Air Curtain Buying Guide for B2B: How to Specify, Size, and Procure (2026)

1. What an air curtain actually does

An air curtain (also called an air door) creates a downward jet of high-velocity air across an open doorway. When sized correctly, that jet acts as an invisible barrier that separates indoor and outdoor air, blocks flying insects, and reduces conditioned-air loss by 70–80% compared with an unprotected open door. The keyword is sized correctly — an underpowered curtain is mostly decorative.

2. Sizing: door width and air velocity

Two specs decide whether an air curtain works: length (must equal or exceed door width) and terminal velocity at floor level (must overcome the cross-draft pulling air through the door).

3. Commercial vs. industrial vs. high-velocity

• Commercial (plastic body): shop fronts, restaurants, offices — quiet, attractive, lower air velocity.
• Industrial (metal body): warehouses, food plants, pharma — robust enclosure, higher airflow, longer service life.
• High-velocity / Premium: tall doors, dock entries, harsh environments — reinforced motors, double-skin housing, designed for round-the-clock duty.

4. Mounting height and orientation

Mount the unit as low as practical above the door opening — every 100 mm of extra mounting height loses roughly 5% of terminal velocity at floor level. Horizontal mounting (jet blowing down) is standard. Vertical side-mount is an option for unusually tall doors but requires double the air volume to compensate for the longer jet path.

5. Controls, sensors, and heating

Door-switch interlock is the single highest-ROI accessory: the curtain only runs when the door is open. Add a remote or BMS-connected speed control for retail environments where staff need to dial down noise at quiet hours. Heated air curtains are useful for cold climates but add running cost — evaluate whether the building HVAC already conditions the entry air before specifying a heated unit.

6. Certifications and compliance

For B2B procurement — especially in food processing, pharma, and government tenders — ask for the following on the technical submittal: ISO 9001:2015 manufacturer certification, CE marking on the motor and enclosure, BIS compliance for the Indian market, and RoHS material declaration. All Chronovex air curtains ship with these declarations attached to the invoice.

7. Chronovex shortlist

• Air Curtain 3 Feet — shopfront and small office doors.
• Air Curtain 4 Feet — restaurants and mid-size openings.
• Air Curtain 6 Feet — warehouse, kitchen, and food-grade applications.
• Full Air Curtain Catalogue — commercial, industrial, and premium series.

8. Frequently asked questions