Industrial Curtains Can Be an Effective Solution in the Highly Regulated Cannabis Business

Industrial Curtains Can Be an Effective Solution in the Highly Regulated Cannabis Business

Cannabis may not be federally legal at this point, but that hasn’t stopped the “green rush” from flourishing in states with medical and recreational programs. Still a relatively new business emerging from years of prohibition, cannabis regulations are stringent and evolving. Everyone who participates in the industry–from growers to retailers and everything in between– needs to stay abreast of local and state requirements while learning how to establish and expand their business. Learn how industrial curtain walls can play a role in making cannabis business operations run smoothly.

Challenges in the Cannabis Industry

Licensed cannabis cultivators create the raw product that is used to create consumer products, including dried flower, edibles, oils, and more. Growers face a number of challenges including pests, humidity control, and temperature control. Once cannabis is successfully harvested it has to be processed, which may occur at the same site of cultivation. Or, it might be shipped to an extraction laboratory or manufacturing facility. These licensed facilities are challenged to create consistent products at scale, which means their interiors are carefully designed and equipped. Finished products are then packaged and sent to retail locations, like dispensaries. Dispensaries need to have a welcoming atmosphere for their clients, but they also need to be able to store their products.
Industrial Curatins in Highly Regulated Cannabis Business
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How Industrial Curtain Walls Can Help

Industrial curtain walls are a versatile solution that can be used in multiple different industries, including agriculture, consumer packaged goods, and retail–all of which play a role in the cannabis business. These industrial curtains can help control temperature and humidity and create effective barriers between work spaces.

Solutions for Different Cannabis Business Environments

Different environments within the cannabis business necessitate different industrial curtain solutions. See how these curtains can be effective in four major areas of the industry:
  • Cultivation facilities and greenhouses. Cannabis is grown in both indoor cultivation facilities and outdoor greenhouses. Both of these environments require exact temperature and humidity control. Industrial curtains can come in insulated variations, which can help facilities manage temperature and humidity control. Industrial curtains can even have airtight edge sealing, which can help to reduce the risk of pests.
  • Extraction laboratories. Extraction laboratories require precise conditions for the processing and extraction of cannabis. Floor-to-ceiling industrial curtain enclosures can be a cost effective way to create separate areas within a laboratory. These industrial curtains can help with air flow management, temperature control, fume and dust control, and more. The curtain walls can also be used to help create spaces for sterile testing and quality control.
  • Manufacturing facilities. Cannabis manufacturing facilities make a number of different types of products, including edibles. There are industrial curtains, both stationary and retractable, that are specifically designed for food processing facilities. These food grade industrial curtains, designed to meet FDA and USDA requirements, can be configured to create separate spaces in manufacturing facilities that make the baked goods and gummies so popular with consumers.
  • Dispensaries. Dispensaries are the retail outlets of the cannabis business. The customer-facing portion of a dispensary will typically feature educational material and information on the products available for sale, but these stores also need separate storage areas. Industrial curtain walls can be used to create separate areas for products in the back of the retail store. Dispensaries can opt for custom curtain walls with printed logos, which can maintain an aesthetic consistent with the location’s branding.
If you have a cannabis business or you are in the process of ramping up operations, you know the importance of detail. Learn more about industrial curtain wall options, how they can be used in the cannabis business, and request a quote to get started.

How to Use Industrial Curtains to Facilitate the Powder Coating Pipe Process

How to Use Industrial Curtains to Facilitate the Powder Coating Pipe Process

Industrial processes can be hot, cold, messy, and loud. Workplaces need the right equipment to safely and effectively contain this type of work – and different types of industrial curtains are up to the task. Powder coating pipes is one the processes that benefits from the use of industrial curtains.

What is powder coating?

Powder coating is a very common industrial finishing process that can be used on a variety of different materials. It has applications in industries including agriculture, appliances, automotive, electrical, and more. You can find this type of finish on things like bicycle frames, forklifts, kitchen appliances, car parts, and many different types of pipe. The process is so widespread it accounts for more than 15 percent of the industrial finishing industry, according to the Powder Coating Institute.

