Hospital Cubicle Curtains: Antimicrobial Fabric, Specs and Care
By the JOTEX Fabrics product team · Updated
Short answer
Hospital cubicle curtains are privacy curtains hung from ceiling tracks around beds and treatment bays. A good cubicle curtain fabric is antibacterial-tested to a named standard, hard-wearing, easy to launder, wide enough to make seamless panels, and meets the fire standard set by the project. Antimicrobial fabric supports infection control; it does not replace regular cleaning and curtain changes.
What a cubicle curtain is made of
A typical cubicle curtain has a solid fabric panel for privacy and, at the top, a mesh or netting panel that lets air, light and sprinkler water pass through. The curtain hangs by hooks or gliders from a ceiling-mounted cubicle track that curves around the bed. The depth of the mesh and the height of the curtain above the floor are set by the hospital's specification and the local fire authority.
Fabric for the solid panel is usually 100% polyester, because polyester launders repeatedly, dries quickly and holds its colour. Extra-wide fabric lets each panel be made in one piece, without seams to catch dirt.
What to look for in cubicle curtain fabric
| Requirement | What to ask for |
|---|---|
| Antibacterial performance | The test standard, the organisms tested and the result, backed by a test report |
| Fire performance | The fire standard your project requires, and a test report for that exact fabric |
| Durability | A Martindale rub count and a light-fastness grade; see Martindale Rub Test Explained |
| Laundering | A care label that suits your laundry's process and temperature |
| Width | Extra-wide fabric, so panels are seamless |
| Colour | A calm palette with enough choices to colour-code wards or bays |
Antibacterial and antimicrobial testing explained
Antimicrobial is the broad term for fabrics treated to inhibit microorganisms. What matters is what was actually tested. A fabric tested against bacteria has antibacterial evidence; antiviral or antifungal claims need their own tests. Several standard methods are used:
| Standard | Where it is used | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| GB/T 20944.3 | China | Antibacterial activity of textiles by the shake-flask method, reported as an antibacterial rate |
| ISO 20743 | International | Antibacterial activity of textile products, reported as an activity value |
| AATCC 100 | United States | Antibacterial finishes on textiles, reported as a percentage reduction |
| JIS L 1902 | Japan | Antibacterial activity and efficacy of textile products |
Results are only comparable within the same method. When comparing fabrics, ask which organisms were tested, what the result was, and whether the fabric was tested again after washing, because some treatments lose effect with laundering. Most importantly, antibacterial fabric is an extra layer of protection. Curtain changes and cleaning should still follow the hospital's infection prevention and control policy.
The JOTEX Medical range
JOTEX Medical supplies antimicrobial curtain fabrics for hospitals, clinics and care settings. The two current collections, BIOLOGY and CHEMISTRY, are both 100% polyester knits in an extra-wide 280 cm, so cubicle panels can be made without joins.
| BIOLOGY | CHEMISTRY | |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | 100% polyester, knitted | 100% polyester, knitted |
| Width | 280 cm | 280 cm |
| Weight | About 250 gsm | About 190 gsm, the lighter choice |
| Martindale | 30,000 rubs | 30,000 rubs |
| Light fastness | Grade 4 (EN ISO 105-B02) | Grade 4 (EN ISO 105-B02) |
| Antibacterial | 99% or more against E. coli, K. pneumoniae and S. aureus (GB/T 20944.3) | 99% or more against E. coli, K. pneumoniae and S. aureus (GB/T 20944.3) |
| Colours | 18 | 12 |
The colour ranges are soft pastels and neutrals, such as snow, cream, blush, lavender, mint, aqua, sky and stone, which help wards feel calm and let bays be colour-coded. Fire-retardant performance is specified per project: tell the JOTEX team which fire standard your project requires and ask for the test report before specifying. See the fire-retardant fabric page for how fire standards work.
Laundering and care
Follow the care label for each collection. For BIOLOGY and CHEMISTRY, the care instructions are:
- Wash at up to 50°C.
- Do not bleach.
- Tumble dry.
- Iron on a low setting.
- Dry clean with any solvent except trichloroethylene.
Many hospital laundries use high-temperature or chemical disinfection. Check that your laundry's process fits the fabric's care instructions before specifying, and agree a curtain change schedule with the infection prevention team.
Specifying checklist
- Confirm the fire standard with the project's fire safety consultant, and get the test report for the exact fabric.
- Ask for the antibacterial test report: standard, organisms, result, and performance after washing.
- Check the Martindale rating and light-fastness grade against the ward's use.
- Match the care instructions to the laundry's process.
- Measure track lengths and ceiling height; allow for the mesh panel and floor clearance set by the specification.
- Choose colours for calm and, where useful, colour-coding of bays or wards.
- Order spare panels so curtains can be rotated during laundering.
JOTEX Medical collections
Antimicrobial curtain fabrics for hospitals, clinics and care settings, updated from the JOTEX catalogue. See the JOTEX Medical brand page.
Frequently asked questions
What fabric are hospital cubicle curtains made of?
Usually 100% polyester, often with an antibacterial treatment, a mesh panel at the top and a width of 280 cm or more so panels are seamless. Polyester launders repeatedly, dries quickly and holds its colour.
What is the difference between antimicrobial and antibacterial fabric?
Antimicrobial is the broad term for inhibiting microorganisms. Antibacterial means the fabric has been tested against bacteria specifically. Claims about viruses or fungi need their own tests, so always check which organisms were tested.
What does a 99% antibacterial result mean?
In a method such as GB/T 20944.3, it means the bacteria count with the treated fabric fell by 99% or more compared with an untreated control under the test conditions. It is a laboratory result, so infection control practice still applies.
Do hospital curtains need to be fire retardant?
In most hospitals and public buildings, yes. The required standard is set by the project specification and the local fire authority. Ask for a test report for the exact fabric to that standard.
How often should cubicle curtains be changed?
That is set by each hospital's infection prevention and control policy, typically on a regular schedule and whenever a curtain is visibly soiled or after an infectious patient is discharged. Spare panels make rotation easier.
Why do cubicle curtains have a mesh top?
The mesh lets air, light and sprinkler water pass over the curtain. Its depth is set by the project specification and fire safety requirements.
Curtain maker, upholsterer or designer?
Specifications are public on every collection page. JOTEX dealers can log in for live stock and pricing. Contact the JOTEX team to request samples or open a dealer account.