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Every time a loading bay or retail entrance door opens, conditioned air is lost and unfiltered air is allowed inside. The result is rising energy consumption, inconsistent temperatures, and increased strain on building systems. Traditional solutions such as lobbies, roller shutters, or plastic strip curtains often compromise either efficiency or practicality.
Air curtains provide a more effective approach. By creating an invisible barrier of high-velocity air, they prevent heat loss, improve comfort, and protect against dust and pollutants. For organisations seeking reliable, long-term performance, air curtains can deliver measurable reductions in energy use while maintaining compliance with UK standards. At Inergy Group, we design and install these systems as part of our wider heating and ventilation projects, ensuring each installation is matched to the specific site conditions.
What an Air Curtain Does at Doors and Bays
At its core, an air curtain is designed to reduce uncontrolled air movement through an open doorway. By projecting a uniform sheet of air across the full width of the opening, it separates internal and external environments. This barrier slows down the natural buoyancy-driven exchange of warm and cold air, which is one of the main causes of heat loss in winter and unwanted heat gain in summer.
The benefits extend beyond temperature control. Air curtains also limit the entry of dust, fumes, and insects. In a warehouse environment, this helps to protect stored goods and maintain consistent operating conditions. In retail spaces, the result is a more comfortable entrance area without the need for obstructive lobbies or plastic strip curtains.
Effectiveness depends on correct specification and installation. The air stream must cover the doorway fully and maintain the correct velocity profile down to floor level. Guidance from recognised industry bodies highlights the importance of correct placement, mounting height, and airflow uniformity to ensure performance. Poorly selected or incorrectly installed units risk creating draughts or leaving gaps where infiltration occurs.
By managing thermal separation at loading bays and retail entrances, air curtains directly contribute to energy savings and compliance objectives. This makes them a practical alternative to more intrusive physical barriers, while improving both comfort and cleanliness inside the building.
Selecting the Right Unit
Not all air curtains are the same, and selecting the right unit depends on the application. The first consideration is whether the unit should be ambient or heated. Ambient models project an unheated sheet of air across the opening, which is often sufficient for internal doorways or entrances where the primary objective is preventing dust and draughts. Heated air curtains, either electric or supplied from low-pressure hot water (LPHW), add warmth to the airflow. This helps offset cold infiltration in exposed loading bays or busy retail entrances during colder months.
Industrial and warehouse models are built for higher duty. They typically feature larger casings, powerful fans, and greater mounting heights to deal with wide or tall doorways where forklift trucks or delivery vehicles pass through. These units are designed to provide a deep, consistent airflow that can cope with adverse conditions such as wind pressure or rapid door cycling.
By contrast, commercial and retail entrance units prioritise quiet operation and appearance as well as performance. Slimline casings, concealed grilles, and low-noise fans are common, helping to create a welcoming environment for customers while still controlling energy loss.
Key performance factors include mounting height, doorway width, and the velocity profile of the air stream. To ensure the chosen air curtain achieves full coverage and effective thermal separation, it is important to rely on certified performance data rather than estimated values. Reputable testing standards confirm whether a unit will deliver the required airflow density at floor level, which directly affects its ability to control infiltration.
Choosing the right duty unit at the outset reduces running costs, prevents performance issues, and ensures compliance with design guidance. This is where Inergy Group supports clients by matching the correct type of air curtain to each site condition, from high-traffic warehouses to high-street retail stores.
Controls and Integration
Air curtains deliver the greatest benefits when they are integrated with the wider building system. A correctly selected unit should not run constantly; it should respond to door usage, occupancy levels, and internal conditions.
Door interlocks are one of the most effective control strategies. By linking the air curtain to automatic doors or roller shutters, the unit operates only when the opening is in use. This ensures airflow is maintained during critical moments, while unnecessary operation is avoided. Variable fan speed control adds further flexibility, allowing the output to be matched to external weather conditions or time of day.
Modern air curtains can also integrate with thermostatic sensors and building management systems (BMS). This enables central monitoring, fault detection, and energy optimisation across multiple entrances or bays. When combined with destratification fans or other ventilation components, the air curtain becomes part of a broader energy-saving strategy rather than an isolated piece of equipment.
Inergy Group specifies control options that balance reliability with ease of operation. We prioritise systems that provide consistent performance without adding unnecessary complexity for facility teams. This ensures air curtains contribute effectively to both compliance objectives and long-term cost control.
Energy and Cost of Ownership
Energy loss through open doors is a major contributor to rising heating costs. An air curtain, when correctly specified and installed, can reduce infiltration significantly, with industry studies showing potential savings of 30–80 per cent compared to unprotected openings. By maintaining stable temperatures, less demand is placed on warm air heating or ventilation systems, reducing running hours and extending service life.
The cost of ownership goes beyond energy savings. Air curtains require relatively little maintenance: periodic filter checks, cleaning of intakes, and fan inspections are usually sufficient. Compared with alternatives such as plastic strip curtains, they provide a longer service life and avoid the hygiene issues associated with worn or damaged strips. Unlike lobbies or double-door systems, they do not restrict vehicle or pedestrian flow, making them more practical in high-traffic environments.
There are, however, situations where an alternative solution may be appropriate. For small internal openings with limited use, a full-duty air curtain may not be necessary. Likewise, in areas where doors remain closed for most of the day, destratification fans or improvements to heating distribution may provide better value. The key is selecting the right approach for each doorway, balancing capital cost, operating savings, and compliance requirements.
At Inergy Group, we assess total cost of ownership as part of our design process. This ensures air curtain installations not only deliver measurable energy reductions but also integrate seamlessly with existing systems, keeping long-term costs predictable and manageable.
