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Refrigerated Doorway Air Curtains

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UES Measures Standard protocols list Demand Response Technologies Supporting Documents Propose a measure or standard protocol Proposed measures and status Whole Building Efforts

Subcommittees

  • Commercial HVAC
  • Connected Thermostats
  • Demand Response
  • Duct Sealing
  • Guidelines
  • Heat Pump Water Heaters
  • Implementers Group
  • Modeling
  • Natural Gas
  • New Homes
  • Non-Residential Lighting
  • Operations
  • Refrigeration
  • Research and Evaluation
  • Residential HVAC
  • RTF Policy Advisory Committee
  • Small and Rural Utilities
  • Weatherization
  • Whole Building
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UES Measure

  • Refrigerated Doorway Air Curtains

Refrigerated Doorway Air Curtains

At a Glance

Category 
planning
Status 
active
Fuel type 
electric
Sector 
commercial, industrial
Applications 
refrigeration
Sunset date 
Jul 31, 2027

Measure to install an air curtain on a doorway to a cooler or freezer space to blow a thin curtain of air just inside the opening, when the door is open. This saves energy by reducing the infiltration of warm/moist air into the cooler or freezer space. Effectiveness of the air curtain is highly dependent on its installation, placement and orientation, especially the air velocity of the curtain. They often serve as an alternative to strip curtains or high speed doors. Air curtains are nearly as effective as strip curtains, have a significantly longer effective useful life, are more convenient for employees, don't affect visibility and aren't subject to hygiene concerns with food coming in contact with the curtain. They are, however, significantly more expensive than strip curtains. 

The measure was adopted as planning, as there is significant uncertainty in the measure analysis around the amount of time the doorway is open pre- and post- installation of the air curtain. 

Workbook

Latest Version

Refrigerated Doorway Air curtain v2.2

File Refrigerated Doorway Air curtain v2.2
Approved the Dec 2024 RTF meeting. QA complete.
Date 
Mar 19, 2025
Version number 
2.2

Past Versions

version date document
2.1
Jan 15, 2025
File Refrigerated Doorway Air curtain v2.1
Approved in July 2024, held for some additional updates through end of 2024. Now undergoing QA.
1.1
Aug 16, 2024
File Refrigerated Doorway Air curtain v1.1
Workbook updated based on measure name change
1.1
May 31, 2023
File Doorway Air curtain v1.1
QA complete
1.0
Apr 04, 2023
File Doorway Air curtain v1.0
Updated name and measure approved at March 2023 RTF meeting. Undergoing QC.
2.0
Apr 18, 2022
File Air Curtains for Walk-Ins v2.0
Updated with 2021 Plan cost effectiveness methodology
1.1
Nov 03, 2021
File Air Curtains for Walk Ins v1.1
Approved at the September 2021 RTF meeting. QC complete.
1.0
Sep 20, 2019
File Walk-In Air Curtains v1.0
Approved at the September 2021 RTF meeting, currently undergoing QC.
Supporting Documents
File Doorway Air Curtains Research Strategy (2023)

Decisions

Expand All Decisions

Latest decision

Decision details

Decided 
July 23, 2024
RTF Meeting

Approve Measure Updates

Decision Details

Approve Doorway Air Curtains, as presented:

Following update and approval of Standard Information Workbook, update the EER values and any other SIW updates for this measure and report results to RTF at future meeting
Update name of measure to Refrigerated Doorway Air Curtains
Change the research strategy primary objective to include measurement of air barrier effectiveness
Keep the Category of Planning
Keep the Active Status
Set the sunset date to July 31, 2027

Decided 
March 21, 2023
RTF Meeting: March 21, 2023

Approve Measure Updates

Decision Details

Adding measure identifiers to Air Curtains UES measure as presented:
-Change name to Doorway Air Curtains
-Keep the Category as Planning
-Keep the Status as Active
-Leave the sunset date as July 31, 2024

Decided 
September 21, 2021
RTF Meeting: September 21-22, 2021

Adopt New Measure

Decision Details

Adopt the Air Curtain for Walk-In UES as presented and:

  • Set the Category at Planning
  • Set the Status at Active, 
  • Set the Sunset Date at July 2024, 
  • Change specification to a pre-conditions baseline of no effective barrier, 
  • Allocate resources to developing a measure application for cold storage warehouses.
Decided 
November 19, 2019
RTF Meeting: November 19, 2019

Allocate Resources to New Measure Development

Decision Details

Allocate resources to: 

  • Small Commercial DHPs 
  • Generator Engine Block Heaters
  • ENERGY STAR Air Purifiers
  • Non-Residential LED Wallpacks
  • Residential High Efficiency Central AC
  • Advanced Kitchen Ventilation Controls 
  • Retrofit or Upgrade Doors on Existing Display Cases 
  • Air Curtains for Walk-Ins
  • Floating Controls for Multiplex Refrigeration System
  • Display Case Upgrade and Replacement

Do not allocate resource to:

  • Workstation Power Management Devices
  • Anti-Fouling Refrigerant Additives 
  • ENERGY STAR Dehumidifiers

 

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