Curtain Track Load and Sag Explained
This guide explains how to read the original AKON 16RT load charts. Use them to see how much weight your industrial curtain track can hold and how much it will bend between supports.
First, Measure the Span Between Supports
Span means support to support, not the full track run
Measure the open gap from one support (a ceiling bracket or hanger) to the next. Read the charts at that span, not at the total length of the track.
Two Ways a Load Hangs from the Track
Weight spread out
A curtain hanging evenly along the span. For this case the charts give the weight in pounds per foot (lb/ft).
Weight at one point
A single load hanging at the midpoint of the span, such as a hose, cable or tool hung from overhead trolley track. For this case the charts give the weight in total pounds (lb).
What Is Track Sag?
Sag, also called deflection, is the distance the track bends down under a load. Less sag means a straighter track, carriers that roll more smoothly and a curtain that hangs level.
Shorter spans usually mean less sag
Confirm which track model you have, then pick the chart that matches how the load hangs. Your load must clear both the sag curve and the dashed stress-limit line.
Reading the Charts in 3 Steps
- Locate your support spacing in feet on the bottom axis.
- Go straight up until you reach the sag curve you are working to (for example 1/4 in.).
- Read across to the weight on the left. Keep your load below both that sag curve and the dashed stress-limit line.
Each chart uses a logarithmic weight scale, so go by the labeled values instead of estimating between gridlines.
16RT Curtain Track Sag Charts
16RT is the 16-gauge track in our industrial curtain track hardware line.
16RT | Weight Spread Out
Load spread evenly between supports.
Read the weight in pounds per foot. If the curtain stacks up in one spot when it is open, check the center-load chart too.
16RT | Weight at the Center
The whole load at a single point halfway between supports.
Read the weight in total pounds. A curtain that is only partly bunched sits between these two cases, so ask AKON to check your layout.
Worked Examples
One 60 lb Load, Two Different Charts
Example A: curtain spread evenly
A 60 lb curtain across a 6 ft span works out to 60 ÷ 6 = 10 lb/ft. Check the "Weight spread out" chart at 6 ft and 10 lb/ft.
Example B: load at the center
A 60 lb load hung at the midpoint of a 6 ft span counts as a 60 lb center load. Check the "Weight at the center" chart at 6 ft and 60 lb.
These examples only show how the units work. They do not approve any specific track or installation.
Safety Margins Behind the Charts
The original curves use a maximum track stress of 15,000 psi. The source lists a 30,000 psi yield stress for its low-carbon steel, which gives a 2:1 safety factor against yielding and 3:1 against ultimate tensile strength.
Those margins are part of the original track calculations. They do not mean you can double or triple the chart loads.
Where those margins are not enough, the source calls for a more conservative design, in particular for high installations and areas near catwalks or maintenance access.
Check the Whole Installation
Sag is only one part of the check. Make sure the track model, rollers, brackets, connections, anchors and the structure above can all handle the actual load and layout. Not sure which chart fits your curtain? Contact AKON and we will help you choose the right industrial curtain track and support spacing.
The charts are approximate tracings of AKON's legacy track deflection chart and track specification catalog, not new tested load ratings. Confirm final sizing with AKON.