Curtain Walls 101.1: What is a Curtain Wall?

Industrial curtain walls are similar to traditional solid walls or rigid panelized systems in that they define and divide spaces, while also offering different types of environmental control. However, as the name implies, fabric curtain walls are very different because they offer a high degree of flexibility because of their design and construction.

Fabric Curtain Wall Construction

Fabric Curtain Wall Panels Velcro Together

A typical curtain wall is made of fabric panels connected together with Velcro to span the width of a given space, and are not limited by height. The standard fabric is 18-oz. flame retardant vinyl for all products, but heavier weight fabrics or application-specific fabrics can be supplied. Insulated and non-insulated, and sliding or stationary curtain walls are available. Ultimately, the operating environment and site specific factors will dictate the type of fabric wall best suited for a given situation.

Walls with Flexibility

It is this adaptable, modular design that differentiates a fabric curtain wall from a rigid wall. Installing a traditional hard wall locks you into a layout and makes future changes timely and costly. The flexible design of curtain walls gives you the ability to easily reconfigure, relocate, or remove them as your facility needs change. The simple nature of industrial curtain walls also makes it easy to customize them for each application, including three dimensional enclosures. In the end, it is worth evaluating fabric curtain walls for any application where you need a non-load bearing wall for your facility.

In the next Curtain Walls 101 post, we will look at the different applications where curtain walls can be used.

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