Made to measure pvc strip curtains — Complete UK Guide

Made to Measure PVC Strip Curtains — Complete UK Guide 2026

Made to measure pvc strip curtains — Complete UK Guide 2026

Made to measure PVC strip curtains are custom-sized, bespoke industrial door solutions precisely tailored to your specific opening, ensuring optimal environmental control, energy efficiency, and operational safety. Unlike off-the-shelf options, they provide a perfect fit, minimising draughts, dust ingress, and heat loss, crucial for maintaining regulated temperatures and hygienic conditions across diverse UK industrial and commercial settings.

Table of Contents

What Are Made to Measure PVC Strip Curtains?

In the demanding environments of modern UK industries, generic solutions often fall short. This is where made to measure PVC strip curtains emerge as an indispensable asset, providing a precision-engineered answer to environmental control challenges. Essentially, these are industrial door coverings crafted specifically to the exact dimensions of your opening, ensuring a seamless and highly effective barrier. Rather than relying on pre-packaged sizes that may leave gaps or require cumbersome modifications, made to measure PVC strip curtains offer a bespoke fit, tailored to every millimetre of your door height and door width.

The core concept behind made to measure PVC strip curtains is customisation. Each curtain is a unique assembly of individual PVC strips, cut to size and suspended from a robust hanging system. This custom size approach means that whether you have an unusually wide warehouse entrance, a particularly tall freezer door, or a standard pedestrian doorway, your PVC strip curtain will be designed to integrate perfectly. This precise fit is paramount for optimising performance, from temperature regulation in cold storage facilities to dust and noise reduction in manufacturing plants.

The benefits of opting for a custom size solution are manifold. A perfectly fitted curtain minimises energy waste by preventing heat or cold from escaping, significantly contributing to operational efficiency and cost savings. It also enhances workplace safety by clearly delineating areas and reducing hazards associated with uncontrolled environments. Furthermore, the ability to specify every aspect, from the strip width and thickness to the overlap percentage, ensures that the final product is not just a barrier, but an integral part of your operational infrastructure, designed for optimal performance and longevity. Investing in made to measure PVC strip curtains is investing in a superior, long-term solution that delivers tangible improvements across various industrial applications.

Types and Specifications

Understanding the diverse types and specifications of made to measure PVC strip curtains is crucial for selecting the ideal solution for your specific application. The effectiveness of these bespoke barriers hinges on the careful consideration of strip dimensions, material grades, temperature ratings, and overlap configurations. Each element plays a vital role in achieving optimal performance in terms of energy efficiency, environmental control, and operational safety.

Strip Widths and Thicknesses

The choice of strip width and thickness directly impacts the curtain's durability, resistance to traffic, and sealing capabilities. Our made to measure PVC strip curtains are available in a range of standard dimensions:

  • 100mm wide strips: Typically 2mm thick. Ideal for pedestrian doorways and light internal traffic where minimal resistance is preferred. They offer excellent visibility and are easy to pass through.
  • 200mm wide strips: Commonly 2mm or 3mm thick. A versatile option suitable for a mix of pedestrian and light vehicle traffic (e.g., pallet trucks). The 2mm thickness is for lighter duty, while the 3mm offers enhanced durability for more frequent use.
  • 300mm wide strips: Available in 3mm or 4mm thick. These are robust solutions designed for heavy-duty applications involving frequent forklift or vehicle traffic. The increased width and thickness provide superior thermal insulation and impact resistance, making them ideal for larger external doorways or high-traffic internal zones. The 4mm thickness offers maximum durability and rigidity.

The selection of strip width and thickness is a critical aspect of creating truly made to measure PVC strip curtains, ensuring they withstand the rigours of your specific environment.

Temperature Ratings and Material Grades

The environmental conditions your PVC strip curtain needs to endure dictate the material grade and its corresponding temperature rating:

  • Standard Grade PVC: Designed for ambient temperatures, typically ranging from -15°C to +50°C. This is the most common grade, suitable for general industrial, warehousing, and retail applications where extreme temperatures are not a factor.
  • Low Temperature / Freezer Grade PVC: Engineered to remain flexible and functional in sub-zero conditions, with a temperature rating from -30°C to +30°C. This grade is essential for cold rooms, freezer units, and refrigerated vehicles, preventing cracking and maintaining its sealing properties even in extreme cold.
  • Ribbed PVC: Available in both standard and freezer grades. These strips feature raised ribs that provide an extra layer of protection against impact from vehicles, reducing scratching and prolonging the life of the curtain. They also help to prevent strips from sticking together, ensuring smooth passage.
  • Welding Grade PVC: Specifically formulated to absorb harmful UV radiation and filter bright light from welding arcs. These strips are typically red, bronze, or green and are used to create safe welding bays, protecting adjacent areas and personnel from flash burns.
  • Anti-Static PVC: Crucial for environments where static electricity build-up can be a hazard, such as data centres or electronics manufacturing. These strips dissipate static charges, preventing damage to sensitive equipment and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.

