strip curtain is inexpensive compared with the energy and product it protects, which is why a careful choice pays back quickly. Take a few minutes to measure, ask questions and plan for maintenance. If you would like help assessing your own doorway, you can reach the team through the Contact Us page of Aircon Engineers.