When it comes to air curtains, everyone has the same desire: for the air curtain to work as intended. Luckily, there has been momentum in the air curtain industry to highlight air curtains that are certified. Certification means that the air curtain does exactly what it says it does. This can be extremely comforting to a new purchaser of an air curtain.
Deciding whether or not your air curtain needs to be certified largely depends on the end application of your air curtain. If you have a small space, checking for a certification may not be worth it to you. On the other hand, if you need to maintain a building code, you will certainly want to know if your air curtain is certified.
The AMCA and Certified Air Curtains
The Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA) is a third party organization in the business of certifying all devices related to air, including air curtains. The AMCA aims to ensure that industry air systems maintain their integrity. They work hand-in-hand with air curtain manufacturers, as both sides want to deliver a quality product.
An air curtain with an AMCA Certification Seal affords you the peace of mind that you will be following all of the correct building codes while improving your building’s performance. Products are tested for energy efficiency, sound, and overall performance. The AMCA also continually tests products to see if manufacturers are maintaining the proper standards. It should be noted that the AMCA certification program is voluntary. Nevertheless, you may find it troubling if your air curtain manufacturer does not have a certified air curtain.
The following companies offer AMCA certified air curtains: Berner International LLC, Dayton Electric Manufacturing Co., King Company, Mars Air Systems, Powered Aire, Soler & Palau, and Williams The Comfort Product Company. These brands offer a wide variety of different air curtains that are designed to fulfill any need. You can conveniently find nearly all of those brands’ certified air curtains online at Air Door Distributors.
The International Code Council and Air Curtains
The International Energy Conservation Code is one of the most important building codes. Established in 2000, the code has been adopted by state and municipal governments in the United States. The code establishes the minimum regulations for energy-efficient buildings. New materials and devices are continuously being added to the code to keep up with technology.
Back in 2013, the AMCA and other lobbyists convinced the International Code Council that air curtains were a viable replacement for a vestibule. Architects and engineers are probably familiar with the vestibule term, but if you’re not, let’s talk through it. A vestibule is a small foyer that leads into the entrance of a lobby, hall, or passage of a much larger building. In the past, commercial buildings that were equal to or greater than 3,000 square feet had to have a vestibule according to the IECC code.
The 2015 version of the International Energy Conservation Code approved air curtains as a replacement for vestibules. This was great news for architects and designers as they did not need to waste the space that was taken up by the vestibule and they were no longer constrained by this outdated mandate. They also could lower the price of their buildings due to cost savings. Vestibules can cost upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars, while air curtains top out at around $3,000.
An emergency evacuation of a building can be an extremely dangerous situation where people can get trampled over. A vestibule can lead to a greater chance of injury as people that are evacuating will have to open two sets of doors in order to escape the building. On the other hand, an air curtain will lead to a clear flow of steady traffic since there is only one set of doors that needs to be passed through.
An added benefit of using air curtains is that they result in a cleaner indoor air environment. Air curtains can keep dirt, grime, dust, debris, and even insects out of the building. According to ANSI/NSF Standard 37: Air Curtains for Entranceways in Food and Food Service Establishments, air curtains have been approved for use in restaurants as a way to keep airborne insects out of entrances and windows. Air curtains have consistently matched or outperformed vestibules when it comes to energy savings as well. The constant air flow of the air curtain keeps both the hot and cold air out of the building, even when the door is wide open.
Air Door Distributors are the experts when it comes to all air curtains. We pride ourselves on offering the best brands possible and helping our customers find the right products for their business. If you need help finding an air door that fits your building code or have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at 866-402-1642 or by filling out our online contact form.
