Air Curtains for Cold Storage
Conserve energy and prevent the loss of expensive conditioned air in your cold store, chilled or refrigerated area.
The Thermoscreens cold storage air curtain range is built to excel in temperature-sensitive environments, providing an invisible barrier that helps prevent warm or cool air from entering and leaving the building – saving energy and minimising heating and cooling costs.
- Designed especially for temperature-sensitive areas, there is a product for each application.
- Cold Stores (CS) Air Curtain: Ideal for cold stores, effective in temperatures as low as -25°C.
- Harsh Environments (HE) Air Curtain: Made of stainless steel and may be chemically cleaned. Perfect for operating at approximately 2°C
- Refrigerated Areas (RA) Air Curtain: Designed to handle refrigerated areas with temperatures down to 0°C (Non-Condensing).
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Let our experts assess your site and recommend the perfect air curtain solution to enhance efficiency and maintain temperature control.
The Benefits of Thermoscreens Cold Storage Air Curtains.
Thermoscreens cold storage air curtains are designed to enhance efficiency, reduce energy loss, and maintain precise temperature control in refrigerated environments. By creating an effective thermal barrier, they help prevent cold air from escaping and warm air from entering, ensuring product integrity and compliance with stringent cold chain regulations.
Our advanced air curtain technology supports operational cost savings, minimises ice buildup, and improves working conditions for staff. Benefits of installing a cold chain air curtain include:
- IP66-rated HE air curtain, suitable for areas where rigorous cleaning is required
- Temperature fluctuations minimised
- Ice & frost build up reduced significantly
- Reduced defrost cycles
- Reduced hot-spots
- Allows easy access for people and machinery
- Reduced downtime
- Significant energy savings
- Temperatures maintained and costs reduced
- Reduces strain on cooling systems, lowering energy costs and extending equipment lifespan
Air Curtain vs Strip Curtain.
Cold-chain operators weigh two options for cold room entrances. Each has a role. They are not equivalent.
The right choice depends on traffic volume, hygiene requirements, available space, and how much the seal really matters to refrigeration load.
PVC strip curtains
Low-cost physical barrier
- Inexpensive to fit; immediate physical barrier.
- Can cut cooling cost by ~40% in low traffic settings.
- Degrade, discolour and brittle within months in busy walk-ins.
- Staff tie them back for trolley access — seal lost.
- Obstruct sight-lines; manual handling and slip risk.
- Difficult to clean to BRC / SALSA food safety standards.
Cold room air curtains
Aerodynamic seal
- Up to 80% reduction in doorway energy loss (correctly specified).
- ~65% air-infiltration reduction vs open single door.
- Unrestricted access for staff, trolleys and pallet trucks.
- Easy to clean; hygienic finishes available for food / pharma.
- Door-switch and BMS integration for measurable control.
- Built-in frost protection on Thermoscreens cold store units.
Our Range of Cold Storage Air Curtains.
CS Air Curtains.
Suitable for cold storage down to -25°C
Positioned inside the cold store, our CSair curtains use energy-efficient EC fans to recirculate ambient air, forming a strong thermal barrier and preserving the conditioned environment.
HE Air Curtains.
Perfect for maintaining 5°C climate separation
The HE Air Curtain delivers efficient climate control for your chilled area. Utilising its IP-66 rating and stainless steel casing to ensure it’s suitable for intense chemical washdown.
RA Air Curtain.
Specialised for refrigerated areas down to 0°C
The RA Air Curtain ensures precise climate separation for chilled areas, reducing heat ingress and ensuring your chiller is as efficient as possible.
SLCS Air Curtains.
Suitable for cold storage down to -25°C
Specifically designed for applications where there’s limited headspace above the door inside the cold store, the SLCS series is compact and cost-effective. The unit is engineered to maintain climate separation in cold stores with temperatures as low as -25 degrees.
FAQs.
How do air curtains maintain temperature in cold storage environments?
Air curtains maintain temperature by projecting a continuous stream of air across the doorway, creating an invisible barrier between the cold store and the warmer environment outside. The barrier significantly reduces warm air ingress and helps reduce the loss of conditioned air every time the door opens, meaning you can continue working even with the door left open.
Can air curtains save more energy than strip curtains?
Yes, in most cold storage applications, an air curtain will save more energy than a strip curtain. Whilst strip curtains offer a passive barrier, they will eventually wear out, pick up contamination, and break the seal every time someone walks through them. Air curtains maintain a consistent barrier regardless of people passing through them, reducing the volume of warm air entering the store and lowering the load on your refrigeration systems.
How do air curtains support cold chain compliance?
Door openings are one of the most common points of failure in the cold chain. Air curtains support cold chain compliance by keeping the internal environment stable, reducing temperature fluctuations that could compromise product integrity or be flagged up during an inspection. The consistent separation between conditioned and ambient air also limits frost and ice buildup, which, left unchecked, can affect equipment performance.
Which air curtain is right for my cold storage unit?
Finding the air curtain that’s right for your cold storage unit depends on your operating temperature and working environment. The CS and SLCS models handle deep cold stores down to -25°C, with the SLCS being the better choice where headroom inside the store is limited.
The RA air curtain is designed for refrigerated areas operating down to 0°C, and the HE air curtain is built for environments where hygiene standards require regular chemical washdown, thanks to its IP66 rating and stainless-steel casing.
If you are unsure, we offer free site surveys to make sure you get the right specification first time.
Will an air curtain reduce ice and frost buildup inside my cold store?
Using an air curtain should reduce the buildup of ice and frost. Most ice and frost accumulation near doorways comes from warm, moisture-laden air getting in and condensing on cold surfaces, so by blocking that ingress, air curtains reduce the frequency and severity of buildup.
Do air curtains work alongside existing refrigeration systems?
Yes, air curtains complement your existing equipment rather than replacing it. By limiting warm air ingress through doorways, they reduce the load on your existing refrigeration systems, so they don’t have to work as hard to recover temperature after the door has been opened. Over time, that tends to mean lower energy bills, less wear and tear on the equipment, and a longer service life.
Installation is straightforward in most cases, but for sites with unusual constraints, a free site survey can confirm the best approach before anything is ordered.
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Testimonials
“We’ve been very pleased with your products and would like to continue using them as a design feature in all our shops.”
- Project Manager, large ice-cream manufacturer.
“Wrapped up and gone before the lunch service, great turnaround from order to delivery.”
- Director, Restaurant in Aldwych
“Thank you for having an excellent working relationship with me, you are a credit to Thermoscreens.”
- Technical Engineer, HVAC
“The new air curtains in the freezer room have completely eliminated any ice and frost build up around the room, including the evaporators. As the main reason for cold room failure, this will undoubtedly help to reduce costly downtime, stock loss and maintenance calls.”
- Refrigeration Manager at leading supermarket
“The units we installed at Birmingham this week. We really enjoyed installing your units and would like to use them moving forward with the other stores.”
- Installer, Restaurant in Birmingham
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your performance, we have all been very impressed with your response to queries and turnaround of air curtains.”
- Installer, HVAC
“Thank you for all your support. We couldn’t have won this project without your assistance.”
- Senior engineer