Hospital curtains provide privacy and help prevent infections from spreading throughout a medical facility. These types of curtains often come in a wide variety of types and sizes since different facilities have various requirements. With the numerous suppliers available, choosing the right cubicle curtain with the correct measurements can be a bit challenging.
Construction and Design
Hospital or cubicle curtains are commonly made with woven fabrics stitched together with open mesh at the top portion. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a 70% mesh must be used at the top to allow the sprinkler water system to penetrate curtain in case of fire. Meanwhile, the lower portion of the curtain must be opaque to ensure privacy. These curtains hang from the carriers installed into the cubicle track.
Moreover, the cubicle curtains must be flame retardant and come with antimicrobial properties to help cut down any infections. They are available in traditional solids and subtle fabric for a wide range of options.
Measurements and Dimension
Gathering a few key measurements and hanging options are needed to decide on the cubicle curtains to be used in hospitals. The mesh portion, length, width, and drop chain are some of the important considerations.
Measuring Curtain Length
To determine the size of the cubicle curtain, measure the length of the track to the desired distance above the floor. The combination of the ceiling-mounted cubicle curtain track and the carriers is approximately three inches between the ceiling and the top of the curtain. Some have a gap between nine to 15 inches between the bottom of the curtain and the flooring.
With this in mind, subtracting 12 to 18 inches from the ceiling height becomes the rule of thumb in getting the height.
Measuring Curtain Width
To get the curtain width, measure the total length while considering all the track sides added together and making sure not to miss the corners. Hospital curtains must be at least 15% inches wider than the track length itself to provide fullness and allow full privacy.
The slight ripple, which never remain taut when closed, allows easy handling of the material and elimination of the need for tug curtains into an exact location.
Avoid getting cubicle curtains with the same width as that of the track. When in doubt, always round up to the next width of available fabric using the standard item numbers or standard widths.
Drop Chains
As an alternative to mesh at the top portion of the fabric, beaded chain drops can be used. These also apply for higher ceilings where floor-to-ceiling curtains are not feasible. Using the chains allows the track to be ceiling mounted while suspending the curtain of lesser height.
The Experts in Cubicle Curtains
Choosing cubicle curtains should not be a hassle as long as you have basic knowledge of them. Keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when buying a curtain for health care facilities. Thus, it is always the best option to order custom-made curtains to perfectly suit the needs of the facility.
At Drapery Manufacturing Inc, we make sure to give the best options for your hospital curtain needs. We use high-quality fabric to ensure long-lasting and durable curtains while delivering the utmost care, comfort, and protection. Moreover, our company offers heavy-duty cubicle curtain tracks and accessories to provide only the best finishes.
Want to learn more about the curtains used in hospitals? Don’t hesitate to contact our office so we can assist in all things about custom drapes and more.