If you’re a business owner, you’re probably always looking for ways to save money and increase efficiency. One way to do both is by using an air curtain in your commercial building. Air curtains can benefit businesses, including improved comfort and reduced energy costs. In this article, we’ll examine the five benefits of using air curtains with your automatic entrance doors.
What is an air curtain?
An air curtain is a specialised device that uses an air stream to separate two areas of different temperatures or environments, such as inside and outside an external entryway. By blowing air across the opening of a doorway or window at high speeds, air curtains create an invisible barrier.
How an air curtain works
Industrial air curtains are installed over door openings to create a barrier between the inside of the building and the outdoors. Fans produce a powerful stream of cool air, creating an “air curtain”, which acts as a barrier between indoor and outdoor temperatures.
The fans draw in outside air, filtered through a HEPA filter before being expelled horizontally across the doorway opening. This creates an invisible barrier that acts as a shield between interior and exterior environments while allowing people to pass through without disruption.
This prevents warm air from escaping or cool air from entering the doorway when it is opened, saving energy and air conditioning costs associated with heating or cooling the building throughout the year.
Installing automatic doors with commercial air curtains
An air curtain works best when used with automatic doors and is a great way to create a secure, sealed barrier between the indoor and outdoor environment. So, if you’re considering installing automatic doors for external use, the added protection of commercial air curtains should not be overlooked.
When used with automatic doors, the air curtain engages whenever the door opens and turns off shortly after it shuts.
Installing automatic doors and air curtains together is a smart solution. Not only do they make entering and exiting more convenient, but they can also help to ensure that energy losses are kept to a minimum. Building owners can see significant savings on their energy bills by using automatic doors and air curtains.
Benefits of air curtains
There are seven key benefits of using air curtains in commercial buildings:
1) Maintain temperature control
One benefit of using air curtains is that they can help maintain desired temperature levels within a building by creating an invisible thermal shield at the entrance doorway. This barrier between the outside and inside of a building prevents hot or cool air from entering.
Additionally, by circulating fresh air, air curtains can help moderate temperature swings within a building by equalising the temperature between different parts.
2) Energy efficiency
Another benefit of using air curtains is that they can help to save energy. As mentioned, air curtains create a barrier between the outside and inside of a building, which helps keep the inside temperature more consistent.
This can lead to reduced energy costs as less energy will be required to maintain the desired temperature inside the building. Properly installed air curtains can form an effective barrier against drafts, reducing energy costs associated with heating or cooling a room unnecessarily.
3) Supporting sustainable operational purposes
Industrial air curtains can help maintain efficient energy consumption for businesses concerned about their green building credentials. This, in turn, helps to reduce carbon emissions and energy loss, as well as air conditioning and overall running costs.
4) Improve indoor air quality
Air curtains help keep the air inside a building separate from the air outside, which can reduce allergens and other airborne particles. In addition to blocking out dust and pollutants, air curtains can help improve indoor air quality by circulating fresh air into a building, making it more comfortable for customers.
This is especially beneficial in buildings with revolving doors and integrated air curtains. By circulating fresh air, air curtains can help reduce indoor pollutants and improve the overall air quality inside a building.
5) Block out dust, insects, and other particles
One of the primary benefits of using air curtains in commercial buildings is that they can help block out airborne dust, flying insects, and other particles. This is especially important in food production facilities and buildings in areas with a lot of dust or pollen.
By blocking out these particles, industrial air curtains can help keep the air inside a building clean, hygienic, and free from allergens. They also form an effective barrier against insects and other pests that could enter the building and cause disruption or health issues.
6) Enhanced safety and security
Air curtains can also help to enhance accessibility and safety in commercial buildings. By preventing people from walking into open doors, air curtains can help to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries. Additionally, by keeping doors closed, air curtains provide passive fire protection helping to prevent the spread of fires and smoke in a building.
7) Reduce noise levels
Another benefit of using air curtains is that they can help to reduce noise levels. This is because air curtains create a barrier between the outside and inside of a building, which helps to reduce the amount of noise that enters the building from the outside. Additionally, by circulating fresh air, air curtains can also help to reduce noise levels by reducing echoes within a building.
As we have shown, installing automatic sliding doors with an air curtain over external entryways can provide significant benefits to businesses and help to increase efficiency.
Commercial uses for an air curtain
From cold storage facilities, abattoirs and processing plants to shopping centres and supermarkets, air curtains are the preferred means of protection due to their ability to isolate temperature discrepancies between indoor and outdoor environments, reduce energy costs, create hygienic air barriers, and keep out pests.
Air curtains have several commercial uses where climate control, cleanliness and a hygienic environment are imperative:
- Shopping centres and retail stores
- Commercial warehouse roller doors, delivery docks and manufacturing plants
- Cold storage units – for freezers and refrigeration units
- Supermarkets and food production facilities
- Abattoirs and processing plants
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities
- Restaurants and cafes
- Offices
- Schools
How to choose and install the right air curtain for your business
When selecting an automatic door system for your business it’s important that you choose one that meets all current safety standards set forth by local authorities and is appropriate for your particular application.
When choosing an air curtain it’s important to consider factors such as the size of your premises, floor space and location, climate conditions, the type of commercial environment it will be used in, as well as noise levels, safety and security requirements.
Furthermore, when selecting an air curtain for your automated door system it’s essential that installation is done properly and regularly maintained so the system runs smoothly in conjunction with your doors.
Improve the efficiency of your business with Go Doors
An automated door system coupled with an air curtain is one of the most effective ways to keep your business running efficiently.
If you’re looking for a reliable solution for commercial automatic doors, contact Go Doors for more information. With over 100 years of combined technician experience, you can rely on Go Doors to offer expert advice and perform flawless installations.
Please don’t hesitate to contact the Go Doors team with any questions you have by calling (08) 7079 4373, emailing service@godoors.com.au, or filling out our online form for a free quote.
