PVC strip curtains in Essex | Loading Bay Doors

In short

A PVC strip curtain is a row of flexible, overlapping plastic strips hung from a rail across a doorway, so that people and vehicles can pass through while the strips fall back to close the gap behind them. At loading bays they hang behind the main door or across internal openings, reducing draughts, dust and temperature loss for much less than the cost of a powered door.

How does this suit sites in Essex?

Goods-in areas in Essex that leave the main door open during long unloading sessions can use a strip curtain to hold back draughts and dust. In a warehouse in Essex where doors stay open for much of the shift, strip curtains offer a practical first step before considering a high-speed door.

Food and packaging businesses in Essex can choose strip grades suited to regular cleaning, helping to separate dispatch areas from production.

We never ask you to commit before you have a fixed price. A free survey at your Essex site comes first, followed by a written quote. When the order goes ahead, we plan the installation around your operation, book any out-of-hours working you need and manage the specialist installation engineers on site. The job ends with a full test, a run-through for the people who will use the equipment and a set of handover documents.

How often do PVC strips need replacing?

PVC strips need replacing when they become scratched, cloudy, split or shortened, and how often that happens depends almost entirely on traffic. A curtain at a busy forklift opening wears far faster than one at a quiet pedestrian door.

Signs that strips are due for replacement:

You can no longer see clearly through them.
Strips have torn at the top fixing or split along their length.
Gaps have opened because strips have shrunk or been cut short.
Low-temperature strips have stiffened and no longer fall back into place.

Individual strips can be swapped without replacing the whole curtain, which keeps costs down. Cleaning with a mild detergent helps visibility, while solvents can damage the PVC. Moving strips from the busy centre to the edges, and back, spreads the wear more evenly.

Which strip width, thickness and grade should I choose?

Choose the strip size by the size of the opening and the traffic through it, and the grade by temperature and use. Wider, thicker strips seal better and resist forklifts, but are heavier to push through on foot.

Pedestrian doorways: typically 200 mm wide by 2 mm thick strips with a modest overlap.
Forklift openings: typically 300 mm wide by 3 mm thick, with a larger overlap.
Large dock openings: typically 400 mm wide by 4 mm thick, which hang well in draughts.
Low-temperature grade: stays flexible in chillers and freezers, where standard PVC would stiffen and crack.
Ribbed strips: raised ribs take the wear from forklifts and keep the strips clearer for longer.
Specialist grades: anti-static, tinted or opaque, or welding grade for screening.

Overlap matters as much as thickness. A full overlap gives a better seal in cold or dusty areas, while a partial overlap is easier to walk through.

Towns we cover in Essex

Each of the following towns in Essex has its own page on PVC strip curtains, covering how we work and what to send us.

Guide price

£180–£1,100 per opening, ex VAT

Budget range for supply and fit. The written quote after a free survey is the fixed price. All guide prices.

What do the rules in England mean for the work?

Workplace safety in England is regulated by HSE. For a loading bay in Essex, that means doors meeting regulation 18 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, equipment maintained under PUWER and suitable safeguards against vehicles driving away too early. We check what applies at survey and design the bay accordingly.

Questions

How long does installation take at a site in Essex?

It depends on the equipment, the number of bays, the condition of the dock and whether any building or electrical work is needed. We agree a programme with you after the survey, setting out which bays are out of use and when. Larger jobs are usually phased so that part of the dock stays open, and out-of-hours working can be arranged.

Do you remove and dispose of the old equipment?

Yes, where it is part of the scope. When we replace doors, levellers, shelters or seals at a site in Essex, removal and disposal of the old equipment can be included and is itemised in the quote, so it is clear what is covered. If anything should be kept, such as a frame or motor that is still serviceable, we agree that at survey.

How do I clean PVC strip curtains?

Clean strips with warm water and a mild detergent, then wipe them dry. Avoid solvents and abrasive pads, which damage the surface and make strips cloud faster. In food areas, follow your site's hygiene schedule and choose a grade suited to regular cleaning.

Are strip curtains a good alternative to a high-speed door?

Strip curtains are a good low-cost option for moderate traffic, but at very busy openings a high-speed door often performs better because it clears fully for each vehicle and closes behind it. The right choice depends on traffic volume, visibility needs and budget.

Other services in Essex

Full guide to PVC strip curtains · All loading bay services in Essex