David Johnson, Berner International Corp., New Castle, Pa.

Specifying air curtains for savings and performance

View the full story, including all images and figures, in our monthly digital edition Air curtains provide a controlled stream of air across a building entrance or doorway to separate interior and exterior environments. When the conventional door is opened, the air curtain's airstream prevents cold, hot, or humid outdoor air, as well as insects and dust, from infiltrating the indoor environment. Although air curtains require power to run the blowers that create the airstream, they save much more energy than they expend, making them an attractive option for building owners and operators. Air curtains have long been used in industrial settings; however, they are increasingly finding their way into new markets such as hotels, hospitals, stores, public facilities, and other commercial buildings. Air curtain manufacturers' catalogs can be misleading, however, because some manufacturers do not have their performance data certified.