AMCA InMotion - September 2019 - 20

the procedure's overall high level of accuracy but consid-

work. I wish to acknowledge fellow AMCA Air Curtain Effec-

erable challenges concerning cost and scalability. Reports

tiveness Research Task Force members Frank R. Cuaderno of

on the static-chamber method indicate promise in applica-

Mars Air Systems and Brian Jones of Powered Aire Inc. for

tion but difﬁculty with regard to repeatability, performance

their dedication, AMCA for its support, Amanda Hickman

differentiation between product types, cost, and scalability.

of The Hickman Group for designing the road map, and

Currently under development by AMCA's Air Curtain

Grenville K. Yuill, PhD, and Liangzhu (Leon) Wang, PhD, for

Engineering Committee, the aerodynamic-infiltration

their testimonies. Through our combined efforts, we have

model is intended to be based on existing test measure-

successfully inﬂuenced four energy codes and developed

ments, inexpensive, and scalable. Once completed, it is

the framework of an effectiveness-testing methodology.

expected to become part of ANSI/AMCA Standard 220 and
be proposed as the basis of ISO 27327-3, Fans-Air Curtain

References

Units-Part 3: Test Methods to Determine Energy Effectiveness,

1) Yuill, G.K. (1996). Impact of high use automatic doors on
inﬁltration. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University.

which also is under development.

Conclusion
The adoption of air curtains as an alternative to vestibules
in ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1 is the culmination of 11 years of

2) Wang, L. (2013). Investigation of the impact of building entrance air
curtain on whole building energy use. Montreal: Concordia University.
3) Cho, H., Gowri, K., & Liu, B. (2010). Energy saving impact of
ASHRAE 90.1 vestibule requirements: Modeling of air inﬁltration through
door openings. Richland, WA: Paciﬁc Northwest National Laboratory.

4) Wang, L. (2016). Energy saving impact of air curtain doors in
commercial buildings. Montreal: Concordia University.
5) Wang, L., & Zhong, Z. (2014, June). An approach to determine
inﬁltration characteristics of building entrance equipped with air
curtains. Energy and Buildings, pp. 312-320.
6) ASHRAE. (2009). ASHRAE handbook-fundamentals. Atlanta,
GA: ASHRAE.
7) Wang, L., & Stathopoulos, T. (2018). Wind effects on air curtain
aerodynamics performance: Large-scale wind generator and subscale tests in wind tunnel. Montreal: Concordia University.
8) Hammink, H., & Hendriksen, L. (2011). Determination of the
climate separation efﬁciency of air curtains under laboratory
conditions. Apeldoorn: s.n.
9) Wang, L., & Shu, C. (2018). Relating aerodynamics performance
to air curtain effectiveness. Montreal: s.n.

About the Author
David Johnson is director of engineering for Berner International LLC and 2018-2019 president of AMCA International.
Among other activities for AMCA, he chairs the Publication
222 (Application Manual for Air Curtains) and Standard 220
(Laboratory Methods of Testing Air Curtain Units for Aerodynamic Performance Rating) committees and serves on the
Air Curtain Engineering Committee and Air Curtain Effectiveness
Research Task Force. Additionally, he is convenor of ISO Technical
Committee 117 (Fans) Working Group 9, Air Curtain Units.

20 19 A M CA i n m o t i o n

w w w. a m c a .o r g

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