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Forklift Door Curtains UK: A Complete Selection Guide
Forklift trucks are one of the most demanding users of PVC strip curtain systems. High-cycle-count doorways can wear out under-spec'd curtains within months. Choosing the right forklift door curtain from the outset saves money, reduces downtime and maintains the effectiveness of your door barrier.
The Challenges of Forklift Traffic
- Lateral impact — the mast, load or cab pushes strips aside with significant force
- Abrasion — repeated contact with mast and tyres abrades strip edges
- High cycle count — busy doorways may see hundreds of passes per day
- Dragging loads — loads extending beyond truck profile can snag or tear strips
Standard 2mm pedestrian strips are not suitable for regular forklift traffic.
Strip Thickness for Forklift Applications
- 2mm: pedestrian and light trolley only — not recommended for forklifts
- 3mm: suitable for light forklift traffic, low-cycle doorways
- 4mm: recommended for standard forklift access — significantly better impact resistance
- 5mm ribbed: for heaviest applications — articulated trucks, very high cycle counts
Our heavy-duty PVC strip curtains are available in 3mm, 4mm and 5mm ribbed specifications.
Strip Width Selection
For most forklift doorways, 300mm × 4mm clear PVC is the industry-standard specification. Wider strips mean fewer joints for the vehicle to push through and better coverage of the opening.
Swivel Hinge Rail Systems for Forklifts
Swivel hinge rail systems allow the strip to swing freely on a pivoting hinge. When a forklift pushes through, the strip swings aside cleanly rather than bending at the rail connection. Benefits:
- Significantly extended strip life in high-impact applications
- Reduced stress on both strips and rail brackets
- Strips return to hanging position by gravity after each pass
Browse our forklift access PVC strip curtains for swivel hinge options. Also see our swivel hinge PVC curtain strips.
High-Visibility Safety Strips
High-visibility PVC strips — yellow, orange or with yellow/black chevron patterns — at curtain edges visually indicate the doorway position and warn pedestrians. This is best practice under PUWER and the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Summary: Recommended Specification
- Strip thickness: 4mm (standard); 5mm ribbed for heavy applications
- Strip width: 300mm
- Overlap: 50%
- Rail system: Swivel hinge for high-cycle; hook-on for lower traffic
- Colour: Clear with yellow/black edge strips