Powder coating is made of several different ingredients that are melted, cooled, and then ground into the fine powder that gives it is name. Next, the powder is typically applied to a surface using electrostatic spray deposition, according to the Powder Coating Institute. The application tool is usually some sort of handheld gun. To complete the application process, the powder coated product, like a pipe, is placed in a curing oven.

The durability of powder coating is one of the main reasons it is such a popular industrial process. Powder coating creates a finish that has high levels of resistance to moisture, scratches, corrosion, and other common causes of wear and tear.

Powder coating metal amcraft manufacturing
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How industrial curtains work?

To understand how industrial curtain walls can help your business with its powder coating, you first need to understand how the curtains work.

Industrial curtain walls are a cost-effective way to create a contained workspace for powder coating pipes and other products. Rather than paying to build walls, industrial curtains are a less expensive, reconfigurable way to create the separate space you need for your facility.

Different types of curtains offer different benefits, including temperature control, sound absorption, and effective division of space.

Putting the two together

Here is how the three main types of industrial curtains can help industrial businesses that perform powder coating.

Insulated curtains

Industrial insulated curtains can be used to create a work area specifically for powder coating materials such as pipes. The curtains (which can come with airtight edges) will contain the coating and its ingredients, ensuring other workspaces do not come in contact with the powder coating. The curtain’s insulation value will also maintain temperature, which can help hasten the drying process.

Industrial insulated curtains can also be used to create secure storage space for powder coating that is waiting to be used. Powder coating should be stored away from an active heat source and in an area less than 80⁰ Fahrenheit, according to the Powder Coating Institute. Humidity control is also important in maintaining the integrity of the powder coating. Industrial insulated curtains can be configured to create a storage space with the right type of temperature and humidity control. When you are ready to use the powder coating, it can be taken to the insulated curtain area set up for the application process.

Thermal insulated curtains come in lightly insulated (flexible), medium insulated (flexible), heavy insulated (semi-flexible), and heaviest insulated (rigid) configurations.

Acoustic curtains

If the sound associated with the powder coating process is the main concern, industrial acoustic curtains could be the best option. Acoustic curtains can reduce or absorb sound, shielding nearby workspaces from the noise of powder coating.

Acoustic curtains come in various configurations, including retractable with single barrier technology and retractable with double barrier technology. The single barrier curtain option offers an average noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of 0.82, while the double barrier curtain option offers a NRC of 0.64. The acoustic curtain right for your business will depend on how much noise your powder coating process produces and how much you want to separate other workspaces from this noise.

Single layer curtains

If a business is conducting powder coating in a space where temperature and sound are not a major issue, a simple separation of workspaces is the solution they need.

Single layer curtains can be manufactured with or without a clear vision panel depending on your facility’s needs and can be used in an array of applications. For example, warehouse curtains are a durable option that can be used to create separate workspaces in large facilities. The curtain wall will contain the materials used in the powder coating process, ensuring other workspaces are not affected.

The type of curtain that will work best for your business will depend on what feature you find the most important: temperature control, acoustic value, or a simple separation of workspaces. Browse the different AmCraft industrial curtains available, find the option that works best for your powder coating pipe needs (insulated, acoustic, or single layer), and request a quote to get started.

The Most Effective Solutions for Noise Reduction and Sound Absorption

Common Uses & Locations for PVC Strip Curtains

No matter what type of facility you work at, you are bound to run into questions and issues about the acoustic quality of your space. Each space, from restaurants to warehouses, is made up of different building materials that will add to or detract from the acoustic quality of your facility. Just from a cursory look at the internet, there are a number of products that boast being able to cut down on sound in a space, reduce echo, and possibly even deaden the unwanted sounds all together.

Acoustic curtains are one genre of acoustic abatement supply that are popular and for good reason. Acoustic curtain products have two main benefits. First, they can provide more space flexibility and versatility than a hard wall can. Acoustic curtains can often be moved easily and therefore can provide acoustic abatement when needed, but do not have to remain in use when they are not required. Second, acoustic industrial curtains can offer different looks and aesthetic options, which may make them more desirable for your space, depending on the setting.

However, even within the acoustic curtain category, there are many different brands and options for an acoustic industrial curtain. Before deciding which products are best for your needs, it is important to educate yourself on what measurements are used to determine how one brand of acoustic curtain compares to another.

