Case Study: PVC Strip Curtains for NHS Hospital Corridor Separation — Manchester

Last updated: April 2026

Client Background

A large NHS Foundation Trust operating a district general hospital in Greater Manchester undertook a facilities improvement programme targeting energy efficiency and infection control across the non-clinical estate. The estates and facilities team identified three specific areas where uncontrolled openings were causing both energy waste and operational problems: the main kitchen goods-inward entrance, the central stores and sterile supply corridor, and the mortuary cold room entry.

The Challenge

Kitchen Goods Inward (External-Facing Opening)

A 2.5m wide × 2.8m high external doorway at the back of the catering facility. Staff frequently left the door wedged open during busy delivery periods. During summer months, this created persistent fly ingress — a recurring issue in EHO and CQC inspections. During winter, the open door caused significant heat loss and draught complaints.

Central Sterile Supplies (CSS) Corridor

A 1.8m wide internal corridor connecting CSS to the main service corridor — knocked through as part of a departmental expansion with no barrier. The CSS department maintains positive pressure ventilation; with no barrier, the pressure cascade was compromised during periods of high corridor traffic.

Mortuary Cold Room

A 1.0m wide × 2.0m high entry maintained at +4°C. Mortuary staff noted the door was awkward to close whilst carrying equipment and had developed a habit of leaving it ajar. Refrigeration monitoring had flagged repeated temperature excursions above the required 4°C maximum.

Solution Selected

Kitchen Goods Inward

Food-grade anti-microbial ribbed PVC strip curtains, 200mm × 3mm, made-to-measure. Stainless steel hook-on rail. Curtain installed behind existing manual door.

CSS Corridor Opening

Anti-static food-grade clear PVC strips, 200mm × 2mm, made-to-measure. Standard hook-on rail. 2mm lightweight specification chosen to create minimal resistance to air flow whilst providing physical demarcation. Smoke pencil testing confirmed the curtain reduced air exchange between zones by approximately 55%.

Mortuary Cold Room

Polar grade 200mm × 3mm clear PVC strips on twin track stainless steel rail. The twin track provides maximum overlap for the +4°C cold room requirement. Total material cost: £890 + VAT for all three installations.

Results Achieved

  • Kitchen goods inward: Zero fly sightings in the kitchen preparation area in the three months following installation (compared to 6 incidents in the prior quarter). Improvement formally noted in the subsequent EHO inspection report.
  • CSS corridor: Positive pressure differential maintained within designed parameters in subsequent ventilation commissioning test.
  • Mortuary cold room: Temperature compliance 100% in the month following installation. Refrigeration run time reduced by 18%, saving approximately £95/month.
  • Combined annual saving estimate: £1,800–£2,400 per year.
  • Payback: under 6 months on total installation cost.

View our anti-microbial and food-grade PVC strip curtains for healthcare environments.