Air Curtains vs. Revolving Doors

Air Curtains by Powered Aire Inc. Offer Advantages Over Revolving Doors

• An air curtain by Powered Aire Inc. can be purchased at a fraction of the cost of a new revolving door, with a typical payback period in terms of energy savings at only two years or less at front entrances.
• Revolving doors can be hard to push, and once the momentum gets going, hard to stop. Some people push harder than others, necessitating a hasty exit for the slower-goers. An air curtain installed over a swing or sliding door provides hands-free and stress-free entry and exit.
• Revolving doors can slow pedestrian traffic as people wait until a compartment becomes free that they can enter. An air curtain automatically activates as soon as the door begins to open and helps facilitate a normal flow of pedestrian traffic.
• For some people with physical handicaps, a revolving door is not an entryway they can use. The Americans with Disabilities Act states that: “Revolving doors or turnstiles shall not be the only means of passage at an accessible entrance or along an accessible route. An accessible gate or door shall be provided adjacent to the turnstile or revolving door…” This means that a standard door must be available next to a revolving door, adding more to the cost. Why not put an air curtain over a swing or sliding door instead?
• A collapsible revolving door (pictured below) that allows people to pass through on either side may be an easy way for people to enter and exit a building during busy metropolitan pedestrian traffic times, but it’s not the most energy efficient way. The entrance is effectively doorless during this time which can result in substantial loss of heat or air conditioning. Air curtains discharge an invisible yet highly effective stream of air down the full width and length of the opening to prevent the infiltration of outside air and loss of inside conditioned air that is likely occurring at the door opening in this photo.

Revolving Doors and Liability

The Popularity Test

Study details preference on college campus

A 2006 study focused on revolving door usage on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus and in part examined the use of swing doors versus revolving doors. The study found that 64% of students surveyed preferred to use swing doors because they are quicker, easier to use and not as cramped as a revolving door. Also noted was a fear of getting stuck in a revolving door.