Overlap Percentages

The overlap of individual PVC strips is a fundamental design aspect that significantly impacts the curtain's effectiveness. A greater overlap provides a more secure seal, enhancing thermal insulation and barrier properties. Our made to measure PVC strip curtains can be configured with various overlap percentages:

  • 20% Overlap: Provides a basic seal, suitable for internal pedestrian doorways where minimal environmental separation is required.
  • 30-40% Overlap: A common and highly effective range for most industrial applications, offering excellent thermal insulation, draught exclusion, and dust control. Ideal for general warehouse openings and mid-range temperature control.
  • 50% Overlap: Offers the maximum possible seal, crucial for critical applications such as cold rooms, freezers, and cleanrooms where maintaining precise temperature and preventing particle ingress is paramount.

The correct strip width, thickness, material grade, and overlap are meticulously calculated when creating your bespoke, cut to size solution, ensuring that your made to measure PVC strip curtains deliver unparalleled performance for your specific needs.

Key Applications in UK Industries

The versatility and efficacy of made to measure PVC strip curtains make them an indispensable asset across a broad spectrum of UK industries. Their ability to provide precise environmental control, enhance safety, and improve operational efficiency is why they are chosen over generic alternatives. Here, we explore some of the key sectors benefiting from these custom size solutions.

Food and Beverage Industry

In the UK's stringent food and beverage sector, hygiene and temperature control are non-negotiable. Made to measure PVC strip curtains play a critical role in maintaining these standards. They are extensively used in:

  • Cold Rooms and Chillers: Essential for preventing cold air loss, reducing energy consumption, and maintaining consistent temperatures for perishable goods. Low temperature / freezer grade strips are vital here.
  • Food Preparation Areas: Acting as barriers against dust, insects, and airborne contaminants, while allowing easy access for personnel and trolleys. This helps businesses comply with rigorous HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) guidelines and other BS EN standards for food safety.
  • Loading Docks: Minimising the entry of external elements and maintaining internal temperatures during deliveries.

The ability to specify every aspect, from the strip width to the overlap, ensures these curtains meet the exacting demands of food hygiene.

Pharmaceutical and Healthcare

Precision and sterility are paramount in pharmaceutical manufacturing and healthcare facilities. Made to measure PVC strip curtains contribute significantly by:

  • Cleanroom Entrances: Creating controlled environments by preventing particle ingress, crucial for manufacturing sterile products and sensitive equipment. Anti-static options are often preferred here.
  • Laboratory Separations: Isolating specific areas to contain fumes, dust, or noise, while maintaining visibility and accessibility.
  • Segregating Storage Areas: Protecting sensitive materials from environmental fluctuations.

The bespoke nature of these curtains ensures a precise fit, which is vital for maintaining the integrity of controlled environments.

Manufacturing and Engineering

From heavy engineering to precision manufacturing, PVC strip curtains offer robust solutions for a variety of challenges:

  • Welding Bays: Welding grade strips protect surrounding areas from harmful UV light and sparks, creating safe working zones.
  • Dust and Fume Control: Containing airborne particles and fumes within specific zones, improving air quality for workers in other areas.
  • Noise Reduction: Acting as acoustic barriers, dampening noise from machinery and production lines.
  • Temperature Zoning: Separating heated or cooled areas from general production zones, enhancing energy efficiency.

The durability of thicker 3mm or 4mm strips, often with ribbed profiles, makes them ideal for these demanding environments.

Logistics and Warehousing

High traffic and large openings are characteristic of logistics and warehousing operations, where made to measure PVC strip curtains provide practical benefits:

  • Loading Bay Entrances: Reducing heat loss/gain and preventing draughts, dust, and pest entry while allowing easy passage for forklifts and vehicles. Ribbed strips are particularly effective here for impact resistance.
  • Internal Segregation: Creating distinct zones within large warehouses for different product types, temperature requirements, or operational functions.
  • Energy Efficiency: Minimising the need for continuous heating or cooling of vast spaces, leading to significant cost savings.

A measured installation ensures that even the largest door height and door width are covered effectively.

