Welding Curtains & Screens — Reviews & Buying Guide

Welding curtains and screens protect people and equipment in the area around a welding operation. The arc produces intense UV and IR radiation that causes eye damage (arc flash) and skin burns, even from indirect exposure. Anyone within line of sight of a welding arc without proper protection is at risk. Curtains contain that radiation within the welding bay and keep everyone else in the shop safe.

When You Need Welding Curtains

Any time welding happens in a shared space, you need curtains or screens. That includes multi-station fabrication shops, maintenance areas in manufacturing plants, construction sites where other trades work nearby, and even home garages where family members might walk through. OSHA requires protection of adjacent workers from welding radiation under 29 CFR 1910.252, and welding curtains are the simplest way to comply.

Types of Welding Screens

Portable welding screens use a metal frame on casters with one or more curtain panels. They’re mobile, set up in minutes, and reposition as work moves around the shop. Most portable screens are 6’ tall and 6-8’ wide. Some fold for storage. Price range is $80-300 depending on size and build quality.

Strip curtains hang from a track or rod and consist of overlapping PVC strips. Workers and material can pass through without opening a door or moving a panel. Common for permanent welding bay entries in production shops. Strips are replaceable individually as they wear or get damaged by spatter.

Welding blankets are flexible, fire-resistant sheets (fiberglass, silicone-coated fabric, or ceramic fiber) draped over equipment or surfaces to protect them from spatter, slag, and heat. They aren’t screens for arc radiation, but they prevent fire and damage in adjacent areas. Also used to wrap pipe joints for post-weld heat treatment.

Curtain Material and Fire Rating

Welding curtain material must be flame retardant and rated for UV blocking. PVC (vinyl) curtains are the most common, available in multiple colors and thicknesses (14 mil to 40 mil). Thicker curtains last longer and block more radiation. Canvas and fiberglass curtains handle higher temperatures and direct spatter contact better than PVC but are less transparent.

All welding curtains should meet ANSI Z49.1 safety requirements. Check for FR rating and UV transmission specifications before buying.

Articles in This Section

Reviews of portable welding screens, strip curtain systems, welding blankets, and curtain mounting hardware. Includes shop layout tips for welding bay design.