As we speak, air curtains are gaining popularity in a wide variety of settings—including restaurants, breweries, supermarkets, warehouses, and food processing plants. However, while this technology is new for some, it dates to the early 20th century. Indeed, air curtains were initially patented by Theophilus van Kannel, the same man who invented the revolving door.
In many ways, air curtains and revolving doors have the same benefits. Revolving doors made it possible for people to get into a building without bringing drafts of outside air, dust, fumes, or insects with them. Air curtains—or air doors, as they are often called as well—do virtually the same thing. In most cases, air curtains exist as systems that are installed at the top of a doorway opening. They then propel a consistent stream of air across the doorway opening. People and objects can pass through this invisible curtain, but the air from outside cannot, neither can dust, fumes, or flying insects. Simply put, air curtains form an invisible barrier that keeps the things you don’t want outside while allowing only what you do want to pass through.
Air doors can be set up to work in a few diverse ways, depending on your preferences. If you want to leave a door always open, then you can set your air curtain up to run consistently. So, for instance, if you have an “open door” policy for your business during the summer, this type of continuous air curtain might be the perfect option. Having a door open to your restaurant, brewery, or retail shop will entice customers to come inside. The air door, meanwhile, will act as a barrier to block all the elements that might make an open-door policy a problem for your business, from plumes of pollen to an onslaught of flies and other pests. We should interject about Energy Savings. While keeping you doors wide open, air curtains create flow of air that separates inside air from outside air. This stops the transfer from warm and and cold air resulting in huge energy savings!
Alternatively, air doors can be set up as a “second line of defense” of sorts. These types of air doors are configured to activate when the door opens. If it’s winter and you want to prevent drafts of cold air from blasting across your restaurant every time a new customer comes inside, you would probably use this system. There’s no way you are going to have your door open all the time when its 10 degrees and snowing outside, so it doesn’t make sense to run the air curtain constantly. An automated air curtain is a better option.
There are also several types of air doors, some of which can blow heated air during the wintertime. This option provides superior creature comfort for your guests, as it sends the message that your establishment is warm and cozy. A heated air curtain in the winter can also be doubly effective at keeping frigid air where it belongs: outdoors.
Whether you are doing battle with hot/cold air, flying insects, fumes, or dust, an air curtain can provide an adequate defense. To learn more about air curtain technology, contact Air Door Distributors today.