Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

You Have 3 Options

Option #1 – Performing Your Own Installation

It is actually very common for our customers to perform their own installations. In fact, installing curtains seems more daunting than it actually is. Most curtain installations are unobstructed from the ceiling down making them very easy to install. We would estimate that 95% of all of our curtain systems are installed by the customer themselves whom either do the installation themselves or who source a local general contractor or handyman.

If you’re curtain system includes curtain track which allows you to roll the curtains from side to side then you can simply view our installation directions. These detailed directions include just about everything you need to know for you to install the industrial curtain kits. These curtain tracks are a very simple bolt together design making them quick installs.

Option #2 – Purchasing Curtain From Curtain and Tarp Then Use an Independent Installer

If you have a fairly large curtain system ($5,000-$80,000 ) then you can purchase the curtain system directly from us and we can put you in contact with one of our national installers. With this option, your Curtain and Tarp representative would work closely with you to give you guidelines on how to measure for your curtain and discuss hardware mounting options in detail. We find that hardware selection is about 90% of decision making process for industrial curtain systems. As such, we might ask you to email us some digital pictures of your roof deck where you plan to hang the curtains so that we can choose the proper hardware for your project.

After we have determined the correct components for your application, we would then provide you with a detailed quote. After you have reviewed your quote, we would then put you in contact with one of our national installers who you would work directly with to coordinate the installation once the materials have arrived on-site. If you choose this option please ask your sales representatives for a local installer in your area.

Option #3 – Purchasing Your Curtain System From a Distributor / Installer

If you have a fairly large curtain system ($2,000-$80,000 ) then you can purchase your curtain system from a local distributor / installer. They will do a site visit before your order is placed to measure and discuss your installation options with you. While this option is going to be more expensive due to the turnkey solution, (about 20% more) we find that some of our customers are extremely busy and can’t be bothered with any downtime or any unforeseen issues. If you choose this option please ask your sales representatives for a local distributor/installer in your area.

For more information on how we can help you set up the right industrial curtains for your business and a free quote, don’t hesitate to contact us today.

Different materials have different low temperature ratings. These are very important so please read carefully. Installation in cold temperatures and windy conditions is not recommended. If it must be installed in these conditions, treat the curtain with care. Try your best not to put too much stress on any one point and try your best to keep the curtain from flapping or whipping in the breeze.

Clear Curtains – 20 & 40 Mil Clear and Clear Vision Panels – Ideal for temperatures going as low as 10° F or -12° C and above. If folded below these temperatures or blown around in the wind the vinyl will likely crack. If your environment is likely to have temperatures below this range it is best to use only opaque solid color curtains.

Opaque Solid Color – 18 & 22oz Coated – Ideal for temperatures going as low as -20° F or -28° C. If folded below these temperatures or blown around in the wind the vinyl will likely crack.

Curtain and Tarp.com sells a variety of materials. Standard clear 20mil vinyl material and 13,18oz and 22oz vinyl materials are rated for 140 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you have an application where 140 degrees of heat is present then the curtains can and will eventually fail.

The best example is an engine running with your foot all the way to the floor on the pedal. You are running it at its maximum ability and it will eventually fail. The same is true for using curtains at their max temp rating. They will last, but there is no way to guarantee how long. The material becomes very soft and grommets can pull out or rips can occur. If you need industrial high temperature rated curtains then view our line of heat resistant industrial curtains.

All of the Vinyl curtains are very easy to clean. They are a slick material that makes them ideal for washing down. Much like a shower curtain, the slick surface does not easily allow debris to stick to it.

To clean your industrial curtains, you can use a cleaning product called “Simple Green”. This cleaning material will not harm the PVC vinyl that your curtains are constructed from. Please know you should never use a solvent based cleaner. A solvent based cleaner can damage the vinyl material. You can use a mild non-abrasive detergent if you have excessive greasy or oily type of film on the curtains.

