Industrial painting projects routinely require some form of dust containment, ground cover, wind screens, temporary enclosures, or vapor barriers. The common denominator for all these requirements is the need for containment tarps or poly sheeting. Various types of material are used for this, some of which are as follows:
● Drum-tight heat-shrink film. Can be used for containment or as boat film.
● Reusable tarps with grommets for cable installation
● Economical poly sheeting, either reinforced or not
● Scaffold wrap
● Mesh screen / aka wind screen
Home / Resources & Training / Containment Sheeting Buying Guide
Name
Material Details
Size / Thickness Options
Common Applications
Benefits
Non-Reinforced Plastic / Poly sheeting
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE). Available in standard and FR.
Typically stocked in clear 20 x 100, 4 & 6 mil thickness. Can be ordered in widths from 1′ to 50′ and in thicknesses from .3 to 10 mils.
Layered Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) with polyester reinforcing filaments. Available in standard and FR.
Typically stocked in 20′ x 100′ and 40′ x 100′ in clear 6 mil thickness. Can be ordered in widths from 6′ to 60′ and in 6 or 10 mil thickness.
Construction enclosures, vapor barriers, temporary covers, liners, or walls, asbestos abatements
Highly versatile and tear-resistant.
Reinforced Scaffold Sheeting
Layered Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) with string reinforcing filaments and blue eyelet bands for bungee ties. Available in standard (clear) and FR (white).
Typically stocked in 7’4″ x 136′ and 13′ x 100′ in white 12 mil thickness. Available in 6 or 12 mil thickness in up to 20′ x 100′.
Easy to install on scaffolding, very resistant to tearing.
Heat-Shrink Sheeting
Shrinkable polyethylene. Available in Standard and FR.
Typically stocked in 20 or 22′ x 100′ and 32′ x 70′ in FR 12-mil thickness. Available in 9 or 12 mil thickness and up to 30′ x 100′.
Scaffold enclosures and any containment application where dust or water migration is highly restricted. Also used as boat wrap.
Most effective for total containment, shrinkable to fit irregular shapes.
Airbag Tarps
Fine woven nylon fabric with silicone coating and 2″ web reinforcing on perimeter and on seams. Grommets included on webbing for cable installation. Comes standard as FR.
Made to order in any size. Fabric is 12 mil thick (6 oz/yard).
Building or structure containment. Construction enclosures.
The only containment product that is designed to be reused.
Mesh Wind Screen
85% mesh polypropylene fabric with reinforced perimeter and seams. Grommets included along reinforcement for cable installation. Available in standard or FR.
Typically stocked in 10′ x 20′ up to 30′ x 50.
Scaffold or building enclosures where dust and debris need contained, but where shade and some air-flow is desirable.
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE). Available in standard and FR.
Layered Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) with polyester reinforcing filaments. Available in standard and FR.
Layered Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) with string reinforcing filaments and blue eyelet bands for bungee ties. Available in standard (clear) and FR (white).
Shrinkable polyethylene. Available in Standard and FR.
Fine woven nylon fabric with silicone coating and 2″ web reinforcing on perimeter and on seams. Grommets included on webbing for cable installation. Comes standard as FR.
85% mesh polypropylene fabric with reinforced perimeter and seams. Grommets included along reinforcement for cable installation. Available in standard or FR.
Size/Thickness Options
Typically stocked in clear 20 x 100, 4 & 6 mil thickness. Can be ordered in widths from 1′ to 50′ and in thicknesses from .3 to 10 mils.
Typically stocked in 20′ x 100′ and 40′ x 100′ in clear 6 mil thickness. Can be ordered in widths from 6′ to 60′ and in 6 or 10 mil thickness.
Typically stocked in 7’4″ x 136′ and 13′ x 100′ in white 12 mil thickness. Available in 6 or 12 mil thickness in up to 20′ x 100′.
Typically stocked in 20 or 22′ x 100′ and 32′ x 70′ in FR 12-mil thickness. Available in 9 or 12 mil thickness and up to 30′ x 100′.
Made to order in any size. Fabric is 12 mil thick (6 oz/yard).
Scaffold enclosures and any containment application where dust or water migration is highly restricted. Also used as boat wrap.
Building or structure containment. Construction enclosures.
Scaffold or building enclosures where dust and debris need contained, but where shade and some air-flow is desirable.
Benefits
Economical and highly versatile.
Highly versatile and tear-resistant.
Easy to install on scaffolding, very resistant to tearing.
Most effective for total containment, shrinkable to fit irregular shapes.
The only containment product that is designed to be reused.
Reusable and breathable.
Further Considerations
How long does the containment need to last?
Plastic films come in various thicknesses and the expected duration of the project will have an impact on which version should be used. In addition, projects with a long duration which are using poly sheeting will want to consider UV resistance when selecting the film.
Is 100% containment or water resistance required?
The nature of shrink film, with the heat-sealed seams, often provides the best solution when maximum resistance or containment is required.
Does your project site require flame retardant sheeting?
Almost all containment or sheeting products offer a FR option – be sure to understand your project requirements when placing your order.
How large/tall is the enclosure?
Projects with large enclosure requirements should consider the cost of repair to the sheeting vs. the original sheeting cost. Choosing a heavier gauge material (or non-disposable material) may cost more up front, but could save much more in reduced enclosure maintenance costs in a long project.
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