Air curtains (also known as air doors or fly fans) are devices that create a powerful, continuous stream of air across an opening, such as a doorway. They are commonly used in restaurants, warehouses, supermarkets, and food-processing facilities to help keep flying insects out while allowing people and goods to move freely. While a person may not even notice the small barrier of air separating the indoor and outdoor environments, for a flying insect it might as well be a steel vault!
The effectiveness of an air curtain comes from basic principles of aerodynamics paired against the erratic path of an insect in flight. These mini flyers (flies, bees/wasps, mosquitoes, gnats, etc.) weigh only a fraction of a milligram and rely on delicate wings to generate lift and maintain stability while airborne. When they encounter the high-velocity airflow produced by an air curtain, the turbulent air disrupts their ability to control their movement.
Unlike larger animals, even larger fliers like birds, insects have very little mass and are highly influenced by air currents. The fast-moving air creates a barrier that can push insects away from the entrance or make it difficult for them to fly through the opening. In many cases, insects are carried away by the airflow before they can cross the doorway. Along with the airflow, uniformity is critical to the air curtain’s effectiveness. Any gap left by the air curtain can serve as an entry point for a well-positioned fly. Powered Aire Air Curtains rely on industry-leading uniformity to ensure the most complete barrier across the entire opening.
UNIFORMITY ACROSS THE OPENING
IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT FOR FLYING INSECT CONTROL
Another performance feature that deters flying insects is the air curtain’s ability to prevent the exchange of indoor and outdoor air, limiting the movement of odors, heat, and airborne particles that might otherwise attract insects into a building. In food service, this is a critical benefit of an air curtain. The aroma of food, whether a culinary masterpiece or day-old hot garbage, is irresistible to flying pests. By preventing desirable smells from escaping and undesirable smells from entering, air curtains encourage flying pests to take their business elsewhere.
Studies have shown that properly installed air curtains can significantly reduce insect entry, making them an effective and energy-efficient alternative to physical doors or screens in areas with frequent traffic. By using the physics of airflow to disrupt insect flight, air curtains provide a practical solution for maintaining cleaner and more hygienic indoor environments.
