How to hide an air curtain?
How to hide an air curtain? The best way to hide an air curtain is to use a recessed or concealed air curtain installed within a suspended ceiling, ceiling void or architectural bulkhead above the doorway. This allows the main body of the air curtain to remain out of sight, while only the air intake and discharge grille are visible. It provides a much cleaner appearance than a conventional surface-mounted air curtain while still creating an effective air barrier across the entrance.
Use a recessed air curtain
A purpose-designed recessed air curtain is usually the most practical solution where appearance is important. These units are specifically manufactured for concealed installation and are commonly used in:
* Retail shops
* Hotels
* Restaurants
* Offices and reception areas
* Shopping centres
* Showrooms
* Airports and commercial buildings
The unit is positioned above the entrance within the ceiling structure, with a discreet grille fitted flush or nearly flush with the surrounding ceiling.
This makes a recessed air curtain particularly suitable for modern interiors where exposed HVAC equipment could affect the architectural appearance of the entrance.
Our full range of recessed or concealed air curtains (ambient or heated versions) is detailed here – Recessed air curtains
Can a standard air curtain be boxed in?
A standard surface-mounted air curtain should not simply be enclosed inside a box or ceiling void unless the manufacturer specifically permits this type of installation.
Air curtains require adequate airflow through their intake and discharge sections. Restricting the inlet can reduce airflow volume and air velocity, potentially preventing the air stream from reaching the floor.
Restricted airflow can also affect heating performance and, in the case of an electric heated air curtain, could cause the unit to overheat or operate its safety controls.
For this reason, a purpose-built concealed or ceiling-recessed model is normally preferable.
Maintaining air curtain performance
Even when the air curtain itself is hidden, its discharge grille must remain correctly positioned above the doorway.
The air stream must have sufficient velocity and volume to cover the entire width of the door and travel downwards to the floor level. Its effectiveness will depend on factors including:
* Door height and width
* Mounting height
* Air velocity
* Airflow volume
* Discharge angle
* External wind exposure
* Building pressure
The air intake must also remain accessible and unrestricted.
Concealed heated air curtains
Recessed units can be supplied as ambient, electric, LPHW air curtains, allowing them to integrate with different building HVAC systems.
For example, an LPHW recessed air curtain can be connected to a boiler or heat pump heating circuit, while an electric model uses integral electric heating elements.
Therefore, if you want to hide an air curtain without compromising performance, a purpose-designed recessed air curtain installed within the ceiling or architectural bulkhead is generally the best solution. It provides effective doorway climate separation while keeping most of the HVAC equipment out of sight.
