Air curtains are devices that give you a light rush of air when you walk into some spaces. They are often beside or above the door or a large window. Given their job description, you can say they form an air barrier.
Air curtains come in different types, and knowing what is available will help you choose the right one.
Why You Need Air Curtains
You see, air curtains are not just luxury additions you should put into your store for others to admire. They are important energy-saving devices installed in commercial public spaces and industrial buildings.
The main reasons you need to install an air curtain system in your building include:
- Air curtains reduce the rate at which you lose the heating and cooling energy that ordinarily would be present when the doors to your building are open.
- They ensure that the temperature inside your building is comfortable and stable.
- Air curtains preserve and prevent the loss of conditioned air in your building.
- They prevent insects, dust, poisonous fumes, and air-borne toxins from entering commercial buildings where they are installed.
- Improves the performance of HVAC systems in your building.
- Reduce air infiltration especially in buildings where people traffic is high.
- Improves the comfort of all individuals in the building, and it improves hygiene in the building too.
Types of Air Curtains
There are different types of air curtains, and knowing where to place a type can be a daunting task. To make knowing the types easy especially for new air curtain users, they are categorized into different categories. The most common classes and types of air curtains are:
Classification Based on Installation Orientation
1. Horizontal Air Curtains
Horizontal air curtains are those types of air curtains that you hang horizontally. That is, you mount them overhead and just above the doorpost entrance of your building.
Because of the way they are made to be positioned above the door, horizontal air curtains discharge air downward and towards the door. So the curtain often covers the circumference around the door.
Horizontal air curtains are by far the most common air curtain type you’d find. They are often installed in offices, supermarkets, and hotels. They are also really easy to maintain, and since they cover a wider circumference, they are less likely to cause foot traffic around the door.
2. Vertical Air Curtains
Vertical air curtains are placed side by side the building’s entrance, and they are often as tall as the building’s doorpost. This type of air curtain comes in handy when you don’t have enough mounting space for the curtains overhead. They are also really effective for keeping insects away from your building.
The vertical air curtains are installed on either one or both sides of the doorway, so they blow air across the entrance door. Due to their make, they are ideal for glass doors, high ceilings, or locations where you don’t have enough ceiling clearance.
Classification Based on Heating Mechanism Used
3. Heated Air Curtains
Heated air curtains are those air curtains that use heat to improve the temperature of the space. Heated air curtains use various forms of heating devices and methods. So you will find that some use equipment like electric coils, hot water, or steam to warm the air they discharge.
Heated air curtains are also very common in high-traffic places like restaurants, hotels, and offices in cooler climates. Since they are heated, the heat increases airflow with warmth, and as a consequence, improves the comfort of those in the area. All the while, they still maintain the warmth.
4. Unheated Air Curtains
Unheated air curtains, since they do not improve the warmth or add extra heat to the place you put them in, are also called ambient. They are ambient curtains because they depend on the available ambient air to function.
Ambient air curtains do not contain any heating device, so they are more energy efficient. They are your best choices for regions that do not need extra heat like temperate areas, warehouses, and cold storage systems.
Classification Based on Air Circulation
5. Recirculating Air Curtains
Recirculating air curtains are the type of air curtains that operate in a closed system. These air curtains take in the formerly released air from the opposite side of the doorway or window through its various ducts and plenums, then circulate it in its closed system for reuse.
While this closed system of operation may seem more complicated, this design system is the more energy-efficient option. The design reduces disturbance and turbulence regardless of its location.
Recirculating air curtains are excellent for large entrances like logistics centers, super large industries, and others with enormous traffic.
6. Non-Recirculating Air Curtains
Unlike its recirculating counterpart, non-recirculating air curtains operate an open system; that is, they draw air from the surrounding environment and discharge it across the doorway and entrances. With the non-recirculating type of air curtains, there’s no recovery of the discharged air.
Non-recirculating air curtains are simple, more portable, and they are quite affordable too. They are great for small commercial facilities with low traffic and door usage.
Special Air Curtain Design Types
7. Recessed or Architectural Air Curtains
Recessed air curtains are trendy because they seamlessly integrate into modern architecture. Recessed air curtains are often concealed in ceilings or bulkheads, so they are hard to spot; they just function.
This air curtain type works where you want clean aesthetics and low noise. They are ideal for luxury retail stores, hospitals, and offices that need quiet operation.
