On hot days, customers want to walk into newsagents, shops, bars, cafés or restaurants, go straight to your fridges and pick out a cold drink, sandwich, salad or snack. Imagine the disappointment for your customers that when they finally choose their product, it’s warm and in unsatisfactory condition. Did you know that up to 40% of customers just don’t buy warm drinks or food items? They’d rather go without or worse, go next door to your competitors!

This poses you with a problem – how do you display your goods, keep your energy consumption down and showcase your product offerings in multi-deck chillers whilst keeping your products cold?  The answer is simple: install an inexpensive PVC chiller blind.  The PVC is crystal clear so your customer can see into the fridge, the PVC strips are lightweight enough for your customers to simply reach through and grab the cold product they desire – you get to keep all your customers happy and save a fortune in energy in the process.

BUT ARE THEY A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT?

YES!  The ROI is extremely fast, typically you will save up to 50% on fridge energy consumption, and they will pay for themselves within a few months. They optimise airflow evenly within the cabinet ensuring you have minimum product wastage. They also extend the life of your retail unit by lessening the load on the compressor.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER BENEFITS TO INSTALLING PVC CHILLER BLINDS?

Yes! They are extremely easy to self-install, maintain and clean. Our clever support system allows the full curtain section to clip in and out which also ensures you can restock your fridges with ease.  They do also help to deter petty theft – it’s not as easy to slip items into pockets when there is a PVC chiller blind in the way!

WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE? 

Colour: Clear / transparent (light blue tint)
PVC profile: Flat
Grade: Standard Temperature PVC strip
Width range: 100mm
Thickness range: 1mm (please note we offer 1.2mm and 2mm if required)
UV stable: Yes.
Temperature range: +50°c to -15°c (PVC can degrade at the extremities of this range).  If you require a PVC chiller blind to be made from low-temperature PVC (+30 / -40°c) then this is possible, we use 100mm w x 2mm thick freezer grade PVC material in this instance.

Our PVC strips are 100mm wide and we sell only PVC chiller blinds to the nearest incremental width.  For example, if your fridge is 1290mm wide we would supply 12 x 100mm – it is not possible to infill the remaining 90mm of space, you would have a small gap at either side.  The PVC chiller blinds are designed to cover off the majority of your opening to ensure enhanced energy savings.

Our standard sizes include:

1200mm W x 1500mm H
1800mm W x 1500mm H
2400mm W x 1500mm H
3000mm W x 1500mm H
3600mm W x 1500mm H
1200mm W x 3000mm H
1800mm W x 3000mm H
2400mm W x 3000mm H
3000mm W x 3000mm H
3600mm W x 3000mm H

Our PVC chiller blinds come in the above pre-made standard sizes are available to buy online (not on next day delivery) or if your fridge sizes are unusual then please call us on 01925 638753 or email sales@pvc-strip.co.uk.

Are you clueless on PVC Strip and unsure on how the technical specifications will affect your application? We simplify the specs and help you discover your ideal curtain…

Temperature Range:

PVC strip has a large temperature range for such a flexible product.  The temperature range is simply the range at which the PVC strip will maintain its structure.  At temperatures lower than specified the molecules will react together becoming hard, brittle and the clarity will alter.  At the higher end of the spectrum, the material will deform, lose its shape, and basically melt. Here’s our guide to the minimum and maximum usage temperatures on quality PVC strip:

Standard Grade PVC: -15°C – +50°C
Low Temperature / Polar Grade PVC: +30°C – -40°C  

Chemical Resistance

We are often asked, “is flexible PVC strip chemical resistant?” The answer is a resounding yes!  PVC strip has good mechanical properties and excellent chemical resistance, as with other general-purpose plastics.  It’s particularly good with organic solvents, salts, acids, and alkalis. This is why it’s used to make chemical storage tanks, plastic valves and flanges, drainage, and water pipes.  However, if you want to understand how it behaves in relation to a specific chemical within a given environment then it needs to be independently tested.

We can send you samples to test in your actual environment or for more technical results we can send our materials to independent Laboratories on your behalf.  Bear in mind independently testing is costly and the customer bears the cost for any external test requirements but it will ensure that you’ve got bespoke, application-specific test results for your unique environment.

Tensile Strength

So, you have a flexible PVC strip technical specification in front of you, you know that you need a strong material but you have no idea what that means or what to look for in quality grade PVC.  Here we break it down into simple terms and explain the basics of tensile strength.

The tensile strength of a material is measured in N/mm². This is the maximum force the PVC strip can be subjected to before it breaks. Good quality PVC strip should achieve results between 10 and 18 (the stronger the PVC the higher the number).

• Standard grades should be around 16-17;
• Low-temperature grades should be around 12-13;
• Super polar grades should be around 10;

Low-temperature grades include added softeners in the PVC compound mix to avoid the material becoming brittle at freezing temperatures, hence the lower figures.

