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FAQ

Thermal Insulated Curtain Products

Depending on the R value that you need to meet, insulation thickness ranges from 1″ thick to 6″ thick. These thicknesses are measured before the insulation is encased in the vinyl curtain shell. Due to the way that these curtains are made , some of the insulation may be slightly compressed when fully enclosed in the sewn and radio frequency welded outer layers of the curtain.
We want to be sure that we offer an Insulated Curtain that can meet each customer’s needs. The temperature differential- defined as the difference between the desired temperature inside of the enclosed space versus the ambient temperature of the building- is the deciding factor on how thick the insulation needs to be.

There are several factors to consider here. The first would be keeping the room sealed off. The more air tight a temperature barrier is, the more effective it will be. This may include using floor sweeps in the bottom of the curtain, Velcro on the side edges, and filler panels with valances on the top. All of these options ensure that there are minimal, if any, gaps in the curtain installation.

The second factor to consider is the air that you are putting into the room. Both the temperature of the conditioned air and the CFM (or the quantity) of the conditioned air pumped into this space will play a high role in how well you can achieve your temperature goals.

Unfortunately, we cannot. Our expertise is limited to the curtain walls that we fabricate, and we cannot advise on HVAC system for requirements. We would highly recommend that you work with an experienced mechanical contractor or HVAC engineer to determine the air input needs of your space.
We offer 4 different thicknesses of retractable curtains and 5 different thicknesses of stationary curtains. These options offer temperature differences between 22° and 60° depending on the thickness of the curtain.

This would depend on what product you are looking at. For our thinner curtain options, we tend to fall in the middle of the price continuum we are on with our competitors. For the thicker curtains, no other manufacturer makes the insulated curtains as thick, or as high, or retractable, so there is not a good comparison out there.

While price is very important, the other question to ask is how our quality compares to that of our competitors. In that category, we are second to none. We are known for our attention to detail, our high quality workmanship, our ability to meet customers specific project and lead time requirements, and our outstanding, personalized customer service.

Life expectancy depends on the environment that the curtains are in, however even in tough environments, we expect that the curtains should survive and function for 10+ years. As an example, we have customer that have these curtains hung for over 20 years.
Our curtain products also carry a 6 year warranty (the longest in the industry!) on materials and workmanship.

AmCraft offers several egress options. Which option best fits your needs depends on the size of the egress, what will be moving through the doorway, and the project’s budget. Our most common egress options are a retractable curtain, which can be moved to the side, or a strip door within their curtain wall. You can find all egress options on our website, or our sales team will be happy to find the perfect passthrough option for your application.
AmCraft does not install the curtain walls. These systems are made to be very user friendly. Additionally, each order is shipped with thorough installation instructions. We are also on hand via phone to answer any and all installation related questions. A majority of our customers install themselves, or have an in house crew or contractor that install these. We also offer installation references through our installation partner companies, which are spread out within the United States. Our Sales Team will make sure we find the best Installer for your facility and location.

Yes, the Insulated Curtains can be used outside. It is important that your sales associate knows that you plan to use this outside, so that they can suggest modifications to the construction, if necessary.

Please note that while the Insulated Curtains can be used outdoors, we cannot warranty them. This is because we cannot control the outdoor elements that the curtains will be exposed to. Wind, water, and direct sunlight can be harsh on the sewn construction and PVC vinyl outer layers of the Insulated Curtains.

R-Value is a heat/cold flow resistance measurement. R value, as defined by standard ASTM C168, is: “Resistance, thermal, n: the quantity determined by the temperature difference, at steady state, between two defined surfaces of a material or construction that induces a unit heat flow through a unit area.” Basically, R value measures the resistance to heat transfer across/through a given barrier. The higher the R-Value of a barrier, the more resistant it will be to a temperature change. Thicker materials have a higher R-Value than thinner materials. That is why AmCraft offers several thicknesses of Insulated Thermal Curtains to offer you the ideal R Value for your application.

