Cold-room and freezer doorways have a different job to do from standard internal openings. The PVC needs to remain suitable for the operating temperature while continuing to provide a flexible barrier as people and equipment move through.
Over time, strips can become damaged, cloudy, misshapen or stop returning to position properly. The curtain may still be hanging across the doorway, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s still doing its job well.
Your shutdown or quieter maintenance period is a good opportunity to inspect these openings, check that the PVC is still suitable for the environment and replace anything that needs attention.
Quick answer
Freezer Grade PVC should be selected to suit the actual operating temperature of the doorway.
During shutdown, check cold-room and freezer curtains for cracks, stiffness, poor overlap, cloudiness and strips that no longer return properly after traffic passes.
Get the grade right first
The first thing to check is whether the PVC is actually rated for the conditions at the doorway.
Rather than relying only on labels such as “standard” or “freezer grade”, check the specified operating range of the material you’re using.
Ulti’s Freezer Grade PVC is designed for lower-temperature applications and is currently specified from-55°C to +25°C, making it suitable for applications including cold rooms, chillers and walk-in fridges.
Using the appropriate grade is only part of the equation. The curtain also needs to be correctly configured for the opening, traffic and application.
Standard vs Freezer Grade PVC
Not every opening needs Freezer Grade PVC.
Ambient applications
Standard PVC
Designed for more ambient applications. Always check the specified operating range against the actual conditions at the doorway.
Cold storage applications
Freezer Grade PVC
Designed for lower-temperature applications including cold rooms, chillers and walk-in fridges.
-55°C to +25°C
That’s why it’s worth looking at your site doorway by doorway rather than automatically using the same PVC throughout the facility.
For cold rooms, chillers and freezer entries, start with the actual operating temperature of the opening and select the PVC accordingly.
If you’re reviewing other doors across the facility at the same time, our PVC selection guide can help you identify the appropriate grade for each application.
Why the condition of your PVC matters
A PVC curtain relies on the strips returning to position and maintaining their intended overlap after people or equipment pass through.
Missing, damaged or poorly hanging strips can leave gaps across the opening and reduce the separation between the cold space and the surrounding environment.
That is why it’s worth checking more than whether the PVC is simply still hanging from the rail.
Look at how the curtain behaves in normal use.
Do the strips part easily and then settle back into place? Are there permanent gaps? Have strips become damaged or misshapen? Can people still see clearly through the opening?
Those checks give you a much better idea of the curtain’s condition than looking at it from a distance.
What to look for during shutdown
Shutdown check
✓Cracks, tears or splits
✓Strips that stay bent after contact
✓Cloudiness or heavy scratching
✓Stiffness or slow return
✓Visible gaps or poor overlap
✓Damaged rail, hangers or fixings
✓Water, frost or ice around the doorway
The important thing is to look at the entire opening rather than simply replacing the most visibly damaged strip.
Why shutdown is a good time to do it
Replacing PVC requires access to the doorway, so planned downtime or a lower-traffic period can make inspection and replacement easier.
It also gives you the opportunity to review the complete curtain rather than dealing with one damaged strip at a time during normal operations.
Use the shutdown walk-through to check:
- The condition of each strip
- Whether the strips return properly
- The overlap across the opening
- The rail and hanging hardware
- Through-visibility
- The PVC grade
- The actual operating temperature of the doorway
- Whether the way the opening is used has changed
Plan any replacement work around your site’s operational, temperature-control and food-safety requirements.
Do you need to replace the whole curtain?
Not necessarily.
If the header rail, hangers and mounting hardware remain suitable, replacing damaged or unsuitable strips may be enough.
A full curtain kit may make more sense where the hardware is damaged, the opening has changed or the current system is no longer providing suitable coverage and overlap.
Before ordering, check:
- Opening width and height
- Existing strip width and thickness
- PVC grade
- Overlap
- Header or track system
- Condition of the existing hardware
That will help determine whether you need replacement strips or a complete kit.
What if you already have a rapid door?
Having a rapid door doesn’t automatically make PVC irrelevant.
PVC strips can provide an additional physical barrier across an opening while the main door is open, while still allowing people or suitable vehicle traffic to pass through.
Whether both are appropriate will depend on the doorway, traffic and operating requirements.
What about the other doorways in your facility?
Freezer Grade PVC is designed for lower-temperature applications, but it won’t necessarily be the right choice everywhere else.
Other Ulti PVC options include Standard, Anti-Insect and Welding Grade for different applications. If you’re using shutdown to review the whole facility, match each doorway to the material appropriate for its environment rather than automatically using the same PVC throughout.
For example, if flying insects are a bigger issue at a loading or external opening, our insect-prevention guide looks at when Anti-Insect PVC may be appropriate and when a different doorway solution should be considered.
Order around your shutdown date
If you’ve identified cold-room PVC that needs replacing, leave enough time to measure the opening, confirm the grade and order the correct configuration.
Getting these checks done before shutdown means you can identify what needs attention and plan the work around your maintenance window rather than making that decision once shutdown has already started.
Leave time for your PVC order
The current Freezer Grade PVC Strip Curtain Kit lists a lead time of four working days before shipping. Check the current lead time when ordering if you’re working towards a fixed shutdown date.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature is Freezer Grade PVC suitable for?
Ulti’s current Freezer Grade PVC Strip Curtain Kit is specified for temperatures from-55°C to +25°C and is intended for cold rooms, chillers and walk-in fridges.
Always select PVC according to the actual conditions at the doorway.
Can we replace cold-room strips while the room is running?
Potentially, but replacing strips temporarily reduces the barrier across the doorway.
Plan the work around your site’s temperature-control, food-safety and operational requirements. Where possible, shutdown or lower-traffic periods can make access easier.
Do we still need PVC if we have a rapid door?
PVC strips can provide an additional physical barrier while the main door is open while still allowing people or suitable vehicle traffic to pass through.
Whether you need both depends on the doorway, traffic and operating requirements.
Do we need a full kit or just replacement strips?
If the rail, hangers and mounting hardware remain suitable, replacing damaged or unsuitable strips may be enough.
A complete kit may be more appropriate if the hardware is damaged, the opening has changed or the current curtain no longer provides suitable coverage and overlap.
Getting your cold storage facility ready for shutdown?
Check your PVC early so you have time to confirm the grade, measure the opening and replace worn or damaged strips before normal operations resume.
If you already know what you need, explore Ulti’s Freezer Grade PVC Strip Curtain Kits.
Not sure whether you need replacement strips or a complete curtain? Talk to the Ulti team about the opening, operating temperature and existing curtain setup.