Heat distortion

To simplify what is actually quite a complex test, the Vicat softening temperature or heat distortion temperature is basically how far a needle can penetrate into flexible PVC strip, to a specific depth at given temperature variables. The higher the temperature the easier it is for the needle to penetrate the PVC strip.

PVC strip is at a disadvantage when it comes to having a low heat distortion level if you compare it to other plastics, however, this is due to its high levels of flexibility and requirements to be a soft, moveable material.

Ideally, you want this score to be between 45-50, the higher the score the more rigid the material will be.

Fire Retardant

PVC strip is an inherently fire resistant plastic as it contains a high percentage of chlorine.  Make no mistake, all PVC will burn (as do almost all materials) but when burned, hydrogen chloride gas is released which slows down the continuous combustion reaction and when the naked flame is removed it will self-extinguish – the material basically chokes itself.  Additionally, the odour released is unpleasant allowing early detection of a fire.

There are many ways of evaluating flexible PVC strip, all PVC strip should be as minimum classified as “self-extinguishing” but the oxygen index is a good line in the sand – the higher the value the better.  Materials that achieve OI ratings of 26+ are as near to a true fire retardant PVC material as you’re going to get in the PVC world.

If would like to view our independent testing video showing the behaviour of standard grade and OI27 PVC strip where you can see which PVC takes the flame and burns quicker for yourselves – then please just ask and we can send it over to you via email.

PVC-Strip is the UK’s largest manufacturer of PVC strip curtains, so we understand that there isn’t one grade of PVC suitable for all applications. From our 40+ years in business, we have discovered the most popular grades of PVC in the industry and we’ve expanded to hold the UK’s largest stock of PVC rolls, suited just for our customer’s needs. Take a look at our full range of PVC strip rolls below and see how we can provide solutions to common problems in your environment.

CLEAR PVC ROLL:

The Clear PVC strip roll is the standard grade of PVC that is used in a wide range of applications. The PVC is crystal clear, allowing ease of access for both pedestrians and vehicles while complying with health and safety regulations. The clear PVC strip roll is ideal for almost any application and is also available in low-temperature, which is ideal for environments that are constantly below -0°C, often found in cold stores and refrigerated vehicles to maintain the temperature of the environment.

RIBBED PVC ROLL:

The ribbed PVC strip roll is used in more frequently in high traffic areas, for ease of access and durability. The thick ribbed protrusion ensures that the PVC is protected while also remaining safe for pedestrians and vehicles. The ribbed PVC roll is also available in low temperature, ideal for environments that operate below -0°C. We recommend this PVC roll in applications that have constant vehicular and pedestrian traffic throughout the day, most commonly seen in warehouses for forklift trucks and workers to easily pass through.

FROSTED PVC ROLL:

The frosted PVC strip roll is used most commonly as a privacy partition. The frosted effect reduces visibility but allows light to pass through. Ideal for environments where particular areas need to be hidden from the public eye and offer privacy to staff, e.g., mortuaries, stock areas and open office areas. The frosted PVC strip roll should be considered in conjunction with your health and safety policy as the lessened visibility could pose a risk to the public and staff when passing through.

PERFORATED PVC ROLL:

The perforated PVC strip roll is a summer bestseller. Most commonly found in hot kitchens, supermarkets and warehouses in warmer months where pests can cause big hygiene risks. The PVC is clear, but contains small perforated holes throughout which allow airflow but prevents insects from passing through. The perforated PVC strip roll is ideal for preventing hygiene risks and improving overall health and safety in food preparation areas. This PVC strip is often used as an alternative to our mesh strips that work in a similar way.

COLOURED PVC: 

We supply two options of coloured PVC here at PVC-Strip, coloured and transparent. Our range consists of red and blue in translucent and opaque, black and grey in opaque. Most commonly found as edge markers to denote hazard areas or access point, the Coloured PVC strip rolls can be used in a variety of applications. Ranging from poultry sheds, art and film sets and food manufacture environments. PVC can also be printed on, providing a unique material, often used in corporate branding.

ANTI-STATIC PVC ROLLS:

The anti-static PVC strip roll is designed for installation in datacentres and cleanrooms, offering the best solution for their unique requirements, the main purpose is for contamination control and creating airflow. The benefits of including our anti-static range in datacentres is the increase in capacity with lower, more stable temperatures – which saves energy on air conditioning by up to 67%, optimise server cooling and see ROI in under a year and it maximises airflow dynamics and increases the effectiveness of hot aisle/cold aisle isolation.

The anti-static PVC keeps cleanroom areas free of dust, pollution and other cross contaminates, removes static charge from clothing and prevents the charge being passed inside the cleanroom and helps to contain the environmental regulation within the cleanroom.

