FEATURE LOADING BAY SOLUTIONS
PREVENT ENERGY LOSS at the loading bay door
As manufacturing, warehousing and logistics businesses look to cut costs while increasing productivity Chris Jones of Airbloc recommends taking a hard look at your HVAC solution
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n areas where large doors are in regular use and may be left open for prolonged periods such as the loading bay, fitting an air curtain is an easy and cost- effective way of preventing energy losses from making a dent in your profits. When doors are opened warm air escapes at the top of the aperture and colder, denser air flows in at the bottom, causing internal temperatures to drop by as much as 10oC with a considerable impact on the working environment. Energy-efficient air curtains deliver a uniform flow of air across the width of the doorway, separating the interior and exterior atmospheres and reducing heat loss by over 80%. The internal climate is maintained, occupants are comfortable and energy bills reduced.
PUTTING A STOP TO ENERGY LOSS Providing a comfortable and safe working environment is a must for every business. However, in some industries the regular opening and closing of external doors is unavoidable and as the facility’s conventional heating system has to work extra hard to counter the temperature fluctuations, rising fuel costs are inevitable. Energy-efficient air curtains such as those available from Airbloc are available in natural gas (G20) or propane (G31), low pressure hot water
environment by creating a barrier that stops the ingress of dust, fumes, flying insects and general outdoor pollution. They are so effective at separating internal and external environments that doorways can remain open for forklift truck access for example, with little effect on the heating system’s energy consumption or impact on internal conditions. Over-door units induce warm air down from high level; heat that would otherwise be lost through the roof and play a key role in helping to de-stratify the building and eliminate cold spots. Since air curtains are not subject to the
(LPHW), medium pressure hot water (MPHW), electric and steam-heated options which are suitable for installation across entrances of up to 9m in height. By providing a barrier of high velocity
air the unit blocks incoming winds and prevents warm air from escaping.
MAINTAINING THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT Opening and closing external doors reduces comfort levels for employees, especially those working close to the doorway. In warehouses that store perishable items temperature sensitive stocks are easily compromised. Air curtains protect the internal
PET FOOD MANUFACTURER BENEFITS FROM NEW DOORS
GA Pet Food Partners needed to install high speed doors on some of the exterior openings to its production facility to help prevent ingress of pests and control the ambient temperature of the facility. The company decided to trial a door from Klimate, a trading division of BID Group. A high speed door was specified and installed in April 2015. This new door proved to be a much better solution than those previously purchased from another supplier and as such in the following seven
months a further eight doors were specified, ordered and installed taking the total number of Klimate doors on site to nine with one outstanding. “The doors have been a cost effective solution for
us,” says joint MD Andy Kettle. “Having trialled one at the start of the year we were all impressed and saw no reason why we shouldn’t extend their use across the site. The high speed doors are now being used, not only to replace existing, inefficient high speed doors but in place of PVC strip curtains which were a health & safety hazard when the wind got up, requiring someone to constantly replace damaged sections. We are governed by the same regulations that concern food produced for human consumption. In the most recent audit we were commended for our use of improved door technology.”
BID Group T: 0870 607 5050
www.klimate.co.uk
S16 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 | MATERIALS HANDLING & LOGISTICS
Compact, modular air curtains are suitable for existing facilities and new- build developments and quick to install
same degree of wear and tear as roller- shutter doors repairs associated with mechanical failures and damage can soon be consigned to the past, enabling businesses to reduce operational costs. Compact, modular air curtains are
suitable for existing facilities and new- build developments and quick to install. Remote control panels ensure ease of use and reduce on-site wiring. Optimum performance is achieved by mounting units horizontally above the door to enable high-level warm air to be recirculated to working level. Where this is not feasible units that are purpose- designed for installation at one or both sides of the doorway can be specified.
VERSATILE HVAC SOLUTION
Air curtains can be configured to switch on as the external doors open or to run continually. Heated units complement a building’s existing HVAC system because they can operate when the door is closed to provide supplementary heating. Meanwhile, unheated units deployed in cold store facilities prevent cold air from escaping, helping to reduce refrigeration costs and ice build-up. When turning down the heating or switching it off is not an option, air curtains are a low-cost means of climate control, enabling businesses to maintain comfortable conditions for their workforce and preserve the integrity of temperature- sensitive stock while shutting the door on energy loss.
Nortek Global HVAC T: 01384 489 700
www.nortekhvac.com
/ FACTORYEQUIPMENT
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