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Air Curtains Are Now Included as an Energy-Saving Alternative in American Building Code
Air Curtains
Extensive investigation published by AMCA gave results. Now air curtains are an approved alternative to building vestibules in American building code IECC 2015.
In June 2013, we wrote an article about a comprehensive study published by AMCA (Air Movement and Control Association). The results of the study showed that air curtains are three times more effective against the infiltration of outside air, and much more energy efficient than entrances with vestibules.
The American building code IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) recommended earlier that new buildings should be equipped with a vestibule to meet energy efficiency requirements. The study showed that an entry with properly installed air curtains gave a significantly higher protection against infiltrating air than a vestibule.
The air curtain, which is a less expensive alternative and takes up minimal space, proved therefore to be a good and sustainable alternative to vestibules.
Air curtains are three times more effective against the infiltration of outside air, and much more energy efficient than entrances with vestibules.
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Resulted in Influence
The result of the study has now led to an addition of the building code IECC's audit for 2015. The addition intends that there is no need to build a vestibule if the entrance is equipped with an air curtain. The air curtain must be tested and approved in accordance with ANSI / AMCAs requirements and installed in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.
A Step in the Right Direction
AMCA's study has shown that air curtains really can save energy. With the new addition in building code IECC 2015, air curtains will be an even more acceptable alternative in North America and perhaps other parts of the world where energy efficiency is high on the agenda. Frico air curtains are all tested in accordance with ISO and AMCA standards.