What is the recommended space between ZipWall® poles?
8 to 10 feet is the recommended spacing. You’ll want to move the poles closer together when introducing factors such as negative or positive air pressure, heavier plastic, or high ceilings.
What are the working height ranges of ZipWall® poles?
The working height range for the ZipWall® 10 ft poles is 4’ 2” to 10’ 3”. For the ZipWall® 12 ft poles, it is 4’7” to 12’. And for the ZipWall® 20 ft poles, it is 5’2” to 20’.
How much weight can ZipWall® poles hold?
The weight a ZipWall® pole can hold depends on the strength of the person tightening the pole. The average person will twist the pole tightly enough so the pole can hold 60 to 80 lbs. However, with a stronger tightening twist, a person can produce a hold of about 110 lbs. CAUTION: Do not use the poles for holding anything that could fall and cause injury or damage.
What types of ceilings do ZipWall® poles work with?
ZipWall® poles work with all types of ceilings including plaster, drywall, textured, popcorn, and suspended or drop ceiling. For suspended ceilings, it is important that the non-skid plate on top of the pole be placed on the grid (T-bar) that holds the ceiling tiles in place. TIP: For extra grip with suspended ceilings, we recommend using an Edge™ Head & Non-Skid Plate wherever the wall and ceiling meet.
Can ZipWall® poles be used with slanted ceilings?
Yes, the head and plate pivot to adapt to a slanted ceiling.
Can ZipWall® poles be used outdoors?
ZipWall poles were designed for indoor use. However, they may be used outdoors in a low wind environment if a ceiling, such as a porch or balcony, is available. CAUTION: The ZipWall® system will not work with high wind. Damage or injury could result.
Does the ZipWall® system work with negative/positive air?
Yes, the ZipWall® system was designed for applications using negative or positive air. When using air pressure, place the poles closer together as air pressure will tug on the plastic which in turn, will tug on the poles. We recommend placing the poles 6 to 8 feet apart with moderate air pressure, and as close as 4 feet apart with very high pressure. Always place a FloorGrip™ under each pole to prevent the pole from skidding, and then, fully compress the spring at the top to firmly secure the pole in place.
Plastic Sheeting and ZipSheet™ Reusable Barriers
Is there an alternative to plastic sheeting that works with ZipWall® poles?
Yes, ZipWall® offers a sustainable, reusable, and machine-washable alternative to plastic sheeting called ZipSheet™ Barrier. ZipSheets are zipped together to form a barrier as wide as needed. They come in two heights, 9’ and 12’, and include 5’-wide sheets, 10’-wide sheets, and 10’-wide sheets with a built-in door.
Do ZipWall® poles come with plastic sheeting?
No, plastic sheeting is not included with our poles. We do offer for sale a 3-mil 10’x50’ white (not flame-retardant)
Dust Barrier Plastic Sheeting.
What size roll of plastic sheeting should I buy?
Height: The plastic should be at least one foot higher than the ceiling where the barrier will be installed. Length: Measure the distance between the two ends of the temporary barrier you want to create. We recommend buying plastic sheeting on a continuous roll that is roughly two feet longer than that distance.
What is the recommended plastic sheeting thickness?
We recommend 2-10 mil plastic, choosing the lightest plastic your application calls for. The lighter the plastic, the easier it is to handle, but keep in mind that very light plastic can tear easily and may be harder to control.
What plastic sheeting thickness can ZipWall® poles handle?
The ZipWall® system can accommodate any plastic sheeting from 1 mil to about 10 mil thickness, including many fire-rated and reinforced plastics.
ZipWall® Doors
Is there an easy way to cover a door and seal off a room?
Yes, ZipWall® has three door kits for quickly covering a doorway to seal off a room. All three attach to the doorframe with
ZipWall® Double-Sided Tape. The
Standard ZipDoor® kit is sized for standard doorframes (up to 3.5′ wide by 7′ high) and comes with two built-in zippers. The
Commercial ZipDoor® kit is flame retardant, sized for larger commercial doorframes (up to 54” wide by 8’ high), and comes with two built-in zippers. The
ZipDoor® Magnetic kit is sized for any door up to 44” wide by 7’ high. It is self-closing, reusable, and flame retardant.
What is the best way to create a door in a plastic barrier?
ZipWall® Heavy-Duty Zippers are the most common way to create an entry in a plastic barrier. For a self-closing entry, we recommend the
ZipWall® Magnetic Dust Barrier Door Kit. Another option for shorter, less heavy-duty jobs, is the
ZipDoor® Magnetic Door Kit.
Is there a magnetic door I can use with a ZipSheet™ barrier?
Yes, the
ZipWall® Magnetic Dust Barrier Door Kit. Simply roll up the built-in zipper door in your
ZipSheet™ barrier and set up the magnetic door over the opening.
How do I use the ZipDoor® Magnetic to create an entry in a plastic barrier?
First, create a “doorframe” in the plastic using duct tape. The ideal dimensions for this are 44” wide by 7’ high. Then, install the
ZipWall® Double-Sided Tape over the duct tape.
What is the difference between the ZipWall® magnetic doors?
ZipWall® offers three magnetic doors. All three provide convenient hands-free access to the work area and are self-closing, which ensures the barrier always remains sealed. All three are flame-retardant and reusable.
The ZipWall® Magnetic Dust Barrier Door Kit (MDK) as its name suggests is designed to create an entry in a barrier, be it plastic or reusable ZipSheets™. It is our most durable and robust magnetic door and is therefore recommended for longer jobs, heavy-duty jobs and job sites with heavy foot traffic. Tip: The door panel can also be used to cover a steel-frame doorway up to 4’ wide by 7’ high, or any type of doorway using ZipWall® Double-Sided Tape (sold separately).
