For any business to thrive, it is imperative that the amount you spend results in a higher income. Air doors, also known as air curtains in some parts of the world, are an example of one such investment. But first, what exactly are air doors?
In simple words, air doors are aerodynamically designed continuous broad streams of air distributed across a doorway of a conditioned space. These doors generate a laminar stream of air with an adequate quantity & speed to deliver the desired environment protection via service hatches or open doorways. Air doors act as invisible barrier that isolates adjoining areas. Thus, these have different functionalities like:
- Cold draughts elimination
- Prevent cold air from passing in
- Prevent warm air from skipping
- Tackle dust and pollution
- Reduce heating energy loss
Naturally, the air door’s application areas are also diverse. Some of them are:
- Supermarkets and retail stores
- Cold stores
- Manufacturing units and warehouses
- Hospitals
- Transportation terminals
If you ask site managers, architects, and engineers, they’ll unanimously tell you that air doors are a great investment. A three-month-long study by research-validation consultant, Blue Ridge Numerics, also confirms that. The study concluded that air curtains can save commercial-industrial building projects over tens of thousands of dollars in construction costs as vestibule alternatives. In this blog, we will explain how:
Reduces Energy Costs
Although air curtains consume electrical energy during their operation, they can be used for net energy savings by reducing the heat transfer (through mass transfer when air mixes across the threshold) between two spaces. Traditional heating systems can be very inefficient when doors have to be closed and opened frequently. Air curtains create an invisible door that averts the invisible door that prevents the outflow of indoor air and inflow of external air. Thus, it leads to less wear and tear of your heating and cooling systems—saving you from paying large sums to your electricity provider. We can say that the incorporation of air doors will help you reduce energy bills by at least 30%. On top of that, these doors also maximize savings spent on heating by functioning in tandem with current heating systems. Air curtains will definitely pay for themselves in a few years by diminishing the load on the building’s heating and cooling systems.
Superiority above alternatives
Vestibules and revolving doors are two popular alternatives for air doors. But both of these don’t even come close to air doors’ capabilities to save cost and increase efficiency. The aforementioned research has already stated that air doors will save the company over ‘tens of thousands of dollars’ in the long run in comparison to vestibules. The same is the case for revolving doors. The estimates for replacing a revolving door can set you back anywhere from between $20,000 to $50,000. It is very, very costly. Now, air doors can be purchased at a fraction of the price of the new revolving period, with a payback period of just two or three years. Not just that, revolving doors create traffic as people have to wait until a compartment becomes free to enter. On the other hand, air doors automatically activate as soon as the door opens.
Reduce costs on sanitation and cleanliness
Air doors promote a healthy and hygienic environment in any facility or space in so many ways. By not allowing the outdoor air to come in, air doors can help prevent the unpleasant smells of outdoor get inside. Similarly, they reduce the penetration of insects by forcing the airstream over the entire entrance. Not just insects, air doors also restrict the flying of other pollutants like pollen, dust, and fumes from traffic. It is because they are made to create an effective seal by re-circulating facility air in a smooth flow across an open doorway, making it impossible for the outside air to penetrate. So, it means that you don’t have to shell money on toxic pesticides and other chemicals to get rid of the insects. Similarly, the charges to maintain sanitation and cleanliness is also drastically reduced. In this way, air doors help to reduce costs when it comes to maintaining the sanitation.
Design flexibility
One of the best advantages of air curtains is that they provide an unseen barrier without deflecting from the design of the building—offering an unobtrusive barrier against external elements. In comparison to vestibules and revolving doors, air door curtains help to maximize the floor space. They are very easy to install and sit neatly at the top of the doorway. It can not only be mounted on the top of the main entrance but can also be easily installed within packing areas, food preparation areas, or even the internal doorway within a large space. Thus, air doors help to utilize space, demand less floor area, and do not obstruct any ongoing process in the facility. Once again, in the long run, air doors help to reduce costs by maximizing the utilization of floor space.
The Payback Period
Various studies have shown that the culmination of energy and construction savings adds up to a likely one to three-year payback for an air curtain when compared to a more permanent and costly construction option. So, check from our range of air door products that best suit your needs and get a quote today!