Cold Storage and Freezers

Perhaps one of the most critical applications, cold storage relies heavily on effective thermal barriers:

  • Freezer Doors: Essential for maintaining consistent sub-zero temperatures and drastically reducing energy consumption. Low temperature / freezer grade strips are mandatory to prevent brittleness and cracking.
  • Chiller Units: Providing a secondary barrier to minimise temperature fluctuations when doors are opened, preserving product quality.
  • Blast Freezers: Offering robust insulation to support rapid freezing processes.

With precise overlap percentages (often 50%) and appropriate strip width and thickness, these bespoke solutions are tailored to withstand the extreme cold, ensuring maximum efficiency and compliance with BS EN standards for refrigerated environments.

Across all these sectors, the emphasis on a custom size, cut to size approach for made to measure PVC strip curtains means businesses receive a solution perfectly aligned with their operational needs, safety standards, and energy efficiency goals.

How to Choose the Right Made to Measure PVC Strip Curtains

Selecting the optimal made to measure PVC strip curtains for your facility is a critical decision that impacts energy efficiency, operational flow, and workplace safety. A truly bespoke solution requires careful consideration of several key factors, ensuring your custom size curtain performs exactly as intended. This buying guide will walk you through the essential steps to make an informed choice.

1. Assess Your Opening Dimensions: Door Height and Door Width

The foundation of any made to measure PVC strip curtains order is accurate measurement. You need precise figures for your door height and door width.

  • Door Width: Measure the width of the opening from inside the frame, or from where you intend the curtain to start and end. Consider if you need the curtain to overlap the frame slightly for a better seal.
  • Door Height: Measure the height from the top of the opening down to the floor. Account for any uneven flooring or thresholds.

Precision here is paramount for a perfect custom size fit. Remember, a truly cut to size solution eliminates gaps that lead to energy loss and environmental ingress.

2. Identify Traffic Type and Volume

Who or what will be passing through the curtain?

  • Pedestrian Traffic: For foot traffic only, lighter strips (e.g., 100mm or 200mm wide, 2mm thick) offer easy passage and good visibility.
  • Light Vehicle Traffic (Pallet Trucks, Carts): 200mm or 300mm wide strips, typically 2mm or 3mm thick, provide a balance of durability and flexibility.
  • Heavy Vehicle Traffic (Forklifts, Lorries): Robust 300mm wide strips, 3mm or 4mm thick, are essential. Consider ribbed strips for enhanced impact resistance and longevity.

3. Evaluate Environmental Conditions and Temperature Requirements

What specific environmental challenges does your opening face?

  • Ambient Temperatures (e.g., Warehouse to Production): Standard grade PVC, effective from -15°C to +50°C, is usually sufficient.
  • Cold Rooms / Chillers: Low temperature / freezer grade PVC is crucial, maintaining flexibility down to -30°C.
  • Freezer Units: Absolutely require low temperature / freezer grade PVC with maximum overlap (e.g., 50%) to minimise cold air loss.
  • Dust, Noise, Pests: A greater overlap (30-50%) and appropriate strip width will enhance barrier properties.
  • Welding Operations: Specifically require welding grade strips to filter UV light and protect personnel.
  • Static Sensitive Areas: Anti-static PVC strips are necessary to prevent electrostatic discharge.

4. Determine Optimal Strip Width, Thickness, and Overlap

Based on the above, you can now specify the core components of your made to measure PVC strip curtains:

  • Strip Width:
    • 100mm: Pedestrian, light internal.
    • 200mm: Pedestrian & light vehicle, general internal.
    • 300mm: Heavy vehicle, large openings, external.
  • Thickness:
    • 2mm: Light duty, pedestrian.
    • 3mm: Medium to heavy duty, mixed traffic, better insulation.
    • 4mm: Heavy duty, high impact, large external openings, maximum insulation.
  • Overlap:
    • 20%: Basic separation.
    • 30-40%: Good all-round performance, draught exclusion, temperature control.
    • 50%: Maximum seal, critical for cold rooms, freezers, cleanrooms.

The correct combination of strip width and overlap is vital for effective sealing and ease of passage. For example, a wider strip with a high overlap provides a more robust barrier but might offer more resistance than a narrower strip with less overlap.

5. Choose Your Hanging System

The hanging system is integral to a successful measured installation:

  • Hook-on System: The most popular and versatile. Individual strips are fitted with header plates that hook onto a galvanised or stainless steel rail. This allows for easy replacement of individual strips and adjustment.
  • Fixed System: Strips are permanently clamped or bolted to a rail. Less common for industrial applications due to reduced flexibility.

