Wirth AirDoor – Keep the outside air outside

Winner – CIBSE Building Performance Awards 2023 – Product/Innovation of the Year (Thermal Comfort)

AirDoor uses an active, targeted airflow to improve interior comfort while also improving the building’s energy efficiency. Situated directly inside the entrance, it generates a plume of air to reduce weather-related infiltration, such as wind (temperature & humidity disruption) and wind-driven rain (slippery floors). This enables retailers to better utilise the front-of-store area and helps food display equipment run more efficiently.

Suitable for any building entrance or exit and in particular:

• Where wind infiltration is a known issue
• Where doors are frequently open or there’s a desire to do so
• Where an overhead heater, air curtain or draught lobby are already installed or under consideration
• Where internal temperature control is paramount
• New builds, refurbs and HVAC plant renewals
• Internal doorways where adjoining spaces are held at different temperatures.

With multi-site installations for multiple major European retail and grocery chains, AirDoor offers a host of potential benefits:

• Increased useable space by negating the need for draught lobbies
• Up to 31% reduction in annual gas use for a mid-sized supermarket
• Up to 54% reduction in cold-weather electricity use for a boutique retail store
• Payback of less than 3 years versus a conventional electric heated curtain
• Reduced heat pump sizing and lower expenditure on HVAC plant
• Reduction in airborne particles such as dust and exhaust fumes to create a healthier environment for staff and visitors.

As an acknowledged supplier of high-tech, innovative, energy-saving solutions to the retail and commercial buildings sector, the AirDoor is the next generation in the series of green solutions from Wirth Research. It was designed in response to a query from a client who described an issue affecting many of their branches; whenever the doors were open, strong winds would gust through, causing heat loss and unpleasant conditions for staff and customers, negatively impacting upon productivity, trade and carbon footprint.

Designed and Manufactured in the UK, AirDoor’s development was co-funded by Innovate UK, the UK Government’s innovation agency. Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, set up to drive productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas.

Do you have a premises you think might benefit from AirDoor? Please get in touch via info@wirthresearch.com for more information and a free desktop assessment.