Berner received product performance certifications by the Air Movement & Control Association International (AMCA), Arlington Heights, Ill., in June for heating options on two of its designer air curtain series and in the autumn, for the heated version of the Commercial High Performance 10 air curtain.
While Berner has offered AMCA certified ambient models for decades, now specifying engineers have the option of heat when selecting models to comply with the International Energy Conservation Code’s (IECC) Section C402.4.7, building code which allows AMCA certified air curtains as exceptions to entrance vestibules.
Certified by AMCA
AMCA believes that products should be tested and published per engineering standards and rating requirements"
AMCA tested under AMCA Standard 220 steam, hot water, and electric coil heating options on the following Berner air curtains:
- Architectural High Performance 10 Series
- Architectural Recessed 12 Series
- Commercial High Performance 10 Series
“AMCA believes that products should be tested and published per engineering standards and rating requirements,” said Nazme Mohsina, Associate Director of Certification, AMCA International. “With AMCA certified products, engineers can have confidence that manufacturers’ ratings are accurate, and that the catalog data are formatted to facilitate product comparisons across manufacturers.”
Berner Air Curtains
The certified heating additions reassure specifiers that Berner’s air curtains enhance occupant air comfort
While Berner air curtains prevent outdoor temperature, dust, and flying insect infiltration, the certified heating additions reassure specifiers that Berner’s air curtains enhance occupant air comfort in cold weather situations.
Berner’s wall-mounted and recessed architectural units with or without heat are aesthetic, energy-saving mechanical air devices designed to separate outdoor/indoor environments.
Commercial use of Air Curtains
The International Code Council’s (ICC) IgCC also allows the use of air curtains instead of commercial building vestibules
Air curtains are used at door openings in lobbies, welcome areas, and other front-of-house areas in restaurants, hotels, retail stores, hospitals, and other buildings to keep people comfortable and save energy. Berner was instrumental in helping AMCA push through building code International Energy Conservation Code’s (IECC) Section C402.4.7, the recent vestibule exception allowance.
The International Code Council’s (ICC) International Green Building Code (IgCC) also allows the use of air curtains instead of commercial building vestibules. This could potentially save building owners tens of thousands of dollars in new construction costs while also freeing up more useful square footage.
Heating Options
Introduced and patented by Berner in 2010, the VTH is the HVAC industry’s aerodynamically efficient electric heater
While other manufacturers offer AMCA certification on a limited number of electrically heated models, Berner is a manufacturer to offer steam and hot water coil heating options in addition to its patented VTH Venturi-style electric heater. Introduced and patented by Berner in 2010, the VTH is the HVAC industry’s aerodynamically efficient electric heater.
It uses the Venturi effect to draw air through the heating element via the blower inlet before it enters the discharge air stream. This results in an unobstructed, near 100% efficient full laminar air stream discharge velocity with efficiency improvements of up to 40% versus heating coils placed in the discharge.
“By adding AMCA certified heated options to our most popular designer air curtains, engineers have more choices in how they both meet the IECC building code regarding main entrances and provide comfort to the space around the door,” said Georgia Berner, President, helped establish the 62-year-old, not-for-profit AMCA as a third-party testing resource for air curtains in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.