By Carla Landi
Berner Air Curtains help maintain a more stable, comfortable and quality environment that keeps outside temperatures, odors and flying insects out – while reducing energy costs and improving food safety.
Berner understands how critical product performance is when it comes to air curtains and they believe in providing the best assurance that their products perform. In fact, Berner took the lead in approaching other air curtain manufacturers to work with A.M.C.A. (Air Movement Control Association) to successfully develop a certified method of rating air curtain performance.
What is an Air Curtain?
An air curtain, also known as an air door or a fly fan, is a machine that blows a controlled stream of air across an opening to the other side to create an air seal. This seal separates different environments while allowing a smooth, uninterrupted flow of traffic and unobstructed vision through the opening. Because they help to contain heated or conditioned air, they provide sizable energy savings and increased personal comfort when applied in commercial settings. They also help to stop the infiltration of pollutants and flying insects.
Five places to improve your operation with an air curtain.
Service Entries– Health departments recommend the chemical-free insect control provided by an EPH Listed per NSF 37 certified Berner Air Curtain to maintain a healthier kitchen environment.
Walk-in Coolers– Kitchen managers know that using an air curtain over a walk-in cooler saves energy and therefore money for their restaurant. It decreases compressor run times and the threat, and associated costs, of food spoilage.
Customer Entrance / Patio Door – Maintain a comfortable, welcoming space for customers seated close to the door, waiting for a table, or sitting at the bar. Berner has several architectural air curtains to choose from to support the interior design.
Indoor / Outdoor Bar– Leave a bar open while keeping the restaurant cool. Air Curtains help to keep hot air and flying insects out while those at the counter are served.
Concession Window – Open, inviting and comfortable for guests and employees – while safely keeping insects and birds out.
Vestibule Exception: Because of Berner’s dedication and partnership with AMCA, Main Entrance air curtains were approved June 25, 2019 as alternatives to vestibules on most commercial building entries in the upcoming ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019 “Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low Rise Residential Buildings.” The professional association’s approved addition requires that the air curtain performance be tested in accordance with ANSI/AMCA Standard 220 to ensure it provides a minimum 400-ft/min. airstream velocity at the floor. That’s a big deal.
Top Four Reasons to consider an Air Curtain
Increase Customer Satisfaction and Retention
On both hot and cold days, air curtains keep customers seated close to the door, or waiting for a table, happy with a comfortable, smoke-free environment.
Reduce Energy Costs
A Berner Air Curtain helps protect inside temperatures in the dining room, bar, or walk-in cooler. This allows the HVAC systems to run less, cooler compressors to run less, and the staff to have less to worry about.
Reduce Employee Turnover and Complaints.
Comfortable employees are happy employees, and happy employees stay. Air curtains keep entry and drive-thru window areas comfortable and fume-free.
Maintain High Sanitation Standards
Health Departments recommend the chemical-free insect control provided by an EPH Listed NSF 37 Certified Berner Fly Fans to maintain a healthier kitchen environment.
Check out the Energy Savings Calculator, provided by Berner, to find out what your ROI would be if you installed air curtain systems in different areas of your operation. Berner means business when it comes to air curtain energy savings, comfort, codes and standards. They offer courses and case studies on their website designed to better serve foodservice professionals.
Wait! How about Your Drive-Thru Window?
How much energy is lost with that window opening and closing and how many elements and bugs are getting in to your operation? Berner even has an air curtain specifically designed to go over the drive-thru service windows. It’s quiet, compact, easy to install, and easy to maintain. With as much as 60-70% of business passing through this opening, employees appreciate the protection against cold air, exhaust fumes, and insects that an air curtain provides.
Check out the video below on Berner’s Drive-Thru Window Air Curtains.
