Curtain tracks and poles guide

Track, rail or pole?

A curtain track is a T- or C-section profile in which gliders or rollers run, mostly made of aluminium or plastic ^[1][2]. On a curtain pole the curtain hangs from rings, eyelets or loops ^[1]. In Turkish the word "korniş" is also used for track systems ^[4][28]; this guide keeps track and pole apart.

English terms are mixed too: "curtain rod", "rail", "pole" and "traverse rod" appear together in one entry ^[3]. In German a track is a "Vorhangschiene" and a pole a "Vorhangstange" ^[1]; in Austria a track is also called "Karnisse" ^[2]. In this guide "track" means the inner-run profile and "pole" the rod used with rings or eyelets.

Track types: runs, bendable and recessed tracks

Tracks come with one, two or three runs; for bay, arched and gable windows there are tracks bent horizontally or vertically ^[1].

The smallest bend radius varies by product: about 35 cm on one Swiss maker’s track ^[7] and 50–75 cm on another maker’s recess profile ^[6]. According to one maker’s instructions, bending a track beyond its radius disturbs the gliders; in a bay, brackets should sit at least 200 mm from the window corner, and no bracket should go where two track sections meet in the centre ^[9].

Recessed tracks sit inside a suspended ceiling: one maker’s carrier profile fits flush into plasterboard, mineral fibre and timber ceilings ^[5]. The same maker writes that rigid profiles for heavy curtains can be cord-operated or motorised ^[5].

Ceiling fixing

Our advice: fix sheer and curtain tracks or poles to the ceiling; use wall brackets only for a rustic pole or when you specifically want them. According to one maker, the forces are greatest where the curtain stacks and at the track ends; these spots need a sound base and closer fixings ^[5].

Bracket spacing varies by product: one maker gives 600–800 mm for one track fixed to the ceiling and at most 500 mm for another track ^[6]; a Swiss maker gives about 50 cm ^[7]; one guide recommends 2 carriers for 80–179 cm and 3 for 180–340 cm ^[10]. The distance from the end bracket to the track end ranges from 4 cm to 25 cm in the guides ^{[9][10][11][12][7]}; one maker asks for at least about 2 cm between carrier and wall ^[11], another for 8–10 cm from the wall to the brackets ^[12]. Measuring points differ, so follow your own track’s instructions. Pole bracket spans are much wider: 150–220 cm for one maker, depending on diameter and material ^[14].

Plasterboard ceilings have limits: according to one plasterboard maker, at most 6 kg (per board span and metre; 0.5 kg/m² in fire-protection systems) may hang directly from boards at least 12.5 mm thick with fixings at least 40 cm apart; from the supporting frame at most 10 kg per profile and metre (5 kg/m² in fire-protection systems), and also about 20 kg/m² with about 10 kg per fixing point; loads above 20 kg/m² go into the concrete slab ^[13]. One track maker writes that the standard plugs and screws in the box suit many common solid bases and that for hollow walls, aerated concrete or insulated façades the customer must choose suitable fixings separately ^[10]; another asks for screws and plugs to be chosen by a qualified fitter in every case ^[6].

Load capacity

In one maker’s catalogue each track system has a maximum curtain weight, which includes accessories as well as the fabric ^[6]. Our advice: work out the total weight of your curtain and compare it with the value on the track’s sheet.

Values are per product: one maker’s small–medium-range corded track carries 15 kg up to 6 m and its heavy-duty track 66 kg up to 15 m ^[6]; a hand-bendable aluminium track carries at most 8 kg ^[8]. On a Swiss maker’s motorised track the permitted weight depends on track length and installation type; for a straight installation with freely hanging curtains it lists 100 kg at 4 m and 55 kg at 16 m ^[7]. Another maker states load as the fabric’s unpleated weight per square metre (about 600 g/m² at 3 m drop) ^[5]; this must not be confused with total kilograms.

Heading types and fullness

Not every heading suits every carrier: according to one maker, eyelet and hidden-loop curtains work only on poles, while glider curtains work on both inner-run poles and tracks ^[15][16].

One maker’s wave system needs a track with a special glider cord and works well with soft fabrics such as voile, cotton and silk; for stiff fabrics or heavy embroidery, ask the maker ^[18]. One maker’s catalogue gives at most 80 mm between gliders and 100 mm between rollers ^[6].

Fabric fullness in the sources depends on the heading: one maker allows 1.5 m of fabric per metre of finished width for eyelets ^[15] and 2 m for smock pleats ^[17]; in one wave example fullness is about 2.3 times ^[18]. Our advice: 1:3 fullness for a full look.

Measuring

The track should extend beyond the window frame: one maker’s guide recommends that the track overhang the window frame by about 10 cm ^[9]. A retailer’s measuring guide, by contrast, adds 20 cm per side to the window width to work out the curtain width ^[20].

Where to measure the curtain drop from differs between sources: one retailer measures from the bottom edge of the track ^[20]; one maker measures from the top edge for glider curtains ^[16] but from the bottom edge for smock pleats ^[17]; all leave 1–2 cm so the curtain does not drag on the floor ^[20][16][17]. Our advice: tell the workroom making your curtain which point you measured from. In one maker’s wave system, curtain width is calculated from the working track length without end parts, not the overall length ^[18].

Motorised curtain tracks

On a motorised track a motor opens and closes the curtain; one maker’s motorised track runs on 24 V DC at 25 cm per second ^[7]. Our advice: fix motorised tracks to the ceiling; plan the power supply point before installation.

According to one motor maker’s document, its stronger version moves curtains up to 60 kg on a straight track of 6–10 m; the permitted weight drops with track length and layout. The cable can be concealed and the motor can be fixed overhead ^[19]. Noise values are given in different forms: one maker states a sound power level of 44 dB(A) ^[7]; other makers give sound power or sound pressure values under different measuring conditions ^[19]. Compare values only of the same kind and with a stated measuring condition. On one maker’s motorised track the first ceiling clamp sits 25 cm in from each end, on its hand-drawn track 10 cm ^[7].

Care

According to one pole maker, regularly siliconising the running surface of inner-run sets reduces noise and improves gliding; on ring poles dust on top makes rings slide less easily, and wiping with a damp cloth helps ^[21].

According to one track maker, the system may not work fully if the curtain touches the profile ^[6]. Our advice: if the curtain runs stiffly, first check whether the fabric rubs on the track.

Child safety

EN 13120, the standard for internal blinds, does not cover curtains (draperies) ^[22]. The EU decision sets out the safety requirements that European standards must meet for corded window coverings; curtains operated with cords or chains that are accessible and form a hazardous loop are also covered by these requirements; they refer to children aged at least 0–42 months, and height alone is not considered a restriction to accessibility ^[23].

When these standards were published (2014) there was no separate product standard for curtains; the strangulation test methods (EN 16433) and safety devices (EN 16434) may also be used for curtains ^[24][25]. The Irish consumer authority advises keeping cords and chains out of children’s reach and at least 1.6 m above the floor ^[26].

• Our advice: in homes with children choose a track without a pull cord.
• On corded tracks keep cords out of children’s reach and use a safety device ^[26][25].

Fire

Under the EU fire decision for construction products (96/603/EC), aluminium not in finely divided form is on the list of materials deemed to be class A1 (non-combustible) without testing; panel products with organic layers and products with non-homogeneously distributed organic material are excluded from this list ^[27].

In fire-protection plasterboard ceilings, the load hung directly from the boards is limited to 0.5 kg per square metre ^[13]. Our advice: for painted or plastic tracks check the class on the product certificate; in public and hotel projects, ask for the fire certificates of the track and the curtain fabric separately.