Noise reduction and sound absorption
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The Importance of the STC Rating with Acoustic Curtains

One measure of acoustic property is the STC rating. STC stands for sound transmission class, and is defined as how well a septum, in this case an industrial acoustic curtain, can abate sound. It also tells us roughly by how many decibels a given barrier can be expected to lessen sound as the sound travels through it. While it is enticing to think that a thin fabric curtain can give a good STC rating, from a practical standpoint that isn’t realistic. A thicker curtain, one with more acoustic material inside of it, will typically have a better STC rating than a thin curtain.

A great example are the industrial acoustic curtain products offered at AmCraft Manufacturing. AmCraft manufactures acoustic curtains and panels with single block technology as well as double block technology. The acoustic insulated curtain with single block technology has an STC rating of 34.5, while the industrial curtain wall with double barrier technology boasts an STC rating of 47.5.

As a comparison, a single layer of 1/2″ drywall on each side, wood studs, no insulation (typical interior wall) has an STC rating of about 33- comparable to AmCraft’s single barrier acoustic curtain. Meanwhile, 6″ Hollow CMU (Concrete Masonry Unit) has a typical STC rating of about 46, which is slightly less than AmCraft’s double barrier technology curtain.

How NRC Rating Factors into Noise Absorbing Curtains

In addition to considering the STC rating of an acoustic curtain product, you should also consider the NRC rating. NRC stands for noise reduction coefficient, and is an indication of the amount of sound absorbed when it hits a particular surface. An NRC rating of 0 indicates total reflection of the sound, while an NRC rating of 1 indicates total absorption of the sound. As it relates to AmCraft Manufacturing’s product offering, their acoustic curtain with single barrier technology offers an NRC rating of 0.82 and the acoustic curtain with double barrier technology brags an NRC rating of 0.64. Both options offer a superior NRC rating to many of the other curtain products that are readily available.

In your search for the perfect acoustic product, you will find AmCraft’s acoustic industrial curtain wall and acoustic panel products are designed to fit your needs. These curtains offer superior acoustic value, as illustrated by their STC and NRC ratings. They are also fully customizable to your size and aesthetic requirements and are available in both retractable and stationary options.

How to Recognize the Key Features of a Quality Industrial Curtain Wall

How to Recognize the Key Features of a Quality Industrial Curtain Wall

In this day and age, a consumer is faced with many different purchasing options. For every product that you may want to buy, you can likely find a healthy amount of companies that offer it. Often times, deciding which company to purchase a product from can be just as big of a decision as deciding what product to purchase. Industrial curtain wall products are no exception to that rule. Like many other products, there are a variety of factors that impact the quality of an industrial curtain wall, and will likely play a part in your decision of which to purchase.

When spending money, usually a consumer wants to know how far their dollar will take them. In other words, how long can I expect this product to last? And are there certain brands that are expected to last longer than others? For industrial curtain systems, it is important to consider the quality of the material that a curtain is made with and how well the curtain is constructed. Different thicknesses of vinyl provide additional strength. For instance, a 14 oz. thick vinyl is going to be stronger than a 10 oz. thick vinyl.

Enclosure With Filler Panel

In addition to considering the strength of the base material, you should also look at how the industrial curtain is put together and reinforced. Important factors here include, but are not limited to:

  • Is the top edge of the industrial curtain reinforced? This is where all the weight of the system will hang from, so it is important that this is a strong finished edge. Reinforcing can be done with webbing, additional vinyl material, dive belt, or many other strong fabric reinforcement agents.
  • What type of stitching is used? For example, a lock stitch is far more secure than a chain stitch. With a chain stitch, if you pull out one loop, the entire row of stitching can unravel and come undone. With a lock stich, you can break a few loops of the stitching without it impacting the rest of the row.
  • How many rows of stitching reinforce each edge? If an edge is sewn shut with two lines of stitching, as opposed to one, it will be a more secure edge.
  • Are joints between pieces of vinyl material welded together or sewn together? A welded edge is typically stronger and has the added benefit of being waterproof.
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All of these items can give you a clue as to the quality of the industrial curtain that you are considering purchasing.