Consider the material of the rail: galvanised steel is standard and cost-effective, while stainless steel is preferred for hygiene-critical areas (e.g., food, pharma) due to its corrosion resistance and ease of cleaning, ensuring compliance with BS EN hygiene standards.

6. Consider Compliance and Regulations

For UK industries, ensuring your made to measure PVC strip curtains meet relevant standards is essential:

  • HACCP: Crucial for food environments. Ensure materials are food-safe and easy to clean.
  • Fire Ratings: All our PVC strips conform to relevant fire safety standards.
  • BS EN Standards: Adherence to British and European standards for materials and safety.

By meticulously working through these steps, you can confidently specify made to measure PVC strip curtains that are perfectly tailored to your unique requirements, providing a durable, efficient, and compliant solution for your UK operation. Our team is here to assist with every aspect of your custom size order, ensuring a precise cut to size solution for your exact door height and door width.

Installation Guide

The effectiveness of your made to measure PVC strip curtains hinges significantly on a correct and secure installation. While a professional measured installation service is always recommended for complex or critical applications, understanding the basic steps can aid in planning and ensuring your cut to size solution performs optimally. The beauty of made to measure PVC strip curtains is that they arrive ready for assembly, designed precisely for your door height and door width.

Basic Installation Steps for Your Custom Size Curtains:

  1. Preparation and Safety:
    • Ensure the area around the doorway is clear and safe.
    • Gather necessary tools: drill, spirit level, tape measure, appropriate fixings for your wall type.
    • Familiarise yourself with all components: the hanging rail(s), pre-cut PVC strips with header plates, and any mounting brackets.
  2. Mounting the Hanging Rail:
    • Positioning: The hanging rail needs to be positioned accurately at the top of your door frame. For a surface mount, the rail sits directly above the opening. For an in-reveal mount, it sits within the frame. Ensure the rail is perfectly level using a spirit level – this is crucial for the even hang of your made to measure PVC strip curtains.
    • Drilling and Fixing: Mark the drilling points for the rail. Drill pilot holes and securely fasten the rail using robust fixings suitable for the wall material (e.g., brick, concrete, steel). The rail must be strong enough to support the full weight of the PVC strips.
  3. Attaching the PVC Strips:
    • Each PVC strip, already cut to size and fitted with a header plate, simply hooks onto the pins or slots on the hanging rail.
    • Begin from one end of the rail and work across, ensuring each strip is correctly positioned to achieve the specified overlap. The precise overlap (e.g., 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%) is predetermined in your custom size order and is critical for the curtain's sealing properties.
    • The header plates are designed for quick and easy attachment and removal, allowing for simple maintenance or replacement of individual strips.
  4. Final Adjustments and Inspection:
    • Once all strips are hung, visually inspect the entire curtain. Check that the strips hang straight, that the overlap is consistent across the entire door width, and that they reach the desired floor level.
    • Test the curtain by passing through it to ensure smooth operation and effective environmental separation.

A properly executed measured installation ensures that your made to measure PVC strip curtains provide maximum thermal efficiency, dust control, and operational ease for years to come. Always refer to any specific installation instructions provided with your bespoke order for the best results.

Maintenance and Care

To ensure your made to measure PVC strip curtains continue to deliver optimal performance and longevity, regular maintenance and care are essential. While PVC is a robust and durable material, proper attention will preserve its clarity, flexibility, and effectiveness as an environmental barrier, ultimately protecting your investment in a custom size solution.

Cleaning Your PVC Strip Curtains:

Over time, PVC strips can accumulate dust, dirt, and grime, especially in high-traffic or industrial environments. Regular cleaning restores clarity and hygiene:

  • Frequency: Depending on the application, cleaning should be performed weekly, monthly, or as needed. High-hygiene areas (e.g., food processing, pharmaceuticals) will require more frequent cleaning to comply with HACCP and BS EN standards.
  • Method: Use warm water mixed with a mild, non-abrasive detergent or a dedicated PVC cleaner. Avoid harsh chemicals, solvents, or abrasive scrubbing pads, as these can damage the PVC surface, leading to discolouration or reduced clarity.
  • Process: Wipe down each strip thoroughly from top to bottom. For stubborn marks, allow the cleaning solution to soak for a few minutes before wiping. Rinse the strips with clean water to remove any soap residue and allow them to air dry.
  • Accessibility: The hook-on system of our made to measure PVC strip curtains makes it easy to remove individual strips for more thorough cleaning if required.