It is a good idea to test a small piece of the curtain with the cleaning agent first before starting the entire cleaning process.

Please note any material that may be quoted and or sold which is “canvas”, “heat curtain material”, or “fabric” will have special cleaning needs. Please ask your sales person

We don’t sell any patch kits directly but you can purchase the following product which works great. Make sure you purchase type B which is made for Vinyl / PVC. Tear Aid (http://www.tear-aid.com/). It can also be purchased on Amazon. It is also worth noting that opaque materials such as 13, 18 and 22 ounce vinyls are reinforced with a polyester scrim. If they became cut it is very unlikely that the material will continue to tear as it is extremely hard to rip through the polyester scrim.

A “mil” is a unit of length equal to 0.001 of an inch (0.0254 mm). Mil is used to measure the thickness of materials such as Vinyl Curtains. As a general rule, the thicker the mil / curtain the better quality.

An “oz” is the weight of the material per square yard. As a general rule, the more ounces equals a better quality of curtain.

16 Mil | 16 Gauge
This material is not made for rigorous use or outdoor applications. It is ideal for indoor applications only. Clear vinyl's thickness is approximately 0.016". Rated for indoor use.

20 Mil | 20 Gauge
Our most commonly used material which is often used for industrial curtains, porch curtains and general use applications. Clear vinyl's thickness is approximately 0.020". Rated for indoor | outdoor use.

30 Mil | 30 Gauge
The next level up for applications that are primarily outdoors. Commonly used on commercial patio curtains, golf cart enclosures and camper windows. Clear vinyl's thickness is approximately 0.030". Rated for indoor | outdoor use.

40 Mil | 40 Gauge
The standard for the toughest vinyl on the market. Perfect for very strong outdoor curtains for industrial applications. This material is used on PVC windows for soft tops such as a jeep. Clear vinyl's thickness is approximately 0.040". Rated for indoor | outdoor use.

OSHA does not approve products. They advise what precautions should be taken to provide a safe work environment. It is up to the end user to determine what products they need to protect their workers. The OSHA regulations for welding curtains can be found online: Subpart Q-1910-252 Welding Cutting and Brazing.

Option #1 – Drop Down Chains In Between The Track And The Curtain

Using this method you would use a small chain that would attach to the roller hook and then attach using an S-hook to the grommets of the curtain. This is actually a fairly standard method of dropping down curtains. Depending on how far you want to drop the curtain down you would use various lengths of chain.

Option #2 – Add A Floor Sweep

Floor sweeps are very common with customers that are trying to separate environments such as a dusty area or a washdown process. They can be installed at the factory or they can be installed in the field. But they are also dual-purpose for extending curtains if you ordered your curtain too short. Curtain and Tarp.com can ship you a stick on floor sweep which attaches to the bottom of your curtain. You just need to let us know what height of floor sweep that you want to attach. Keep in mind that 2 inches is Velcro when calculating the floor sweep you need. For instance, if you were trying to cover 10 inches below your curtain you would want to place an order for a 12 inch tall for sweep.

Option #3 – Change Track Support To Threaded Rod Or Cable

Depending on the track style that you are using you can drop the entire straight track down using a different track support such as the threaded rod track support or the cable track support. Both of these track supports allow you to drop down your industrial curtain closer to the floor.

if you ordered your curtain to tall you have a couple options to shorten the curtain.

Option #1

Take the curtain down and send it back to us to shorten the curtain to your desired height. (You would need an RGA from Curtain and Tarp.com and a quote for the modifications)

Option #2

You can cut off the bottom of the curtain using a utility knife. All of our vinyl curtains are made to be field cut and it does not affect the warranty or the performance. Please keep in mind if you have a chain pocket, anchors straps, floor sweep…ect you would be cutting those features off. If you have those features then you could cut the top of the curtain and purchase a self grommet kit from Amazon and punch new grommets.