One of the best, and most easily attainable, gauges of quality is the warranty that a company offers on its industrial curtain systems. The amount of time that a manufacturer stands behind the craftsmanship of its product is a testament to how long they feel it should last, and should be a huge clue to the consumer as to the quality and expected life span of your investment. If the manufacturer that makes the industrial curtain will not stand behind a long warranty, why would you consider purchasing it and expect it to last?

Overall, when considering purchasing an industrial curtain solution for your facility, there may be different companies in the marketplace that sell similar curtain products. However, as with any other purchase, if you take the time to compare the quality of your options, you should feel confident in selecting one that best fits your needs and can span the test of time for you.

At AmCraft manufacturing, we make sure to incorporate all of the above listed aspects of a quality industrial curtain into the production of our products. The top edges of our curtains are reinforced with heavy weight webbing, clear visual panels are welded into the curtains, Velcro is sewn onto the curtain with four lines of stitching, and we use a lock stitch to sew all edges of the curtain. We also offer a 6 year warranty on manufacturer defects of our products, which is one of the longest warranties offered in the industrial curtain industry.

For additional information on our products, and to obtain pricing and samples, contact one of our industrial curtain specialists today!

Top Secret: Industrial Curtain Wall Enclosures

Top Secret: Industrial Curtain Wall Enclosures

Industrial curtain enclosures are used across a vast array of industries and serve a multitude of functions. But what gives them their enclosing super powers? Shhhh…we will let you in on a little secret — industrial curtain wall enclosures are essentially an industrial curtain wall system with a ceiling cover. Yet as simple as that sounds, there are several key things you may wish to consider before you raise the roof.

How Industrial Curtain Wall Enclosures Are Constructed

Industrial curtain wall enclosures can be made using any vinyl, but due their ability to allow light to come through, 20 Mil. Clear and 14 oz. reinforced clear are widely used. Of the two light permissible options, 20 mil. clear is very popular. However, since it does not have any scrim or support inside of it, it is not the strongest material choice. For that reason, the use of the 14 oz. reinforced clear vinyl is highly recommended. It has a frosted finish, which will still allow light and shapes to pass through. However, unlike a 20 mil. clear, it has scrim inside of it, which makes it a stronger material. If you are looking for light to be blocked from entering your industrial curtain wall enclosure, using an opaque vinyl, available in a variety of colors, is another great option. A 14 oz. laminated or 18 oz. coated vinyl will provide strength and will also act as a light blocking ceiling cover.
Curtain Enclosure
In most cases, unless the enclosure is very small, it is not structurally sound to have the ceiling cover be one large piece of vinyl that stretches over the entire enclosure unsupported. To combat this, a ceiling grid is created in order to allow for support of the fabric cover. The grid is created using slotted angle and Unistrut hardware, and uses the existing ceiling to support it. This will provide adequate support for the cover itself, in roughly 50 square foot sections. The enclosure ceiling is typically suspended down from the existing ceiling structure of the building.
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Industrial Curtain Wall Pros & Cons

There are many advantages to adding a ceiling cover to an industrial curtain wall enclosure. The chief benefit is that it can act as a seal to your entire enclosed area. Whether you are trying to contain dust, maintain a certain temperature, or block out light, putting a ceiling cover over the top of an enclosed area will greatly increase the functionality of your enclosure. Certain industries, such as the food processing industry, require that their existing ceiling be covered if there are any non-food grade members in it, in order to be considered compliant. Additionally, spray booths often need a ceiling that is lower than their building’s existing ceiling. These are two examples of facility types that benefit greatly from using a ceiling cover on their enclosure.

The one slight disadvantage of the industrial curtain wall enclosure ceiling top is that it is typically more costly than an industrial curtain wall system that goes all the way up to the existing ceiling or utilizes a filler panel. The cost is largely due to the amount of support and construction needed for the enclosure. But in many cases, the added benefits of using a ceiling cover due to the increased functionality, far outweighs the additional expense. Installation may require a little bit of work, but with the detailed instructions and all the necessary hardware that we provide, we make installing the enclosure as easy as possible.

It’s not a secret that industrial curtain wall enclosures can enhance the functionality of your work space. From using a reinforced clear vinyl to allow the light in, to being an airtight enclosure, industrial curtain enclosure systems are beneficial to many industries. Our grid support ceiling cover will give your enclosure adequate long lasting support.

