Berner Air Doors
Commercial Entrance Air Doors are becoming widely used in building entrances to reduce energy consumption and provide comfort. In the winter, they retain warm inside air and prevent the influx of cold air. They can also supply additional heat in the door area using optional electric, steam, or hot water heaters. In the summer, air doors keep hot humid air out and prevent the escape of air conditioning. The working principle of Commercial Entrance air doors is to provide the most effective air screen possible without blowing so hard that it is objectionable to people passing through.
Air doors are ideal for application on high-traffic doorways in commercial establishments such as stores, restaurants, and banks, and in public buildings such as hospitals, terminals, and schools. In many cases, where a vestibule was installed or planned to reduce the inflow of outside air, an air door is a better approach. This is particularly true for high-traffic entrances where both doors are frequently open at the same time, defeating the purpose of the vestibule. A continuously operating air door allows the vestibule to be dispensed with, resulting in large savings-both in initial cost and operating cost-and increasing the usable floor area.
In addition to providing comfort through the elimination of cold drafts and the addition of heat to door areas, Commercial Entrance air doors have many other benefits. For example, they can decrease door maintenance costs since doors need to be opened and closed less often. In restaurants, they stop uncomfortable cold drafts at customers’ feet. Many schools purchase air doors to save energy and find that as an additional benefit they keep floors dry and safe and hallways warm during winter months. In buildings with high ceilings, the air door recirculates the warm stratified air that rises to the ceiling.
Commercial Entrance air doors are quiet and compact and pay for themselves in a very short time. Most units may be used all year round, and are adjustable for seasonal conditions using a multi-speed motor.