Standard curtains have approximately .50″ to .75" of a gap from the bottom of the track to the top of the curtain. This depends on the type of curtain and the production process.

We do not not paint the hardware. It will arrive at your location as raw galvanized steel and there is no need to paint it. However, you can paint the curtain track with spray paint if you choose to.

A Splice connects two pieces of track together and supports it. A Connector only holds the track up. Curtain and Tarp.com has standardized on using only splices since they are multi-function. Below is a splice that is both connecting the track together and holding it up. You can slide the splice anywhere on the track not just at junctions.

Set screws join the tracks together. These ship with your order. If you need to purchase them locally they are Allen Nuts - 3/8"-24 - 3/8" long - half dog set screw (Self Lock Cup Point Set Screw)

Yes. This is called a flush mount install and is very common. Simply drill through the middle of the track and use a small wood screw, bolt, Tek screw...etc into your structure. Space the holes about every 3-5'.

The track is Hot-dip galvanizing (HDG) which is often used to protect steel from corrosion in some of the harshest environments imaginable, yet it provides maintenance-free longevity for decades. The corrosion resistance of hot-dip galvanizing varies according to its surroundings but generally corrodes at a rate of 1/30 of bare steel in the same environment.

It is very easy. All of the components simply fit into each other and connect with set screws. The installation is very intuitive. If you have any difficulty simply call or email us and we will walk you through the proces

When we quote you a curtain and track we generally deduct 3″ from the height of your requested curtain to accommodate for the curtain track. If we do this it is specifically called out on your quote. This 3" deduction keeps your curtain just off of the floor.

We actually do not provide fasteners. There are many different structures customers attach to so we let the customers source those. You can buy that at your local hardware store.

Yes the track is made to be field cut on site using a hack saw or sawzall.

You can choose from standard galvanized track (Hot-dip galvanizing (HDG)) or optional stainless steel track. Stainless Steel is available but will cost about three times the galvanized and has a longer 2-3 week lead time.

The track should be supported approximately every 5' with a track support. The farther apart the track supports, the greater the deflection. If you have a relatively light weight curtain then you could space the supports out to about 8' apart.

Yes there are different roller hooks to choose from. The standard hook we quote unless specified is a nylon roller wheel with a 1" hook with the part number 16NR1. There is also a steel version of that roller with the part number 16SR1. If you need a special roller hook you can view them.

Yes. It is very common for our customers to use the tracks to hold up sport nets, cables, panels.. and many other products. Some customers use our industrial track as an industrial trolley to move parts around the shop floor.

For very tall curtains over 30' they will roll easier than they nylon wheels. Steel wheels are also louder as they are steel rolling inside a steel track. In addition to the noise they are also more expensive. Steel rollers use ball bearings for a smooth rolling motion and added load rating.

Yes. We can provide an overlap trolley which allows the curtain to overlap another curtain on the same track. This is ideal for wash bays or where a good seal between two curtains is required. This could be used in place of actually connecting two curtains together using. Great for high frequency traffic through the curtain.

A trolley is recommended for curtains 13 feet or taller. They are designed to eliminate a lot of the tugging or pulling on curtain when opening or closing. The trolley attaches to the leading grommet and a cord with a handle is then dropped down to a comfortable height. The user then uses the cord to walk the curtain open and close it.

As an industry standard for industrial curtains there is one grommet per linear foot at the top of the curtain. So when we quote your curtain track we quote 1 roller hook per linear foot of track. So if you ask for 50' of curtain track we will quote 50 roller hooks. You can ask for more or less based on your application.

(2) Wheel Nylon – 40lbs each (Standard)

(2) Wheel Steel – 75lbs each

(4) Wheel Steel – 125lbs each

Yes there are different roller hooks to choose from. The standard hook we quote unless specified is a nylon roller wheel with a 1" hook with the part number 16NR1. There is also a steel version of that roller with the part number 16SR1. If you need a special roller hook you can view them.