Learn more about industrial curtain enclosures by contacting AmCraft Manufacturing today.

Prepare for Summer with Industrial Insulated Curtains

Prepare for Summer with Industrial Insulated Curtains

When you think of summer, you want to envision sunny skies and soaking up the warm air. Although we enjoy all that summer brings, it can be a difficult time for businesses and their inventories. There are many useful applications for industrial insulated curtains in the workplace in all seasons, but with summer approaching, you may want to consider how insulated curtain walls can be used to benefit your business. 

Using Insulated Industrial Curtains in the workplace is a great way to control energy costs by isolating areas in large spaces into separate temperature zones. Insulated curtain enclosures and insulated wall barriers are a temporary, or permanent solution for controlling temperature zones and air flow in your facility.
Choose the amount of insulation you need.

Industrial Insulated Curtains are most often used in cold storage applications. Whether you’ll need to isolate a small or large area, an insulated curtain is easy to configure to any space. AmCraft provides different R-Value insulation levels for the amount of insulation required to control humidity and temperature to your specific need. R-Values are used as a measurement to determine the temperature differences that can be maintained on each side of the insulated curtain. Many times these temperature differentials can be substantial, especially when containing food or pharmaceuticals.

Retractable Insulated Enclosure Pass-Thru
This Measurement Chart will help you to determine the amount of insulation needed for your application:
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Control temperature zones in & around air conditioning units

Controlling and containing air conditioned areas is not only an economic necessity, but it also affects how you use your space. Warm summers cause air conditioners to kick in, sometimes randomly or continuously, causing extreme temperature fluctuations and blowing air. Insulated curtains are a great way to control both air flow & room temperatures in a facility as retractable walls or an enclosure.
Retractable Insulated Enclosure Pass-Thru

Insulated Curtains as wall barriers in the workplace

Warm weather also brings more open doors, whether to get some fresh air, or when dock doors are left open longer than usual. Many cooled, frozen, and refrigerated areas can benefit from insulated curtain barriers over other options as the cold air can be contained to specific areas, and at separate temperatures to protect inventories from spoiling or becoming damaged. With the proper input of air conditioned air, insulated industrial curtain walls retain the temperature and humidity levels required to store, protect and even produce temperature-sensitive products in manufacturing facilities.
Light Insulation Open Side

Insulated Industrial Curtains can be retractable

AmCraft insulated curtains provide retractability, allowing for easy access into an enclosure or into work areas. Depending on the amount of insulation you use and the way the insulated curtain is attached to structural ceilings, our mounting options provide a number of solutions for each application. Whether you need to create an enclosure for total temperature control, create a barrier wall to isolate an area, or create access into climate sensitive manufacturing & distribution facilities, a retractable insulated curtain is not only a great solution and easy to install, but the cost savings is significant when compared to building structural walls or rooms to solve an air flow or room temperature problem.
Insulated Curtain Folding
Find out more about how you can use Insulated Industrial Curtains in your facility. We’ll help you to determine the best R-Value, mounting option and layout configuration to create a custom solution for your business. Create Your Curtain Online Now!

Commercial Restaurant Curtains vs. Decorative Curtains

Commercial Restaurant Curtains vs.
Decorative Curtains

Find out how Decorative vs. Industrial Restaurant Curtains bridge the divide when a decorative room divider solution is attained for a restaurant from an industrial application.

Businesses usually know where to go to purchase standard products that are used within their industry. When a new need presents itself, a business owner will look to suppliers in their industry first. However, sometimes there is a need these suppliers can’t meet. A restaurant room divider curtain falls into many industry categories that include commercial draperies, home goods, custom designers as well as restaurant equipment suppliers. Because it can be very loud in the restaurant, retractable acoustic sound barrier curtains are just a sample which most likely cannot be supplied by a restaurant supplier. In the case of Ravinia, an outdoor musical and theater venue in Highland Park, IL, their indoor restaurant was in need of a large, decorative, and retractable curtain to separate space in the banquet room. The banquet room Mirabelle, is professionally decorated and the new room divider curtain needed to look attractive and fit with the decor.

