It’s vital for cold storage facilities to maintain safe temperatures. Protecting the integrity
of food or goods environments requiring cold storage will keep food and other
temperature-sensitive items safe to eat or use and help keep you working within the
relevant chilled and frozen products guidelines.
Facilities must maintain excellent health and safety protocols, and the standards will vary
depending on the processing methods and items produced. The Health and Safety
Executive‘s chilled and frozen product requirements are detailed, and you can find more
about the guidelines on their website.
However, there are many other benefits of using strip curtains for cold storage areas.
Stabilised air loss
Strip curtains offer more significant stabilised air loss, preventing 80-90% of standard air
loss compared to conventional doors. As the curtains close quickly and efficiently, they are
only disturbed minimally by traffic coming and going. Opening and closing doors leave a
wide gap where temperature changes can happen quickly. It is not always practical in
areas where vehicles need regular access to stop and close doors. Keeping the air at the
optimum temperature reduces energy costs and provides a safer cold storage area with
minimal temperature fluctuations.
Access ease
They offer easy access for walking and vehicle traffic, speeding up movement and causing
less disruption to production. Workers entering and leaving the cold storage area may be
carrying goods or using forklifts or lorries, and frequent traffic movements can be
challenging to coordinate through more solid barriers. Being transparent, employees can
see approaching traffic and obstacles through them, resulting in fewer collisions and
accidents and allowing for more streamlined, safe movement. Their transparency will also
let natural light through without the temperature extremes of opening and closing
windows and doors. They are suitable for internal and external entrances and can be
combined with doors and shutters on external fitment.
Avoiding contamination
PVC strip curtains also protect sensitive areas from unwanted insects and contaminants.
They create a self-returning barrier, unlike doors which take time and effort to close and
often, in need to get the job done, are left open, strip curtains close around the object
moving through to minimise wasted air loss.
Comfort benefits
Strip curtains increase employee comfort, segregating cold areas effectively from
neighbouring workspaces, so nearby workers are protected from the cold nearby. They
reduce temperature transfer, better keeping the cold areas cold and the warm regions
warm. They also reduce noise transfer, so they provide a quieter working area.
Economic choice
Strip curtains are one of the most economical and cost-effective viable installations with
low maintenance needs. They are space efficient with no need to have overdoor or side
wasted space as required for retractable doors or an allowance for door swing with
opening doors. They do not suffer from the same breakdowns experienced with industrial
doors or power losses as they have no moving parts or power requirements.
What type do I need?
Polar grade and cold storage curtain kits offer an easily installed solution for cold stores,
freezer rooms and refrigerated vehicles. They can also provide anti-microbial properties
that inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, thus breaking the chain of infection and
harmful bacteria transfer in food processing, storage and manufacturing areas. Heavy-
duty strips are suitable for temperatures of minus 40c to plus 25c. Replacement strips are
readily available and easy to fit, making using strip curtains a viable choice for most cold
storage facilities.
If you’re not sure what type of strip curtains would be best for your specific needs, it’s
worth speaking to a reputable supplier, such as Strip Curtains Direct. They’ll be able to
advise you on which type will benefit you best.
