Overview
Choosing between a standard industrial curtain and an insulated industrial curtain can be a difficult decision. Insulated curtains provide greater thermal separation but are more expensive. Standard curtains are less expensive but do not provide as much thermal temperature separation. The following considerations should help you decide which curtain is best for your application.
How Long Can You Use The Curtains?
Insulated Curtains
If your application requires long-term use for the industrial curtains, you might have a better chance of recouping your investment through energy savings. For example, if you require insulated industrial curtains for several years, then chances are the thermal insulated curtains are a better investment. The longer you use the insulated curtains, the more money you are going to save in regards to energy loss. This means less heating and cooling is required which saves you expenses as they relate to your utility bills.
Standard Curtains
If your application requires short-term temperature separation, it is likely a standard non-insulated industrial curtain will be a better option. Standard curtains have an R-value of one, and the greatest loss of energy is from free-flowing air from one temperature zone to another. Standard curtains are also one third of the expense, so your investment costs will be minimal if we compare them with the thermal insulated curtains.
Is There A Difference In The Installation Processes?
Are You Only Trying To Keep Out Cold Air?
In some applications customers are only trying to keep out cold air which is coming from loading dock doors. If the dock doors have a low frequency of opening and closing then it is likely you're just trying to contain the cold blast or hot blast of air from when they do open. In this instance, a standard curtain would be adequate for that application and would minimize your curtain expense.
Are Insulated Curtains Harder To Install?
The modular insulated curtains come in 5 foot panels that Velcro together in the field. This modular design makes them easy to install and take down should you application ever change. For instance, if in the future you need to set up additional floor space for new products, you can repurpose the modular curtains into different areas and shapes. You do not have this advantage with a fixed reasonable which would require demolition.
Standard industrial curtains are usually fabricated in approximately 20 to 30 foot wide increments. These also Velcro together and use the same modular design is the insulated curtains. These are, however, easier to set up because you can install a larger span versus the insulated modular panels which are at 5 foot panels. It is important to know both the insulated and standard curtains are quicker to install than rigid insulated panel walls or stud walls.
Cost And Advantages
By How Much Are Insulated Curtains More Expensive Than Standard Curtains?
Our insulated industrial curtains are about 3x the investment of our standard industrial curtains. It is also important to note that even though the incident or approximately 3x the investment of standard curtains, insulated are about one third of the cost of a standard fixed wall. Also, we have other advantages over fixed walls.
Here Are Some Advantages To Both Insulated And Standard Curtains
- Less expensive than a fixed wall – about 1/3rd
- Quicker installation and setup
- Can be moved in the future if needed
- Can have frame doors and strip doors added
- Does not require a building permit
- Does not require extensive construction
- Can form a complete enclosure with 4 sides
You can see there are many advantages to this design which translates into large savings for your company and greater application flexibility.