Energy performance is a central focus of current building regulations. In the UK, Approved Document L sets out requirements for limiting heat loss and improving efficiency in both new and existing buildings. Because open doors can undermine these objectives, air curtains are recognised as a practical solution to reduce infiltration while maintaining accessibility.
Industry standards reinforce this approach. Guidance from organisations such as CIBSE and FETA outlines how air curtains should be specified and positioned to provide effective thermal separation. Eurovent classification schemes also define how performance is measured, giving assurance that a unit will operate as intended when installed to the correct height and width.
From a compliance perspective, the key point is that air curtains support energy performance targets without restricting day-to-day operations. They also help maintain indoor environmental quality, which has implications for health and safety standards in both commercial and industrial settings.
Inergy Group ensures that every system we supply is selected and installed with these standards in mind. By aligning our designs with UK regulations and proven industry guidance, we help organisations meet their compliance obligations while controlling long-term energy costs.
Integrating Air Curtains with Heating and Ventilation Systems
Air curtains are rarely installed in isolation. Their performance is most effective when aligned with the building’s wider heating and ventilation strategy. At Inergy Group, we integrate air curtains into complete solutions that address both comfort and compliance.
When paired with our warm air heating service, air curtains help maintain consistent internal temperatures even when doors are in frequent use. This reduces wasted energy and ensures heating systems operate at peak efficiency. In industrial settings, we often combine air curtains withindustrial ventilation systems to maintain air quality and manage internal pressure conditions. The result is a coordinated approach that balances energy efficiency, comfort, and safety.
Because every site has its own requirements, we design systems around the unique challenges of each facility. Whether it is specifying a robust warehouse air curtain for a high-traffic loading bay, or a discreet commercial unit for a retail entrance, we ensure the installation fits seamlessly with existing infrastructure. Our technical team also provides guidance on controls, maintenance planning, and long-term cost of ownership.
This integrated approach allows organisations to gain more from their investment. Instead of viewing air curtains as standalone equipment, they become part of a complete strategy for energy savings and compliance across the building.
Applications
Loading bays are among the most challenging environments for energy control. Large doorways, exposure to external weather, and the constant movement of vehicles create conditions where uncontrolled infiltration can quickly raise energy costs.
High-duty industrial air curtains are designed for this exact purpose. They deliver a deep, powerful air stream that resists cross-drafts and maintains coverage across wide openings. Units can be mounted horizontally above the doorway or vertically along the sides, depending on clearance and structural constraints. Correct positioning ensures that even in windy or exposed locations, the barrier remains effective.
In these settings, heated models are often specified to counter cold air ingress, especially during winter months. By stabilising indoor conditions, they support both energy efficiency and operational continuity in warehouses and distribution centres.
Retail entrances require a different balance of performance and aesthetics. Here, the objective is to maintain customer comfort without creating draughts or visual obstructions. Slimline casings and low-noise fans make commercial air curtains suitable for shopfronts and high-street units. Ambient models are common, but heated air curtains are often used in colder climates to provide an additional layer of comfort for people entering the store.
Effectiveness depends heavily on placement. The air stream must fully cover the entrance, with enough velocity at floor level to resist infiltration without generating discomfort. By managing these factors, retail air curtains deliver measurable energy savings while also enhancing the shopping environment.
In both loading bay and retail applications, the right choice of model, mounting method, and control strategy ensures the system achieves long-term reliability and compliance. Inergy Group provides the technical expertise to make these decisions with confidence, ensuring every installation meets both operational and regulatory expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do air curtains work in very cold or windy conditions?
Yes, when correctly specified. Industrial-duty models deliver higher air volumes and velocity to resist strong cross-drafts. Placement and mounting height are critical to ensure full coverage of the opening.
Are air curtains noisy or uncomfortable to stand beneath?
Modern units are designed with low-noise fans and carefully directed airflow. In retail environments, slimline casings and optimised discharge angles minimise draughts at head height.
What maintenance do they require?
Air curtains are relatively low-maintenance. Routine checks involve cleaning intake grilles, replacing filters if fitted, and inspecting fans. With planned servicing, units typically achieve long service lives and predictable running costs.
Can they be integrated with automatic doors and fire safety systems?
Yes. Air curtains can be interlocked with automatic doors so they run only when needed. They can also be connected to building management systems and fire alarm circuits for safe shutdown in an emergency.
Are heated units more cost-effective than ambient?
It depends on the application. Heated air curtains add comfort by offsetting cold infiltration, especially in loading bays or winter retail conditions. Ambient units, however, provide the same barrier effect at lower running cost where heating is not required.
By addressing these common concerns, we help ensure that organisations understand both the capabilities and the limitations of air curtain systems before specification. Inergy Group provides tailored advice to match each installation with site conditions and compliance needs.
Air Curtain Systems from Inergy Group
Air curtain projects are effective only when backed by the right design, installation, and long-term support. At Inergy Group, we deliver this by combining product knowledge with a strong local presence. We cover locations across the UK, supporting both single-site and multi-site organisations.
We understand that every facility is different. A warehouse may require a high-duty heated model to stabilise temperatures during constant door operation, while a retail entrance might benefit from a discreet, ambient unit to maintain comfort without visual impact. Our technical team evaluates these conditions in detail, ensuring that each installation delivers long-term value.
For those exploring wider heating strategies, our guide to warehouse heating systems provides additional insight. This complements our air curtain expertise, helping organisations build complete solutions that balance energy efficiency, compliance, and cost of ownership.
If you are considering air curtains for a loading bay, retail entrance, or part of a larger heating and ventilation project, we invite you to speak with us. Inergy Group can provide design advice, specification support, and installation services tailored to your facility.