Acoustic Curtain Products

While AmCraft’s acoustic curtains have a specified average sound transition loss (STC) and noise reduction coefficient (NRC), these are averages obtained in a controlled environment. When it comes to sound every application and or situation is different. There are multiple variables that need to be considered, such as the size of the room, the type of sound, the room layout, and surfaces within the room. Due to this, the results may vary on the actual amount of sound reduction that will be achieved. We recommend contacting a professional sound engineer to work with you on what would be the best solution for your situation. AmCraft can give you recommendations based on experience and case studies showing a proven track record of our acoustic products working.
In this case, if there is a 100 decibel sound and it is reduced by 10 decibels, the new sound level would be around 90 decibels. The reduction of 10 decibels would make the sound appear to be about half as loud to the human ear compared to the original 100 decibel sound. It’s important to note that perceived loudness can vary depending on various factors, including individual sensitivity and the nature of the sound itself. Additionally, the perception of loudness is not a linear relationship with decibel levels, but rather follows a logarithmic scale. As a result, small changes in decibels can have significant effects on our perception of loudness.
Frequency matters when trying to reduce noise because different frequencies have varying characteristics and can be perceived differently by the human ear. Sound is made up of vibrations or waves that travel through a medium, such as air. These waves have different frequencies, which determine the pitch or tonal quality of the sound. Low-frequency sounds have lower pitches, while high-frequency sounds have higher pitches.
In general, higher frequencies are more easily absorbed and blocked by softer materials, while lower frequencies require denser barriers for effective sound blocking. However, it’s important to note that the effectiveness of materials can vary based on their specific properties and the construction of the barrier or absorptive system. When it comes to disturbing noises, they can indeed encompass a combination of low and high frequencies. Therefore, employing a combination of soft and hard materials can be a suitable approach to effectively block and dampen the noise. AmCraft offers a diverse selection of retractable and stationary acoustic curtains. These curtains are specifically designed to block and dampen unwanted noise, providing customers with a wide range of options to address their specific needs and requirements.
To effectively manage noise, it is crucial to address all surfaces within the room. Noise tends to reflect off various hard surfaces, including ceilings, walls, shelves, machinery, and floors. By incorporating wall, ceiling, and corner baffles, the noise can be dampened, allowing soft materials to absorb and trap the sound before hitting the hard surfaces. In addition, covering the flooring with rubber mats or carpets can further contribute to noise reduction. If you are planning to enclose the source of the noise, it is essential to seal all edges tightly. This prevents sound leakage and ensures maximum effectiveness. Additionally, incorporating baffles within the enclosure is highly recommended. Baffles help dampen and reduce the overall noise within the enclosure, providing further control over sound levels.
While our acoustic curtains/panels are primarily designed for indoor use, we have received positive feedback from customers who have utilized them for outdoor or semi-outdoor applications. It is important to note that the warranty provided for our acoustic curtains is limited to indoor usage. However, we are pleased to inform you that our curtains have demonstrated satisfactory performance.
AmCraft has an extensive network of installers located throughout the United States, ensuring that we can recommend the most suitable one for your facility and location. AmCraft does not install, but it’s worth noting that 85% of our customers opt to have the curtain system installed by their own maintenance crew or themselves. This is because our systems are designed to be user-friendly, and we provide a comprehensive set of installation instructions along with the curtain shipment. Our knowledgeable staff is always available to assist you with any questions that may arise during the installation process. Our dedicated sales team will work diligently to ensure that we find the best installer for your specific needs and location.
Decibels and frequency are both terms used to describe sound, but they represent different aspects of sound. A Decibel describes the intensity or loudness of the sound levels. A logarithmic scale is used to define the amount of sound pressure being omitted to create the decibel level of the sound. (We also explain about Logarithmic scale in one of our FAQ) The higher the decibel level, the louder the noise is to the human ear. Frequency refers to the pitch or frequency of sound waves, representing the number of cycles occurring per second, measured in hertz. Addressing both low and high frequencies becomes necessary when attempting to reduce noise in an area, as most noises encompass a range of frequencies.