Inspection and Replacement Schedule:

Beyond cleaning, routine inspection is vital to identify wear and tear before it compromises the curtain's functionality:

  • Regular Checks: Periodically inspect all strips for signs of damage such as tears, cracks, excessive scratching, or discolouration. Pay particular attention to the edges and areas of high impact, especially if you have heavy vehicle traffic.
  • Flexibility: In cold storage applications, ensure low temperature / freezer grade strips retain their flexibility at operating temperatures. Any signs of brittleness indicate potential material degradation.
  • Hanging System: Check the integrity of the hanging rail and header plates. Ensure all fixings are secure and there's no corrosion, particularly in damp or corrosive environments.
  • Replacement: Damaged strips should be replaced promptly. A single compromised strip can undermine the overall effectiveness of your made to measure PVC strip curtains, leading to energy loss, pest ingress, or reduced safety. Thanks to the modular design, individual strips can be easily ordered and replaced, maintaining the integrity of your custom size curtain without needing to replace the entire system.

Proactive maintenance ensures your bespoke, cut to size PVC strip curtains continue to provide an effective, energy-efficient, and safe barrier for many years, maximising the return on your initial investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What are the benefits of made to measure pvc strip curtains over standard sizes?

The primary benefit of made to measure PVC strip curtains is their unparalleled precision. Unlike standard, off-the-shelf sizes that may require trimming or leave unsightly and inefficient gaps, a bespoke, cut to size solution is perfectly tailored to your exact door height and door width. This precision ensures an optimal seal, which is crucial for maximising energy efficiency by preventing heat or cold loss, effectively controlling dust and pests, and reducing noise transmission. A perfect fit means no wasted material, a cleaner aesthetic, and superior performance, leading to long-term cost savings and enhanced environmental control. It's a true investment in a functional, durable, and aesthetically pleasing industrial door solution.

Q2: How do I accurately measure for my custom size pvc strip curtains?

Accurate measurement is the cornerstone of effective made to measure PVC strip curtains. For the door width, measure the opening from inside the frame, or the exact width you need the curtain to cover. For the door height, measure from the top of the opening down to the floor. It's often advisable to take measurements at several points across the width and height, especially for larger openings, and use the largest measurement to ensure full coverage. Consider if you want the curtain to sit within the door reveal or overlap the frame; this will affect where you mount the hanging rail. Always measure twice to ensure precision for your custom size order, as this dictates the exact cut to size of your strips and rail.

Q3: What's the difference between standard and freezer-grade pvc strips?

The key difference lies in their material composition and temperature performance. Standard grade PVC strips are designed for general industrial and commercial applications, maintaining flexibility and clarity within a temperature range of approximately -15°C to +50°C. They are suitable for ambient environments. In contrast, freezer-grade PVC strips (also known as low-temperature grade) are specifically formulated to remain highly flexible and prevent cracking or becoming brittle in extreme cold, typically functioning effectively down to -30°C. This makes them indispensable for cold rooms, freezer units, and refrigerated transport, where maintaining the integrity of the thermal barrier in sub-zero conditions is critical for energy efficiency and product preservation. For made to measure PVC strip curtains in cold environments, freezer grade is non-negotiable.

Q4: Can made to measure pvc strip curtains help with energy costs?

Absolutely, made to measure PVC strip curtains are highly effective at reducing energy costs. By creating a precise, custom size thermal barrier, they significantly minimise the exchange of air between different temperature zones. This means less heated air escaping from warm areas and less cold air entering from refrigerated spaces, reducing the workload on your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The exact fit, determined by your door height and door width, along with the chosen overlap (e.g., 30-50%), ensures maximum sealing efficiency. This leads to substantial savings on energy bills, making them a wise investment for any UK business looking to improve operational efficiency and environmental control.

Q5: Are made to measure pvc strip curtains compliant with UK health and safety standards?

Yes, when correctly specified and installed, made to measure PVC strip curtains contribute positively to compliance with various UK health and safety standards. Our PVC materials conform to relevant fire safety regulations. For the food and pharmaceutical industries, specific grades of PVC are used that are suitable for environments requiring HACCP compliance, ensuring hygiene and preventing contamination. The transparency of the strips enhances visibility, reducing the risk of collisions between personnel and vehicles. Furthermore, the ability to create bespoke, cut to size solutions for any door height or door width means they can be designed to safely contain noise, dust, and fumes, improving overall workplace conditions and adhering to general workplace safety directives and BS EN standards.

Ready to enhance your facility with a perfectly tailored solution?

Explore our range of made to measure PVC strip curtains and get a custom quote today!