Fabric Walls Effectively Handle Climate Control Issues

An additional consideration related to walls is tied to the racking used to store food ingredients and finished products. The need to remove racks to make room for the construction of traditional walls or panel systems, as well as the need to reinstall the racks upon project completion, adds significant time and cost.

When compared with traditional walls and most panel systems, fabric walls are typically easier and faster to design and install for a number of reasons. Often, because both insulated and non-insulated fabric walls attach directly to the existing building structures, few installation steps are involved. In other instances, the walls use a lightweight metal framework to support the fabric curtains. The frames of the most advanced models are designed to ensure ease of assembly and disassembly. Additionally, building permits are usually not required.

Another positive is that fabric walls do not require curbing. Instead, the walls are able to withstand most forklift impacts without the kind of catastrophic damage that occurs with permanent structures. The walls can also be installed in the flues of racking, eliminating the need to remove and re-install the racks.

Speed: The Common Thread

The common thread running through all fabric walls is the ability they provide to address climate control issues without delay, an essential advantage because, more often than not, challenges associated with food quality and safety require immediate attention.

Deciding whether to use flexible fabric walls to address any number of quality control and safety issues is a matter of moving beyond traditional thinking. Making the right decision also hinges on a thorough understanding of the options that best fit the application, which is why it’s good practice to rely on a knowledgeable and reputable supplier for guidance.

With flexible fabric walls, there’s no reason to let challenges related to climate control—and many other issues associated with a facility’s interior space—stand in the way of food quality and safety.

Fleckenstein is an industry specialist at Zoneworks Cold Storage. Reach him at [email protected] or (630) 379-1752.