Acoustic solutions baffle sound panels restaurant
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Looking Outside The Normal Distribution Channels

Jim R., the facilities manager for Ravinia was tasked to find a solution for concealing a large storage area inside the room. He determined early on that the best way to do this was with a retractable fabric curtain that would need to be structurally mounted to the ceiling beams.

He had the perfect, quality material for making the curtains, but no way to mount it to the ceiling. His calls to existing vendors did not produce a good option for hanging the curtain, and he had another problem. The decorative material of the curtain was semi-transparent when used with the existing lighting on either side of the curtain. He looked for a way to not only add a liner to the material, but also for a way to support the weight of the finished curtains. At this point he decided to perform some internet research to find other options.

Don’t Give Up, Instead, Think Creatively

When used inside a quality banquet facility such as the Mirabelle, the curtains need to meet the requirements of fashionable and modern décor. Industrial curtains are typically constructed of vinyl, as they are used for purposes required inside manufacturing plants, factories, warehouses and work shop type situations. Although using an industrial curtain was not an option, the method used to mount the large curtain wall looked promising.

A Track System Used As Great Design

Jim called AmCraft and found that he could indeed use a steel structural track to mount the curtains. But, the track is fabricated from polished steel and is industrial looking in appearance. AmCraft provided an option to powder coat the steel track to make the color better blend with the existing pipes and beams on the ceiling. This solution solved the appearance issue and provided a way to support the weight of large retractable curtains. The structural mounting system with a color change was perfect!

Custom Sewn Curtains From Supplied Material

Jim supplied the decorative curtain material to AmCraft and a nylon liner was sewn to it, making it opaque, but still lightweight. The decorative material was sewn to the nylon with double side hems, which created a more rigid curtain that allowed it to hang smoother and more evenly. It also eliminated the transparency of the decorative curtain material.

The combination of the two textile materials produced a high-quality, decorative curtain that is not only beautiful, but also durable enough for everyday use.

A Beautiful Outcome

Reaching out to vendors outside of your industry makes you realize there are many ways to get what you need. AmCraft enjoyed working with Jim to determine the best fabric, mounting option and construction method for the creation of a this decorative, yet industrial solution to his needs.

If you need ideas for restaurant curtains or help in dividing areas for any type of space, call AmCraft Manufacturing for custom curtain solutions at 847-439-4565 or visit our website www.amcraftindustrialcurtainwall.com

Three Ways Industrial Wall Curtains Improve Work Conditions for Employees

Three Ways Industrial Wall Curtains Improve Work Conditions for Employees

No matter what type of facility you work at, you are bound to run into questions and issues about the acoustic quality of your space. Each space, from restaurants to warehouses, is made up of different building materials that will add to or detract from the acoustic quality of your facility. Just from a cursory look at the internet, there are a number of products that boast being able to cut down on sound in a space, reduce echo, and possibly even deaden the unwanted sounds all together.

Acoustic curtains are one genre of acoustic abatement supply that are popular and for good reason. Acoustic curtain products have two main benefits. First, they can provide more space flexibility and versatility than a hard wall can. Acoustic curtains can often be moved easily and therefore can provide acoustic abatement when needed, but do not have to remain in use when they are not required. Second, acoustic industrial curtains can offer different looks and aesthetic options, which may make them more desirable for your space, depending on the setting.

However, even within the acoustic curtain category, there are many different brands and options for an acoustic industrial curtain. Before deciding which products are best for your needs, it is important to educate yourself on what measurements are used to determine how one brand of acoustic curtain compares to another.

Retractable folded curtain slider
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The Importance of the STC Rating with Acoustic Curtains

One measure of acoustic property is the STC rating. STC stands for sound transmission class, and is defined as how well a septum, in this case an industrial acoustic curtain, can abate sound. It also tells us roughly by how many decibels a given barrier can be expected to lessen sound as the sound travels through it. While it is enticing to think that a thin fabric curtain can give a good STC rating, from a practical standpoint that isn’t realistic. A thicker curtain, one with more acoustic material inside of it, will typically have a better STC rating than a thin curtain.

A great example are the industrial acoustic curtain products offered at AmCraft Manufacturing. AmCraft manufactures acoustic curtains and panels with single block technology as well as double block technology. The acoustic insulated curtain with single block technology has an STC rating of 34.5, while the industrial curtain wall with double barrier technology boasts an STC rating of 47.5.