ANTI-INSECT PVC ROLL:

The anti-insect PVC strip roll is translucent yellow and contains citronella, designed to deter airborne pests, like bees, wasps and flies. This range of PVC is very popular in summer, mostly installed in hot kitchen environments, like bakeries and restaurants. The anti-insect PVC improves contamination control and reduces the risk of hygiene breaches in the environment.

WELDING GRADE PVC ROLL:

The welding grade PVC strip rolls are available in red, bronze and green. The PVC strip rolls can be manufactured into screens, curtains or portable booths for your welding environment. The rolls are naturally dark in colour, however, when light passes through it improves the visibility, making worker observations much easier and removing the risk of harm to workers in the area. The welding grade PVC strip rolls are ideal for protecting workers by screening out hazardous UV rays and blocking sparks or hot metal projectiles that could cause severe burns and fires in the environment.

If you would like to learn more about our PVC strip roll range or would like to purchase any of the products, please visit our PVC strip roll product page. If you would like to discuss your options and enquire about the best PVC roll for your environment, please contact our dedicated and experienced sales team by calling 01925 638753 or emailing sales@pvc-strip.co.uk.

PVC strip curtains are a long-life product if looked after correctly…  But how are you supposed to care for your PVC kit, make sure it’s well-kept and maintained and lives up to its full potential? We have a few tips…

Choosing your PVC: 

Prior to purchasing your PVC strip curtain kit, our team will need to fully understand the environment that your kit will be installed in to make sure that you’re purchasing the ideal PVC material for your requirement. Choosing the correct kit for your application is a pivotal first step in ensuring the PVC can withstand the volume of traffic, temperature ranges and location. When purchasing your PVC strip curtain, our team will be at hand ready to discuss and offer the ideal product for your environment.

 

Installation:

PVC-Strip are a supply only company, but we guarantee that by following our helpful guides, you can successfully install a PVC strip curtain in your environment. Our kits are very easy to install, however, we understand that if you are inexperienced, it may seem like a difficult task. We installation guides available in video or text format for both our bullet rail and hook type suspension systems, if you follow our guides carefully, we’re certain that your PVC strip curtain kit will be up quickly and correctly.

 

 

Cleaning:

It’s incredibly important to keep your strip curtain clean! Unclean strips can become clouded and cause health and safety risks in environments that require clear visibility, especially in high traffic areas. If your PVC strip kit is being used every day, it’s unavoidable that your strips will become dirty. We advise that you clean your strips as much as possible as part of your maintenance procedure to avoid early replacement and keep your kit looking presentable. Simply wipe down your strips with warm water to clean, it’s as simple as that! The quick and easy procedure will ensure your PVC strips have an extended life and look fresh and well-kept up until replacement.

 

 

Replacing:

Eventually, one or more of your PVC strips will become damaged and you may be concerned about the cost of replacing the full kit. We offer a full range of handy replacement PVC strips, sold individually, to fill the gaps in your kit. You easily purchase these low price PVC strips online, cut to size with your exact requirements. If you require any assistance purchasing from our replacement PVC strip range, please don’t hesitate to contact our sales team who can guide you through the process and ensure you purchase the correct product for your requirements.

 

 

We have been in business for over 40 years, which gives us the advantage of unbeatable product and industry knowledge. We can guarantee we can find a solution for each individual requirement, advising on what options are right for you and how you can prolong the life of your PVC curtain.
If you wish to discuss our PVC range with our sales team, please call us on 01925 638753 or email sales@pvc-strip.co.uk and our experienced team will gladly answer any questions you may have.

PVC strip curtains offer a variety of benefits and advantages to any application they are installed in. The strip curtain is designed to form a flexible barrier across an opening, making environments safer, improving temperatures and offering ease of access. Each kit is carefully manufactured to each industry’s unique requirements, ensuring each environment has the ideal solution.

Strip curtains can be found in a large variety of environments, ranging from;

 

• Cold Stores
• Warehouses
• Schools
• Data Centres
• Cleanrooms
• Restaurants
• Farms
• Restaurants / bars / cafés

Each PVC strip curtain requirement is unique, specifically manufactured with PVC that will work best in the environment. For example, cold stores and walk-in freezers require the temperature to reach as low as -32°C but cannot let the cool air escape when workers are passing in and out of the space. Polar grade PVC is ideal for this application, ensuring the temperature is regulated and the strips are self-closing. The PVC strips are flexible, even in lower temperatures and won’t hinder any access in and out of the area.

If you would like more information about our plastic strip curtain range, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our expert sales team. We aim to respond to all enquiries within 24 hours if you contact us via email, sales@pvc-strip.co.uk, or fill in one of our enquiry forms found on our website at www.pvc-strip.co.uk or for an instant response, please call our team on 01925 638753.