By Scott Fullerton, Operations Manager, AKON Curtains Limited
Industrial PVC partitioning is often specified late in a project and in less detail than fixed construction, yet the performance criteria that matter are just as definable. For specifiers writing curtain walls, strip curtains, or welding screens into a project, a clear performance schedule avoids the common problem of a compliant product being value-engineered out and replaced with one that does not meet the building's requirements. The following are the criteria worth setting out explicitly.
Fire performance
This is the criterion most often specified loosely. For fabric curtains in commercial and industrial buildings, the reference is BS 5867 Part 2 Type B, the UK flammability specification for curtains and drapes. Where a reaction-to-fire classification is required for the building element, BS EN 13501-1 provides the harmonised European Euroclass rating. Specify the standard and the required class explicitly rather than relying on a general "fire retardant" description, which is not a verifiable performance level.
Thermal performance
Where the partitioning is intended to separate temperature zones, insulated curtain wall systems should be specified by thermal transmittance, the U-value in W/m²K, using the UK convention rather than the R-value numbering seen in some overseas product literature. State the temperature differential the barrier is expected to manage so the specification can be assessed against a defined duty.
Reconfigurability and durability
One of the principal reasons to specify curtain systems over fixed partitions is the ability to reposition or reconfigure them as layouts change. Where this matters, specify track-mounted or sliding systems and note the requirement for individually replaceable panels or strips, so that damaged sections can be swapped without decommissioning the whole installation. For high-traffic openings, specify strip material grade and overlap appropriate to the throughput.
Integration with the fire strategy
Any internal partitioning must be designed around the building's fire strategy. Curtains must not obstruct escape routes, fire detection, or sprinkler coverage. Note in the specification that the installation is to be coordinated with the fire risk assessment and, where sprinklers are present, with the coverage requirements of BS EN 12845.