As a comparison, a single layer of 1/2″ drywall on each side, wood studs, no insulation (typical interior wall) has an STC rating of about 33- comparable to AmCraft’s single barrier acoustic curtain. Meanwhile, 6″ Hollow CMU (Concrete Masonry Unit) has a typical STC rating of about 46, which is slightly less than AmCraft’s double barrier technology curtain.

How NRC Rating Factors into Noise Absorbing Curtains

In addition to considering the STC rating of an acoustic curtain product, you should also consider the NRC rating. NRC stands for noise reduction coefficient, and is an indication of the amount of sound absorbed when it hits a particular surface. An NRC rating of 0 indicates total reflection of the sound, while an NRC rating of 1 indicates total absorption of the sound. As it relates to AmCraft Manufacturing’s product offering, their acoustic curtain with single barrier technology offers an NRC rating of 0.82 and the acoustic curtain with double barrier technology brags an NRC rating of 0.64. Both options offer a superior NRC rating to many of the other curtain products that are readily available.

In your search for the perfect acoustic product, you will find AmCraft’s acoustic industrial curtain wall and acoustic panel products are designed to fit your needs. These curtains offer superior acoustic value, as illustrated by their STC and NRC ratings. They are also fully customizable to your size and aesthetic requirements and are available in both retractable and stationary options.

Best Industrial Soundproofing Curtains

Best Industrial Soundproofing Curtains

Industrial Sound Curtains (Noise Cancelling Curtains), Panels & Baffle Systems

Single Barrier Acoustic Curtains

If you work in an industry that often works on projects that create a lot of noise—mechanical work, factory production lines, etc.—you’ve probably already looked into what noise-blocking or noise-reduction curtains can offer to your facility. Noise baffle systems are ideal for keeping a loud or noisy project contained, which can be beneficial for members of your staff that aren’t working on that project. There are different levels of sound-insulation available, though, so how can you know what level you need?
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Double Barrier Acoustic Curtains

Large, Loud Spaces

It is important to understand that “anti-static” and “dissipative” are terms that are used to subdivide electro static discharge into further detail. Anti-static materials are generally referred to as any material which inhibits triboelectric charging. This kind of charging is the buildup of an electric charge by frictional contact with another material. Anti-static material will not generate a charge, but also will not dissipate a charge.

Dissipative materials will work to actively dissipate a static charge. They also allow the static charges to flow to ground more slowly, and in a more controlled manner, than with conductive materials.

Materials are divided into anti-static or dissipative classifications based on their individual surface resistance. Surface resistance is a measurement by how easily an electric charge can travel across a medium. Dissipative items have a surface resistance of more than 1 x 10 5 ohms/square but less than 1 x 10 11 ohms/square.

Dissipative and anti-static materials both reduce the risk of producing a charge, but only dissipative protects against existing charges as well.

Dual Absorption Single Barrier

Containing Sound in an Enclosure

If you’re in need of a higher level of sound containment, such as wanting to isolate a job completely to protect the rest of the area from being exposed to the noise, implementing noise control enclosure curtains is what you’ll want to do. These curtains hang from the ceiling, and can use one, two, or three of your existing walls to create the enclosure. Stationary and retractable options are available, which allows you the option of changing how you use your space as your needs change from project to project. Regardless of whether you want to keep noise contained inside or out of the enclosure, these curtains are an ideal way to create separate spaces.

If an area needs to be quieter for a team to work on a project without warehouse noise or other noise pollution distracting them, creating an enclosed space with sound control enclosure curtains can help keep their workspace comfortable and productive. These enclosures may also be installed to surround loud machinery and keep the noise they produce contained to that part of the facility.

For instance, machines like compressors or generators can make a lot of noise and create a lot of vibration in a workspace, so implementing sound-control can allow your staff to work more efficiently and safely, since they won’t be exposed to the loud machinery day in and day out. Sound barrier curtains are also used to be OSHA-compliant for noise level regulations in the workplace. Depending on the level of noise blocking or noise-reducing your space needs, there are a few options available. High noise levels can lead to loss of concentration, accidents, injuries, reduced productivity and long-term hearing loss, so if you’re looking for a way to improve working conditions for your staff, using sound-shielding curtains are an ideal choice.