8. Industrial Heavy-Duty Air Curtains
Industrial air curtains are bigger than the average air curtains, and that’s because they are structured for heavy-duty use. Heavy-duty air curtains come in handy for extra-large entrances seen in warehouses, large production factories, and loading docks, too.
Industrial air curtains often have high-velocity blowers and heavy-duty motors to withstand harsh conditions and frequent operation.
Tips for Selecting the Right Air Curtain
Helpful tips for selecting an air curtain that will serve you include:
- Measure the dimensions of the door where the air curtain will be installed. This will help you match the air curtain’s width and airflow strength to the door size for complete coverage.
- Identify the type of building the unit will be installed in, the number of entrances or exits, the traffic level, the region, and the temperature differences.
- Know the kind of mounting orientation you want to go for. Horizontal, vertical, or the special recessed models can work, although it depends on your space and the design.
- Choose the airflow type that ensures sufficient air velocity in your building ( 8–10 m/s at floor level is common) to form an effective barrier.
- Decide if you want the heated or non-heated option. Of course, this will depend on the region, climate, and the comfort of your employees and clients.
- Check the efficiency rating of the air curtain type you want to settle for, and how much energy they consume.
- Consider the noise level and if the air curtain fits into your preferred aesthetics.
- Ensure that your choice air curtain unit is certified by AMCA, or it meets your local building and energy codes.
Conclusion
Every air curtain type serves a specific purpose, so you must make sure that you consider all the necessary factors before you get one. With the right type of air curtain, your ventilation system will perform better, last longer, and create a more comfortable environment for you to thrive in.
FAQs
How Loud Are Air Curtains When Active?
It differs for different air curtains, since they all have different sizes, motors, and rates of airflow. More common air curtain types operate between 50–70 dB which is around the noise level admissible during normal conversation. Recessed air curtains are quieter than others though.
What Is the Difference Between an Air Curtain and an Air Conditioner?
An air curtain creates an invisible air barrier across an entrance or building opening, while an air conditioner controls the temperature of a place as it cools or heats a space.
Do Air Curtains Cool a Room in Summer?
Not exactly. Air curtains don’t necessarily cool the air. They help to maintain the indoor temperature of the room in which they are installed.
How do I choose the right air curtain size for my doorway?
First, you need to measure the actual width and height of the door opening. The air curtain’s outflow width must completely cover the door opening. For high door openings, a model with a higher wind speed should be selected to ensure that the airflow reaches the ground directly. At the same time, the indoor and outdoor pressure difference should be considered. In scenarios with a large pressure difference, a model with a higher wind pressure is required to form a complete isolation wind barrier.
Can an air curtain replace an automatic door?
No. The air curtain can only reduce the exchange of hot and cold air and is an invisible isolation measure. Automatic door relies on the physical structure to achieve physical seal, barrier effect is stronger.Most commercial places will use both at the same time, taking into account the convenience of access and energy saving and dust prevention.
How much energy can an air curtain save?
The energy-saving effect depends on the frequency of the door opening and closing. Frequent entrances and exits can significantly reduce the heat and cold losses of air conditioning and heating equipment. The effect is most prominent in stores and warehouses with frequent opening and closing. The investment payback period varies depending on the local climate and daily operating hours.
Can an air curtain operate continuously?
Yes. The internal motors and heat dissipation structures of commercial and industrial air curtains are specially designed for 24-hour continuous operation, supporting uninterrupted work. However, it is necessary to clean the filters regularly, inspect the sensing components, and perform basic maintenance to extend the service life of the equipment.
Where should air curtains be installed?
The air curtain is suitable for entrances and exits of shops, hotels, restaurants, warehouses, cold storage areas, loading and unloading platforms, etc. During installation, the model selection should strictly match the size of the door opening to ensure that the installation height, air outlet width of the equipment are fully compatible with the door opening, thus achieving the best isolation effect.
Can air curtains keep insects and dust out?
Air curtains can effectively prevent mosquitoes and dust. It is particularly suitable for scenarios such as restaurants, supermarkets, and logistics storage facilities. The prerequisite is that the wind speed of the equipment meets the standard, and the width of the machine body fully covers the door opening, with no gap in the airflow, so as to prevent external debris and flying insects from entering the room.
What happens if an air curtain is too small for the door?
If the size of the air curtain is too small, it will create air flow gaps on both sides of the door opening, significantly reducing the isolation effect. The continuous exchange of hot and cold air leads to an increase in energy consumption, the dust, mosquitoes, and outdoor odors will also seep in through the gaps, failing to achieve the intended purpose of dust prevention and energy saving.
