Dividing a warehouse into several, smaller areas is not an easy task. The walls cost money, and setting them up takes time. If only there was a way to install walls quickly without any additional costs. Our article will provide a few interesting solutions. The idea is to section off manufacturing processes so they may work efficiently and not interfere with one another.

Dividing the warehouse space is easier than ever before. The need for permanent, hard walls is gone because alternatives such as warehouse divider curtains exist. In the past, owners had to settle down with rigid walls. Such walls are permanent which resulted in serious challenges in the future. Times have changed, and now we can easily divide a small warehouse with a few curtains.

Why Divide The Warehouse In The First Place?

Small warehouses often have to deal with these problems: temperature loss, noise, dust, moisture, fumes and odors, access control, product storage, and more.

To fix all these issues, the warehouse should have a strong and reliable internal wall structure. Without any internal walls, all operations will be active in one, large room.

Some departments may not appreciate the noise from others. If a machine generates too much noise, nearby workers must not be affected by it. Some operations may need designated areas because of welding, sanding, etc. Without a separation wall, dust or airborne particles would freely pass from their point of origin to everyone else in the area.

Other departments may conduct spray and paint operations; requiring a wall between them and everyone else so moisture and chemicals don’t get away. Moisture is a serious troublemaker: it will make the environment susceptible to mold, mildew, and fungi buildup; potentially cause damage to machinery, and generally irritate workers.

Of course, specific areas will need access control, and having everything under one large room would jeopardize in-house safety. Lastly, storage. Products will require storage in a room with a stable temperature. That temperature may not be comfortable for workers or other products. Instead of leaving everything in one large area where temperature loss frequently occurs, it would be wise to separate the floor into multiple smaller areas for specific operations. Dividing storage space is a must in such scenarios.

Another good point is efficiency. Every department conducts different operations. It would be beneficial to separate the department so they can work in peace; without affecting each other. Pest control comes to mind. With proper interior walls, it would be much harder for insects or small vermin to reach the storage.

Below, we will mention a few good ideas on how to divide a small warehouse and make it more safe and efficient.

What Divider Types To Use For Your Small Warehouse?

Warehouse separation curtains. Perhaps the most efficient solution, industrial curtains have all the benefits of other wall types. They are inexpensive like tarps, visually appealing like glass frames, strong like permanent walls, and so much more. Warehouse separation curtains are becoming more common across the world because of how simple yet effective they are. With the right configuration, the industrial curtains will keep pests at bay, prevent temperature loss, and create a safer working environment for all.

Rigid, permanent walls. Still common in warehouses, the typical rigid walls could work for dividing a small area. They offer great temperature and noise control and will remain strong for years to come. However, their downsides include high expenses, immobility, and the need for demolition should you want to rebuild the facility. Permanent walls also take up more space – as tenants ourselves, we try to be as efficient as possible with the space we rent. Curtain walls are usually around .020″, which saves us some extra space.

Glass frames. They offer a balance between structure and freedom. Natural light will pass through them, the vision is great, and they have an impressive, professional look. Nonetheless, it is risky setting up glass frame dividers as they are fragile and could break during operations. Not to mention their high costs and lack of flexibility.
Tarp walls. A simple solution would be to use tarps as interior warehouse walls. They are cheap and great for short-term use. What makes tarps undesirable for industrial use is their build quality. Tarps are thin and could tear apart when in contact with machinery. They will leak moisture inside the facility; causing mold and mildew buildup. The last thing any small business owner wants is fungi growth inside their facility. Mold buildup is a health hazard for anyone inside the warehouse.

Other solutions. Some other examples are wooden panels, stud walls, accordion walls, or positioning machines so they become dividers. Creativity triumphs.


Warehouse Divider Curtains And Their Benefits

As we mentioned above, industrial curtains are the most efficient solution for dividing warehouse space. They perform well in all kinds of applications while remaining relatively cheap. Let’s discuss their benefits:

·  Warehouse divider curtains will protect workers and equipment from potential damage should an incident occur within the warehouse
·  Flying debris and dust will not escape their area of origin
·  Separate the warehouse into small areas; each for specific tasks
·  Set up an area for privacy or a lunchroom within the warehouse
·  Save money on electricity by keeping warm air in during winters and cold air in during summers
·  The curtains will create a more enjoyable working environment for all
·  They will also contain odors, fumes, moisture, over-spray, and chemical air migration from reaching other departments

Warehouse separation curtains have advantages over other wall types:

·  You can reposition them, store them, and change their layouts. Permanent walls cannot do that
·  Their installation takes minutes unlike other walls which need hours of hard work
·  Such curtains usually use vinyl which has a slick surface. Vinyl is easy to clean and maintain
·  Unlike other wall types, you can often customize curtains as much as you like with any size, layout, color, and more

In the past, things were different. We had few choices when designing a small warehouse’s interior.  The common rigid walls were nothing more than restrictions.

Today, everything is different. Innovation drives growth, and we have to ensure we remain in touch with the ever-changing industry. When comparing our current operations with those from ten or twenty years ago, we see the improvements. Our warehouses are more efficient than ever before, and implementing curtain walls was the best decision we made.

Using curtains as walls is a future-proof, long-term investment. They are one of many solutions for dividing a small warehouse, but worth the consideration.

Conclusion

As an owner of a small business warehouse, you could utilize different divider types for your facility. Our article is here to give insight on which options are most efficient. After years of experience with warehouse applications, we highly suggest giving industrial curtains a try.

Warehouse divider curtains will keep the facility safe against dust, debris, mold, mildew, humidity, and noise. These curtain walls will also divide the warehouse into smaller areas for specific operations. The best part is the curtains are flexible, and you could reposition them for other applications in the future.