Multi Absorption Acoustic Panels

Separating One Noise Level from Another

Sound barrier wall panels are larger than acoustic baffle systems and are usually used to separate entire sections of a facility so that sound level is much lower on one side. Industrial grade sound curtains are comprised of a combination of sound wave absorption material, noise barrier membranes, and a durable outer layer.

This composition helps block some of the sound from a loud area from “leaking” into another area. Noise control panels can reduce the transmission of sound—sound that can be harmful to peoples’ hearing, so if you’re looking to separate a loud area, using sound dampening curtains can be very helpful.

Acoustic Baffle Systems​

Creating a Comfortable Workspace:  A Curtain Wall Enclosure Case Study

Creating a Comfortable Workspace: A Curtain Wall Enclosure Case Study

In order to create and define work space within an open facility setting (such as a warehouse), companies can do one of two things: either construct a solid wall or install

a curtain wall enclosure.

With a solid wall, there is a substantial design and lead time for the build and it is non-configurable. But with a curtain partition enclosure, it is a reconfigurable setup that can work with any existing structures for a fraction of the cost. In one case study, a company wanted to create a containment area of approximately 4,500 square feet within a 30,000 square foot building. Here is how it was done using a curtain divider enclosure solution.

Customer Needs to Contain a Work Area

The customer approached AmCraft with their containment project. The facility had a large space in which they wanted to section off an area as a division from the rest of the warehouse facility. The general purpose of this area was to utilize a partition curtain enclosure to create a sizable workspace for employees that also housed an air conditioning unit. This containment area was approximately 50’ x 90’ in size. The suspension of this curtain enclosure divider system was one of their primary concerns, as the existing ceiling supports were older and may not be able to carry the weight on its own. Of course, with every project comes its obstacles, but with attention to detail on the customization of the divider curtain enclosure and a little innovation, this possibility became reality.

The Containment Area Design Process

With careful preliminary design planning for the dividing curtain enclosure as well as expert advice given to the customer on building around existing structural elements within the warehouse, the customer gained the technical know-how to be able to custom build an aluminum frame. This frame would provide extra rigidity to the curtain walls of the enclosure and reduce the load weight of the curtain enclosure system on the older ceiling supports. The customer welded the aluminum U-channels / extrusions to the track, which connected the curtain divider enclosure to the ceiling. The custom-designed aluminum structure became an additional support system for the partition wall enclosure and further stabilized the frame by adding vertical channels every 22 feet of width.

The curtain’s top edge was sealed off by filler panels and valances which attached to the ceiling, further customizing the enclosure by building around obstructions ( such as piping, trusses, etc.) which are typical of an industrial warehouse setting. The customizations were made on-site, and installation was provided by an in-house maintenance team.

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The Show “Room”: An Overall Impression

As soon as the curtain wall enclosure was installed and the workspace within the industrial facility was defined, prospective/current customers of the company who toured their facilities complimented the containment area, making remarks on how unique the curtain enclosure is and how it was nothing like they had ever seen before. This curtain partition enclosure system made quite the impression!

At a fraction of the cost, lead time, and construction period, this curtain partition containment area not only provides the same benefits of a solid, constructed wall, but also a professional look to curtain division from the rest of the space which can be reconfigured, as needed. In many cases, this system can be installed as normal business operations continue! This extraordinary and custom approach to curtain wall enclosure systems paves the way for the future of construction, providing a solution for containing an area that is low maintenance, allows for easy retraction to open up the space, and can be used in many different settings.

Further customization to an enclosure system can include company logos, insulation factors, food grade approved materials, acoustically rated curtain panels, heat treatments, anchoring straps, Velcro and/or magnet curtain connections, large scale dividers (such as hangar bay curtains), and many other options. It all depends on what the purpose of your curtain wall enclosure will be and how you would like your curtain to look.

Start your curtain enclosure project today! Talk with one of our technical specialists to discuss details of your upcoming project by using our Live Chat application, giving us a call at 847-439-4565, emailing us at sales@amcraftonline.com, or by interactively creating your project details (click button below).