In an era where wildfires are increasingly becoming a seasonal norm, keeping the indoor air clean and safe has never been more critical. For businesses and public spaces, this challenge is particularly daunting when the door needs to open for business, allowing people to come and go. Whether you’re managing a retail store, restaurant, hospital, or any other facility, Berner air curtains offer an effective solution to keep harmful wildfire smoke outside while maintaining a welcoming environment.
A Trusted Shield for Your Entrance
Berner air curtains have long been a staple in the fight against outdoor air infiltration, blocking up to 80% of unwanted outdoor elements like dust, insects, and vehicle emissions from entering through open doors. But as wildfires become more frequent, facility managers are discovering another vital benefit: air curtains are also effective at preventing wildfire smoke from slipping inside when doors open.
The Growing Threat of Wildfire Smoke
Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of gases and fine particles, and has an airborne particulate matter rating of PM2.5 (2.5 microns or less in diameter), which can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. These particles pose serious health risks, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly, children, and those with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, COPD, etc.. While HVAC systems are designed to filter out much of the outdoor air brought inside, open doors in high-traffic areas—whether in a bustling retail store, a busy restaurant, or a hospital entrance—provide an easy entry point for harmful smoke.
Air Curtains: The Unseen Shield
When it comes to preventing smoke from infiltrating your building, Berner air curtains can help. Their effectiveness hinges on balancing three key factors: volume, velocity, and uniformity (VVU) of the airstream. When these elements are optimized, air curtains can block up to 80% of smoke particles, helping to prevent dirty outdoor air from entering the building, even as doors open to allow customers, patients, or deliveries in and out.
Advanced Technology for Enhanced Protection
Today’s air curtains are smarter and more effective than ever, thanks to Berner’s technological advancements that allow them to adapt to real-time weather conditions. By connecting to local weather data through an app, air curtains can automatically adjust their fan speed and heating options to counteract outdoor conditions like high winds, providing maximum protection during wildfire smoke events.
This adaptive technology is particularly valuable in facilities with multiple entry points, such as hospitals or large retail stores, where air curtains can be grouped together and controlled collectively. This ensures consistent protection across all entrances, no matter how many doors need to open.
Introducing the Berner PureAir Package™
In addition to blocking wildfire smoke, Berner offers the PureAir Package™, a powerful air purification system designed to continuously disinfect the air in the interior space of the entrance. The PureAir Package combines Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization (NPBI) technology with MERV 8 filtration to achieve near MERV 13 performance, offering a robust defense against a wide range of airborne contaminants.
How does it work?
1. Ionization: The air curtain’s ion generator creates millions of ions per minute, which are then carried across the entry and into the surrounding space by the air stream. These ions attach to airborne particles, causing them to clump together into larger, heavier masses that are easier to filter out.
2. Filtration: As the air curtain pulls room air through its MERV 8 filter, these larger particles are captured within the filter media, while smaller particles are trapped electrostatically. Over time, even the smallest particles are agglomerated into sizes too large to pass through the filter, ensuring thorough air cleaning.
Proven Results: Third-party testing has shown that NPBI technology significantly reduces the presence of airborne mold spores and Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (MVOCs), as well as harmful pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A. With the Berner PureAir Package, the air curtain is not just keeping the smoke out—it’s actively purifying the air inside the entrance.
Year-Round Benefits
While Berner air curtains offer crucial IAQ protection during wildfire season, the benefits extend year-round. Whether you’re managing a hospital, a restaurant, or a retail store, Berner air curtains help maintain thermal comfort, reduce energy costs, and create a healthier indoor environment—all while allowing the door to stay open for business. With short payback periods and long-term savings, investing in a Berner air curtain is a smart choice for any facility committed to protecting its occupants and maintaining clean, safe indoor air.