What PVC strip specification for a chiller room?

For positive temperature chiller rooms (0°C to +5°C), use 3mm or 4mm polar grade PVC on twin track or high-overlap swivel hinge rail. Made-to-measure strips to exact height minimise floor gaps.

How much can a cold store save with PVC strip curtains?

Typically £3,000–£8,000 per year per major opening. Payback can be as short as 4–12 weeks due to the high temperature differential and expensive refrigeration electricity.

What rail type is best for a cold room?

Twin track rail provides the best insulation, creating a double layer with no through-gaps. For high-traffic forklift cold rooms, heavy-duty swivel hinge at 50% overlap balances insulation with transit performance.

Do strip curtains meet food safety requirements for cold stores?

Yes. Food-grade polar PVC strip curtains are HACCP-compatible. Strips should hang within 20mm of floor level, be cleaned regularly, and replaced when damaged.

Can PVC strip curtains replace broken swing doors on cold rooms?

Yes, at significantly lower cost. Strip curtains provide equivalent or better thermal performance than functional swing doors. Installation is typically achievable in a single day.

Case Study: Cold Store PVC Strip Curtain Installation

Last updated: April 2026

Client Background

Thornton's Fine Foods Ltd is a Yorkshire-based ambient and chilled food wholesale business operating from a 45,000 sq ft facility on the outskirts of Leeds. The business supplies independent retailers, restaurants, and catering businesses across the North of England, operating a 4,000 sq ft blast freezer (-22°C), an 8,000 sq ft chiller room (+1°C to +4°C), and an ambient warehouse.

The Challenge

The three main entry points to the chiller room had deteriorated swing doors installed in 2014. Seals had perished, door frames had warped, and the mechanical closing mechanisms on two of the three doors had failed. Staff were holding doors open with pallet racking during busy periods, eliminating all thermal control.

Consequences included: chiller running at 6–8°C instead of the required 1–4°C; refrigeration units running at 85–95% run time vs designed 55–65%; regular EHO advisory notes about temperature deviations; and an estimated 15–20% increase in chiller electricity consumption versus the 2019 benchmark. Quotes for powered door replacement were £18,000–£24,000.

Solution Selected

Opening 1: Main Chiller Access (3.5m wide × 3.2m high)

Strips: 300mm × 4mm polar grade PVC, made-to-measure at 3,170mm
Rail: Heavy-duty swivel hinge rail, 3.5m
Overlap: 50%; 23 strips at 150mm pitch

Opening 2: Side Access Door (1.5m wide × 2.4m high)

Strips: 200mm × 3mm polar grade PVC, made-to-measure at 2,380mm
Rail: Twin track rail, 1.5m; 15 strips at 50% overlap

Opening 3: Chiller to Blast Freeze Transfer Hatch (1.2m wide × 2.2m high)

Strips: 200mm × 4mm polar grade, made-to-measure at 2,180mm
Rail: Twin track for double-layer maximum insulation; 67% overlap

Installation Process

Installation carried out by the Thornton's maintenance team over a weekend. Day 1: removal of three failed swing doors, preparation of mounting surfaces, installation of all three rails, hanging strips on Openings 1 and 2. Day 2: Opening 3 twin track installation, final checks on all three curtains. Chiller temperature verified at 2.5°C with all strip curtains installed. Total material cost: £1,840 + VAT.

Results Achieved

Chiller temperature maintained at 1.5–3.5°C throughout operational hours
Refrigeration compressor run time reduced from 88% average to 61% average — a 31% reduction
Estimated monthly electricity saving: 1,840 kWh = approximately £515/month
Projected annual saving: £6,180
Full installation cost recouped in 3.6 months
No further temperature deviation events recorded in subsequent EHO inspection

Facilities Manager's Comment

"We'd been quoted five figures for powered door systems and kept putting it off. The PVC strip curtain solution was installed in a weekend at under £2,000 and has transformed the chiller's performance. The electricity savings alone will pay for it three times over in the first year."

View our polar grade PVC strip curtains for cold store applications.

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Case Study: Cold Store PVC Strip Curtain Installation — Food Wholesaler, Leeds