Yes. It is very common for our customers to use the tracks to hold up sport nets, cables, panels.. and many other products. Some customers use our industrial track as an industrial trolley to move parts around the shop floor.

For very tall curtains over 30' they will roll easier than they nylon wheels. Steel wheels are also louder as they are steel rolling inside a steel track. In addition to the noise they are also more expensive. Steel rollers use ball bearings for a smooth rolling motion and added load rating.

Yes. We can provide an overlap trolley which allows the curtain to overlap another curtain on the same track. This is ideal for wash bays or where a good seal between two curtains is required. This could be used in place of actually connecting two curtains together using. Great for high frequency traffic through the curtain.

How much wind a particular industrial curtain can endure is a tough question. It relates to such variables as wind speed, curtain size, attachment points, hardware style and temperature. They all play a key role in the longevity of a curtain in windy conditions. With that, small curtains can handle a fair amount of wind while large curtains are at higher risk for damage.

Please remember that these curtains once erected act as large sails which produce a tremendous amount of stress on their attachment points. Basically, all manufacturers will inform you that their curtains are designed to block the breeze but can get damaged in strong winds. If you have high wind speeds it is best to retract the curtains and let the wind blow through to prevent damage. If high winds are going to be present then please inform us before your curtain is produced so we can reinforce critical components.

Curtain and Tarp.com does offer Velcro anchor straps at the very bottom of our curtains which are spaced approximately every 4 feet. These are not provided as a method to reinforce the curtain from high wind loads but rather they are there for drafty conditions as noted on your quote and order confirmation.

• Pull back the curtains and tie them off in high winds.
• Use all opaque material 18oz or 22oz material which is much stronger than clear material.
• Make sure your curtains are not snapping back and forth in the wind (curtains are too large for the space).
• Use wind webbing on both sides of the curtains as shown below.

A great way to increase the life of your curtains is to use straps that take the load. Simply use "tie down straps also called ratchet straps" with "D-Rings anchors" at the top and the bottom. Both are available from Amazon.

 The super duty outdoor curtains are best for areas that have more wind. These curtains have vertical straps that go from the hardware all the way down into the concrete. They distribute the stress of the wind more equally over the surface of the curtain and the mounting points. These curtains are made for high wind loads.

Curtain and Tarp.com sells a variety of materials. Most industrial curtains are FR rated (Fire Retardant) with the most common rating being the NFPA 701 Certification. If your quote does not call out Fire Retardant then please ask your sales representative to confirm.

The biggest difference between flame resistant and flame retardant fabrics lies in how each is made. Without a special chemical application, a fabric will not qualify as flame retardant. Similarly, without being made of certain nonflammable fibers, a fabric will not quality as fire resistant.

Fire resistant material is generally used in commercial applications where a curtain is functioning as a fire blocking and smoke blocking barrier which is lower down in the event of a fire. They are also used for extreme heat applications such as welding, blast furnaces, coke ovens and other high temperature areas.

Hot work fabrics have been tested and rated to the ANSI/FM 4950 Standard that now is required by the NFPA 51B 2014 Standard. The rating system makes it easy to determine which of the three levels of fire protection – welding curtains, welding blankets, or welding pads – is needed for a specific hot work operation.

There are several different materials but the most common hot work curtains are the CDH-2000 or the CDH-7000. Below are two materials that will work good for hot work curtains. For Welding Blankets use any material we currently sell as they are all hot work approved.

The vinyl that we use for clear curtains is the same vinyl that we use for the welding curtains. The welding curtains however are thinner at 14 mil thick while the clear curtains we provide our 20 mil thick.

Both of them can be used for welding applications except the clear material of course will not block any harmful UV light.

If that is not a concern than both materials should work fine.

All of our standard vinyl welding curtains are okay to use with Mig welding.

If you have heavy close proximity welding you can also view our canvas welding curtain.