Air curtains for insect control

Flies, mosquitoes, wasps and other flying insects are more than just a nuisance in many buildings. They affect the comfort of customers and staff, create an unhygienic impression and can become a serious issue in sensitive areas. In food businesses, insects may pose a risk of product contamination, while medical facilities and production environments are subject to additional hygiene and quality requirements.

Buildings with frequently opened doors are particularly affected. These include bakeries, butcher’s shops, cafés, restaurants, supermarkets and food-production facilities. Open entrances allow insects to enter the building unhindered, with negative consequences for hygiene, product quality and the wellbeing of guests, patients and employees.

Many conventional measures only take effect once insects are already inside the building. Fly traps, UV lamps and chemical agents treat the symptoms rather than the cause. Some methods also require intensive maintenance, may disturb guests or involve the use of chemicals.

Air curtains take a different approach: they help prevent flying insects from entering at the doorway. The powerful airflow creates an almost invisible air barrier between indoors and outdoors, making it much harder for flies, mosquitoes and wasps to enter the building. At the same time, doors can remain open and inviting, which is an important benefit for shops, food-service businesses and public facilities with high visitor traffic.

In addition to effective insect control, air curtains offer further benefits. They reduce draughts and heat loss in winter, keep conditioned air inside the building in summer and contribute to a comfortable indoor climate and improved energy efficiency. In this way, they combine hygiene, comfort and cost-effectiveness in a single solution.

Effective protection against insects with air curtains

Scientific studies have confirmed that this air barrier can effectively deter flying insects, with a repellent effect of up to 99.9%. The decisive factor is sufficiently high air velocity to reliably prevent insects from entering.

Air curtains are particularly beneficial in high-traffic areas such as bakeries, cafés and restaurants, where they help maintain a pleasant and hygienic environment. In combination with other measures, they provide an effective solution for reducing the ingress of unwanted insects.

Technical requirements according to American standard NSF/ANSI 37

For maximum protective effect, air curtain systems should meet the requirements of the American standard NSF/ANSI 37:

• Airflow width: 5 to 12 cm
• Minimum air velocity: 8.13 m/s (measured 0.9 m above the floor)
• Door opening coverage: The system should cover the entire width of the entrance, ideally being slightly wider.
• Adjustable outlet nozzle: An angle of 15°–20° to the vertical is optimal.

Teddington air curtains with the CONVERGO® pressure-chamber nozzle system achieve higher discharge velocities than conventional air curtains, up to 19 m/s, making them highly suitable for shielding entrances against insects.

If your sales area is air-conditioned, you also save energy: the invisible air barrier helps keep conditioned air inside while warm summer air stays outside.

In winter, the air curtain protects against cold outside air and draughts. This helps create a pleasant indoor climate all year round, without unwanted flying insects.