How Air Curtains Reduce Energy Loss In Commercial Spaces

Quick Summary:

• Air curtains block heat, insects, and airborne dust
• They lower energy bills and improve hygiene
• They allow staff and customers to walk freely
• Cost-effective, modern, and easy to install

Controlling indoor air quality and cutting energy costs is a growing challenge for high-traffic commercial environments. Doors left open for staff or customer access allow cooled or heated air to escape, driving up HVAC costs and compromising hygiene.
Air curtains offer a low-cost, high-impact solution. Whether you operate a retail store, coolroom or food prep area, an air curtain can dramatically improve efficiency without interrupting foot traffic or logistics.

What is an Air Curtain and How Does it Work?

An air curtain is a fan-powered device installed above a doorway. It directs a high-velocity stream of air downward across the opening, forming an invisible barrier between interior and exterior zones, instead of a physical barrier.
This continuous airflow prevents insects from entering, and reduces the exchange of hot and cold air, while still allowing unobstructed movement for people, trolleys, or forklifts.
Air curtains can be easily retrofitted to almost every doorway, making them a fast, low- disruption upgrade with immediate results.
Unlike automated doors or strip curtains, air curtains have no moving parts at the entry point and require no sensors or automation.

Energy Efficiency Gains from Air Curtains

In temperature-sensitive environments, open doors can quickly undermine energy performance. Air curtains provide a way to limit this loss by:

• Reducing how hard your HVAC or refrigeration system needs to work
• Maintaining a more stable indoor temperature
• Cutting down the frequency of air replacement during entry/exit

In environments like coolrooms or refrigerated retail, the result is lower power bills, reduced
wear on equipment, and more consistent stock conditions.

Hygiene and Indoor Air Control Benefits:

Air curtains don’t just manage temperature, but they help block:

• Airborne contaminants
• Flying insects
• Outdoor dust and pollution

Your staff can move freely, but your cleanliness and product quality stays protected.

Best Locations to Install an Air Curtain:

Air curtains are most effective in areas where doors are frequently open, and where temperature or hygiene control is required. They’re especially effective in:

High-traffic access points:

• Coolroom doors and freezer doors in supermarkets or production sites
• Loading docks or delivery zones with open access
• Service entrances in fast-paced venues like cafes, restaurants, takeaways

Specialised environments:

• Food manufacturing and abattoirs
• Commercial kitchen and preparation areas
• Clean rooms and pharmaceutical zones
• Preparation areas & commercial project zones
• Restaurants with indoor/outdoor spaces

For businesses across Sydney, Brisbane and other Australian regions with variable climates, air curtains are an efficient way to manage internal conditions without heavy structural changes.
Focus Doors supplies a range of sizes to suit different opening widths and operational needs. Our team will assess your layout and recommend the right model and placement for best results.

Air Curtain vs PVC Strip Curtains vs Auto Sliding Doors

While assessing your options for managing indoor air quality, there are alternatives to air curtains that you could consider. Compare the differences between air curtains, pvc strip curtains and automatic sliding doors.

Need help choosing the right option? Visit our Retail Temperature Control solutions page.

Why Choose Focus Doors?

Focus Doors has more than 50 years of experience designing and delivering door systems for Australia’s commercial sector. Our commercial-grade air curtains are:

• Precision built in Australia, for Australian conditions
• Plug-in, low-maintenance and easy to retrofit
• Available in multiple sizes
• Backed by our extensive customer support network

We service clients across Sydney, regional NSW, and all major Australian cities, with support also available throughout New Zealand. Whether you are retrofitting a retail space or fitting out a cold storage facility, we work with you to ensure your air curtain solution is
efficient, durable, and suited to your environment.