The ZipDoor® Magnetic Door Kit is our most versatile magnetic door. Primarily designed to cover a doorway, it can also be used to create an entry in a plastic barrier. The door panel is 4’ wide by 7’3” tall and installation is quick and easy with ZipWall® Double-Sided Tape (three rolls are included).
The specialized Steel Frame Magnetic Door™ Kit 3070 is designed for covering a commercial steel frame door that is exactly 3’ wide by 7’ tall. For jobs in buildings with multiple such doors, the quick installation with magnetic strips makes this door a big time saver.
Sealing a Barrier
What are my options for sealing a barrier?
ZipWall® offers different solutions. To seal a barrier along the ceiling, walls and floor, we recommend using FoamRail™ Tapeless Seals, a robust and reusable dust control solution that will stay up for the duration of the job. For sealing a barrier along a drop ceiling, ZipWall® MagStrips™ are another option. And of course, you can always use ZipWall® Double-Sided Tape anywhere around your barrier.
What is the best way to seal my barrier along a wall?
See available solutions in the FoamRail™ Tapeless Seals section below.
What are the best ways to seal a barrier along a suspended or drop ceiling?
FoamRail™ Tapeless Seals work very well for sealing your barrier along a drop-ceiling. Another option is to use ZipWall® MagStrips™ which attach to the steel grid of a drop-ceiling using a ZipWall® pole. Sealing a barrier with either solution is quick, and does not require a ladder. Keep in mind that MagStrips™ work with suspended ceilings only, whereas FoamRail™ Spans can be used on any ceiling type.
Do I still need ZipWall® poles if I am using MagStrips™?
Yes. The MagStrips™ are not designed to hold the weight of the plastic sheeting on their own. They are designed to hold the barrier material between poles. Tip: When planning how many poles you will need for your barrier, make sure you set aside an extra pole for applying the MagStrips™.
Is the ZipWall® tape safe to use on a painted surface?
Yes, ZipWall® Double-Sided Tape is specially designed to be gentle on paint and finish on the side that adheres to the doorframe surface, while having a stronger adhesive on the other side that securely holds the door in place for the duration of the job. Our tape has a 21-day clean release. Tip: Because paint jobs vary, we recommend testing the tape in an inconspicuous place prior to use.
FoamRail™ Tapeless Seals
Can you seal a barrier completely using FoamRail™ Tapeless Seals?
FoamRail™ tapeless seals can be overlapped, allowing you to form a seal along any length of floor or ceiling, and any wall up to 9’ in height. FoamRail™ tapeless seals will hold negative or positive air, within reason.
What is the best way to seal my barrier along a wall?
ZipWall® offers two solutions, both are reusable and seal along a wall in minutes. For jobs involving negative or positive air pressure and for longer jobs, we recommend using the SidePack™ Wall Mount Kit. This kit seals a barrier along two walls, each up to 9’ high. Otherwise, we recommend using a Span™ Adjustable Tapeless Seal with a SideBridge™ which can seal up to 8’ along the wall. Note: You may want to consider purchasing the Span™ Kit which includes six Spans and all accessories needed for sealing a barrier all the way around.
Can I seal a barrier along a wall even if there are protrusions like base radiators or crown moulding?
Yes, our wall mounts are designed to handle that. The outermost mounting position of the SideClamps™ (included in the SidePack™ kit and used with FR2 FoamRails™) and the long SideBridge™ (included in the Span™ Kit and used with Spans™) can handle protrusions such as base radiators or crown molding up to about 6”.
Should FoamRail™ Tapeless Seals be used to hold up the barrier?
No, they are designed to seal a ZipWall® barrier after it has been secured. First, lock the barrier material onto ZipWall® poles and secure the poles into place. Next, use FoamRail™ Tapeless Seals along the ceiling, walls, and/or walls to form a tight seal.
How do FoamRails™ attach to the ZipWall® spring-loaded poles?
Tapeless seals snap onto the ball joint of the ZipWall® pole. To attach a tapeless seal to the top of a pole, remove the head and non-skid plate, and snap the tapeless seal onto the pole. To attach it to the bottom of a pole, replace the foot of the pole with a Floor Adaptor and snap the pole into the tapeless seal. NOTE: The 8’
Adjustable FoamRail™ Span snaps directly onto the ball-joint, whereas the 4’
FoamRail™ (FR2) requires a T-Clip™ to snap onto the ball joint.
Other Questions
Are ZipWall® products guaranteed?
Yes, all ZipWall® products except ZipDoors® and zippers are guaranteed for two years. Visit zipwall.com/warranty for more information.
Can I purchase replacement parts for my poles?
Yes. Heads, plates, foot plugs, T-Clips, and carry bags are all available at zipwall.com. If you need replacement ball-joints, please contact our customer service team at 800-718-2255.
Can I clean the inside of my ZipWall® poles?
Yes. If you suspect your poles may have been contaminated over time, cleaning the inside cams may help. Follow this helpful how-to video for instructions. If you are still experiencing issues, please contact our customer service at 800-718-2255.
How can I clean the head and non-skid plate?
To keep the non-skid non-marking surface clean, use a scrubbing pad with soap and water or run it through a dishwasher.
How quickly can I expect to receive my order?
Orders are typically shipped within 1-2 business days and delivered within 1-4 business days in the continental US. For expedited delivery, and for orders shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, or Canada, please call in your order (800-718-2255). We do not ship to PO Boxes.
