Cost Effective Partitioning: Industrial Curtains vs Permanent Walls
When managing industrial workplaces, partitioning plays a key role in both workplace efficiency and the upholding of health and safety standards.
For example, partitioning the workspace into individual zones and areas can help with noise control, hazard containment, and temperature control. This helps ensure businesses comply with all industry and government regulations.
Partitioning can also positively impact business efficiency by ensuring that you are properly utilizing the space available to you and giving you greater control over your workflow.
However, there are two options to choose from when setting up some form of partitioning within your business: industrial curtains and permanent walls.
Industrial Curtains
Industrial curtains sometimes referred to as temporary curtain walls, are used to partition larger workspaces into smaller sections and areas. They can be made from a wide range of high-quality, durable materials, though the most popular are:
Vinyl curtains
PVC strip curtains
Advantages of industrial curtains
There are many benefits associated with using industrial curtains when it comes to partitioning within the workplace.
Easy Installation.
Unlike permanent walls, industrial curtains are quick and easy to install. This means that their setup will not interfere with your daily business practices or procedures.
Easy customization.
Industrial curtains can be customized to address specific points or concerns within your business. For example, you can ensure that the curtains are treated so that they are heat-resistant or fire-retardant.
Cost-effectiveness.
Installing industrial curtains is a much more cost-effective solution than building a permanent wall, which means that they’re an excellent choice for business owners working within a particular budget.
Flexibility in reconfiguration.
When using industrial curtains, you aren’t limited to a specific layout or workspace design. This means you can move and remove curtains as often as necessary, allowing you to experiment when designing the perfect workspace layout.
Permanent Walls
Permanent walls are a long-term solution to industrial businesses' partitioning needs, typically made from materials such as drywall and concrete.
Advantages of permanent walls
Many benefits are associated with using permanent walls as a partitioning device within your industrial business premises.
Structural stability.
The most significant benefit associated with installing permanent walls is that they provide you with structural stability. This can once again help business owners maintain workplace health and safety standards while also requiring very little in terms of upkeep and maintenance.
Long-term durability.
Permanent walls are also an excellent long-term solution since they are designed to stand the test of time. Those who have a clear idea of the optimal workspace layout may, therefore, benefit from their installation.
Drawbacks and challenges
However, many challenges are associated with installing brick walls as partitions.
Higher initial cost.
One major drawback of using permanent walls as a partition device is their upfront/initial cost. After all, not only do you need to source the relevant materials and supplies, but you also need to cover the cost of installation. Beyond this, this kind of construction work will likely interfere with your daily business practices, meaning that you need to shut up shop while it is installed - costing yourself money while doing so.
Limited flexibility in layout changes.
As their name suggests, wall partitions are a permanent fixture. This means that you are unable to experiment with different layouts, even if you realize that your initial design or floor plans were flawed.
Cost Analysis
Initial Costs.
The initial costs of installing both industrial curtains vs. permanent walls will vary depending on the size of your business, the materials used, and any customizations you make. However, industrial curtains are by far the most cost-effective option.
Long-term costs.
Permanent walls are designed to be a long-term fixture within your business premises, so you will not encounter too many long-term costs related to their installation. However, the same can be said for industrial curtains, which are often designed to be incredibly durable and low maintenance.
Maintenance expenses.
Both industrial curtains and permanent walls require minimal maintenance so that they won’t become recurrent expenses for your business. When great care is taken to properly clean and maintain industrial curtains, they will last 10+ years.
Replacement and reconfiguration costs.
If either your industrial curtains or permanent walls need to be replaced, then the costs will be comparable to those of their initial installation.
Factors Influencing Choice
If you’re struggling to choose between industrial curtains and permanent walls, there are many factors that could influence your decision.
Nature of the industrial processes. Your choice of partition could vary depending on the specific processes you are carrying out as part of your business. For example, if you want these spaces easily accessible, you may be more inclined to choose industrial curtains.
Regulatory compliance requirements. While both partitions are designed to comply with any health and safety regulations, industry-specific guidelines may mean that one option is better than the other.
Future scalability and adaptability. If your work processes are constantly changing, you may want to select industrial curtains as your partition. This is because they are much more adaptable.
Environmental Impact. As many businesses are focusing on sustainability in the coming years, you may want to research the different materials used in the construction of permanent walls vs. the installation of industrial curtains to determine which partition device you’d prefer.
Energy efficiency in relation to heating and cooling. Both permanent walls and industrial curtains can aid heating and cooling in the workspace. However, industrial curtains tend to give business owners better control over the working climate because they are flexible and adaptable.
Conclusion
There are merits to installing both industrial curtains and permanent walls when trying to segment your workplace properly. As such, the final decision should be based on your specific industry needs - ensuring that you select an option that meets your needs as closely as possible.
However, for the most part, industrial curtains are the best choice. This is because they can be customized and tailored to meet the specific needs of your business, whether you’re managing a manufacturing line or a construction site.
At Canvas Craft, we have over 40 years of experience in designing customized industrial curtains for a wide range of industrial companies and businesses. Our designs are practical, durable, and cost-efficient.
Get in touch today if you’d like to find out more or request an estimate.
