What is a commercial air curtain?

What is a commercial air curtain? Commercial air curtains are air curtains intended for use in commercial buildings such as shops, offices, restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals, showrooms, supermarkets and reception areas. It is usually mounted above a doorway and blows a controlled stream of air down across the entrance. It produces an invisible air barrier between the interior and the exterior of the building.

The main function of a commercial air curtain is to reduce draughts, prevent heat loss, increase comfort and help maintain the internal temperature with frequent door opening. In busy commercial buildings, entrance doors may be opened many times during the day, allowing warm air to escape in winter and cooled air to escape in summer. The air curtain can be correctly chosen to reduce this air movement and still provide easy access for customers, staff and visitors.

Commercial air curtains are available in three styles: ambient, electric heated and LPHW. An ambient commercial air curtain creates an unheated air barrier, and an electric heated model heats the air using electric elements. An LPHW air curtain is installed on a low-pressure hot water heating system, such as a boiler or suitable heat pump system, to provide heated airflow.

Our full range of commercial air curtains, heated or ambient versions, are listed on this webpage – commercial air curtains

A commercial air curtain is not just a heater above a door. Its prime purpose is to establish an air seal over the doorway, and heated versions will also add extra warmth to the entrance. This can help minimise cold spots, make the door area more comfortable, and assist the building’s heating or cooling system.

Need to be the right size. The air curtain should be of a suitable width to the door, mounting height, building use, and wind exposure. A correctly specified and installed commercial air curtain can increase customer comfort, reduce complaints about draughts and help reduce wasted energy through busy doorways.