Blankets & Curtains

About Blankets & Curtains

Welding blankets and curtains are essential safety equipment designed to protect personnel, equipment, and work areas from the hazards of welding, grinding, and hot work operations. These fire-resistant products create effective barriers against sparks, spatter, molten metal, and harmful UV radiation. MyToolShed.co.uk stocks professional-grade welding protection equipment constructed from heavy-duty fibreglass and treated fabrics, offering reliable performance in workshops, construction sites, and industrial environments across the UK.

The range includes portable welding blankets that can be draped over surfaces or equipment, as well as complete curtain and frame systems for creating dedicated welding bays. All products meet stringent British and European safety standards, ensuring compliance with HSE regulations. Whether you're a professional welder, fabrication shop owner, or DIY enthusiast, proper welding blankets and curtains are non-negotiable safety equipment for any hot work operation.

Applications

Welding blankets and curtains are used across numerous trades and industries:

• Professional Welders and Fabricators: Daily protection of workpieces, fixtures, and equipment from spark damage in fabrication shops and on-site installations
• Maintenance Engineers: Portable protection for repair work in industrial facilities where machinery and sensitive equipment must be shielded during hot work
• Construction Sites: Creating safe hot work zones whilst maintaining compliance with site safety regulations and CDM requirements
• Agricultural Mechanics: Protecting tractors and farm equipment during field repairs involving welding or cutting
• Automotive Workshops: Safeguarding vehicles and workshop contents from welding spatter during repairs, modifications, and restoration projects
• Manufacturing Facilities: Permanent welding curtain installations creating designated welding bays that safely contain hazards
• Marine and Shipyard Workers: Heavy-duty protection in confined spaces where fire risk must be carefully controlled
• DIY Enthusiasts: Home garage protection when undertaking occasional welding projects safely

Choosing The Right Blankets & Curtains

Material Construction: Fibreglass welding blankets offer superior heat resistance and durability compared to treated fabric alternatives. For regular professional use, invest in quality fibreglass products that withstand repeated exposure to high temperatures and sparks.

Size and Coverage: Consider your typical project scale and areas requiring protection. Welding blankets range from compact 1m × 1m options for small jobs to larger 2m × 2m blankets for comprehensive coverage. For workshop installations, measure the area you need to section off when selecting curtain and frame systems.

Temperature Rating: Match the blanket's temperature rating to your welding processes. MIG and TIG welding typically require blankets rated to at least 550°C, whilst plasma cutting may need higher ratings. Always verify manufacturer specifications against your specific applications.

Portability Requirements: If you work across multiple sites, prioritise lightweight blankets with reinforced edges and eyelets for easy positioning. For fixed installations, welding curtain and frame systems provide permanent protection with flexibility to create dedicated work zones.

Compliance and Certification: Ensure products from MyToolShed.co.uk meet relevant British and European standards for fire resistance and heat protection, particularly if demonstrating compliance with HSE regulations or site-specific safety requirements.

Safety Information

Always inspect welding blankets and curtains before each use for damage, burns, or degradation that could compromise protection. Replace products showing significant wear, holes, or reduced fire resistance immediately. When positioning blankets, ensure complete coverage of all vulnerable surfaces within the spark zone, typically within a 10-metre radius of welding operations.

Secure blankets properly to prevent gaps where sparks could penetrate. Welding curtains should be installed with adequate overlap on appropriate frames that maintain stability. Ensure installations don't restrict emergency egress routes or impede ventilation systems required for fume extraction. Remember that whilst blankets and curtains protect against sparks and radiant heat, they don't eliminate all fire risks—always clear work areas of flammable materials and maintain appropriate fire extinguishing equipment within easy reach.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a welding blanket and a welding curtain?

Welding blankets are flexible, portable covers designed to be draped over equipment, surfaces, or materials to protect them from sparks and spatter. They're ideal for temporary protection and can be repositioned easily. Welding curtains are vertical barriers typically suspended from frames to create semi-permanent welding bays. Curtains primarily protect people from arc flash and UV radiation, whilst blankets focus on protecting objects and surfaces from physical spark damage and heat.

How do I know what size welding blanket I need?

The required size depends on the area you need to protect and welding intensity. Ensure your blanket extends at least 300-500mm beyond the immediate work area in all directions where sparks might travel. For protecting vehicles or large equipment, measure the coverage area and select a blanket providing complete protection with overlap. Many professional welders keep multiple sizes: smaller 1m × 1m blankets for focused component protection, and larger 1.8m × 2m blankets for comprehensive coverage during intensive work.

Are welding blankets suitable for plasma cutting?

Quality fibreglass welding blankets are generally suitable for plasma cutting, provided they have appropriate temperature ratings. Plasma cutting produces more intense heat and greater spark volumes than typical MIG or TIG welding, so ensure your blanket is rated to withstand temperatures of at least 550°C, with higher ratings preferable for frequent plasma work. Position blankets to account for increased spark shower radius and inspect them more frequently as the aggressive process may cause faster degradation.