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Case Study: Insulated Curtains for Energy Efficiency

Challenge

Our customer came to us with a challenge that many manufacturing plants and warehouse facilities face – how to maintain a certain temperature in one area without experiencing a total loss of efficiency in the other parts of the warehouse or plant. The customer leased a warehouse space “as is” and had come to accept that use of the A/C unit would not be a viable option given the configuration of the leased space and the inability to make a permanent change.

Solution

Thermo-Block Curtains by AmCraft Manufacturing, which is a thermally insulated industrial curtain, was a practical solution to this customer’s temperature control dilemma. The insulated curtain was used to cover a large doorway which led into the air-conditioned area and was designed to keep the air-conditioning within the designated space as well as provide extra R-Value (extra insulation), to assist with keeping the temperature where the customer needed it to be.

A customer can choose how thick they would like their industrial curtain to be. Often customers know the R-Value they need, especially if they have consulted with an HVAC company. However, sometimes they don’t know the R-Value they need so we ask them what is their temperature differential, what temperature do you want to keep a certain room at, and what is the temperature range outside of that room and this information enables us to assist them with determining the best thickness of insulation for the curtain.

Insulated Curtains for Energy Efficiency
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Health & Safety

For this customer, a 1 inch thick poly fiber insulated curtain (which has an R-Value of 4), fully encased in a 10 ounce laminated vinyl was installed. The use of laminated vinyl enables the curtain to be wiped down and is somewhat waterproof, with the exception of where the stitching is placed. This added feature makes it great for industrial environments. The insulation used is not fiberglass based, which sets AmCraft apart from our competitors. AmCraft understands that fiberglass, while effective, is also very abrasive. As a result, for manufacturing purposes and for our customer’s health and safety, AmCraft has opted not to use fiberglass in our insulated industrial curtain products.

Installing an Insulated Industrial Curtain

Typically, when you mount an insulated curtain in a doorway it is mounted to a door header above it. This can be problematic because if the track mount lies flush with the door header, the curtain may not easily retract. These curtains need about 7 inches of clearance on both sides of the point where the grommet is, which is where it attaches to the track. This grommet, which allows the curtain to connect into the track, is also what creates the Thermo-Block Curtains ability to accordion fold and retract. However, if the track is flush against the wall, then the industrial curtain is going to drag against the wall and stick out at an angle.

A unique aspect of this installation is the customer used resourcefulness to cantilever the track off the wall 7 inches. However, AmCraft offers custom cantilever brackets that will allow a customer to achieve the same results as well. If you’re mounting parallel to or against a wall it is important to give the curtains space to retract or else the curtains will drag against the wall which will cause them to wear quicker.

Create an Air Tight Space for Proper Insulation

With a Thermo-Block insulated industrial curtain, you want to ensure that it is as air tight as possible. Therefore, including a floor sweep on the bottom is a necessity. A customer would also need a valance and/or filler panel at the top to seal the spaces. Most importantly, an edge sealing option should also be selected in order to create an air tight space. In this instance, the customer opted for the appropriate insulated industrial curtain accessories to ensure proper insulation.

In a typical leased situation, the landlord does not permit the installation of permanent structures. For example, you can’t build a wall to enclose a doorway or drywall yourself in. An industrial curtain is a less permanent option. Once you take the curtain down, you won’t be able to tell anything was there with the exception of a few holes to patch from the bolts used to install the curtain.

The major benefit of Thermo-Block insulated curtains by AmCraft, is it gives manufacturing plants, warehouses, barns, auto body shops and other facilities the flexibility to use air conditioning or heat within a designated area without impacting the rest of the space. As this customer learned firsthand, once the industrial curtain was installed, it provided the level of insulation needed.

Contact the Thermo-Block insulated curtain specialists at AmCraft Manufacturing to discuss the temperature control needs within your facility and learn which Thermo Block insulated curtain product is the best option to optimize your temperature controlled space.