Airbloc air curtains prevent heat escaping

Airbloc air curtains are said to be an economical and fuel-saving solution when doors are in constant use.

Where external doors are in constant operation, warm air from inside a building is quickly lost.

A considerable amount of energy is consumed in creating a comfortable working environment.

Indoor air temperature is affected as soon as doors are opened.

Opening external doors creates a 'wind-tunnel' effect, according to the company.

External air is drawn in, immediately altering indoor temperatures and affecting staff comfort levels.

The heating or air-conditioning system has to work harder to restore the working environment.

If the doors are in constant use, opening and closing throughout the day, most heating or air-conditioning systems are unlikely to cope effectively.

Overall energy consumption increases and internal conditions become uncomfortable for employees and customers as temperatures fluctuate.

Comparative temperature readings for premises without an air curtain show appreciable fluctuations in temperature of between 4C and 10C within the building.

With an air curtain, a difference of only 1C is the norm.

The Airbloc range of air curtains for industrial and commercial applications offers a design solution that allows doorways to remain open with relatively little detriment to internal comfort conditions or energy usage.

Airbloc claims that an air curtain can reduce energy loss from an open doorway by up to 80 per cent.

In new, well-insulated buildings, Airbloc air curtains are designed to complement the low-energy concept.

Airbloc air curtains are available as two-speed units.

When doors are closed, the unit operates at low speed to provide additional heating in the building as part of the heating system.

When they are open, the air curtain performs its primary function operating at high speed.

The Airbloc range comes in three heated forms: gas, electricity or LPHW powered.

There is also an ambient unheated alternative.

The ambient variant is typically installed in spaces where an effective heating system is already in place and there is a requirement to prevent external cold air from entering the building and altering the internal temperature.

With such a diverse range of applications, the exact usage of Airbloc air curtains varies from installation to installation.

Rolls-Royce, for instance, has installed the product over four main doors at its Glasgow factory, where the curtains work as heaters until the required inside temperature is reached.

For much the same reason, Nexus has installed 11 air curtains across loading bay doors running consecutively along the side of its factory.

Hepworth Building Products has also installed Airbloc's ambient air curtains to stop warm air escaping.

At BMW's factory in Munich, Germany, a high-quality heating system is already in place.

There, ambient air curtains re-circulate heat from the main system around the building.

This is said to be a particularly cost-effective approach to heating.

By contrast, an insufficient heating system at GE Caledonian has led to the installation of gas-fired air curtains to keep the heat in its aerospace factory and contribute to general comfort levels.

These prevent the wind-tunnel effect encountered with the opening and closing of loading doors.

With constant use, high-speed or roller shutter doors can wear very quickly.

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