Airbloc ACV installed at premier Audi showroom

Nortek Global HVAC has supplied an air curtain from its new ACV architectural range to West London Audi, a prestigious five-storey car dealership which acts as Audi’s premier showroom in Europe.

The landmark building has an exposed entrance, which previously caused sweeping cold draughts and heated/conditioned air escapes whenever the doors were opened. Draughts were also caused by the escalators used for both moving customers around the building and transporting cars around the showroom for display.

The issue was resolved after Airbloc, a division of Nortek Global HVAC, supplied an effective solution to ensure a warm and comfortable space for visitors and staff.

The new ACV units are purpose-designed for areas where aesthetic appearance is as important as functionality and/or where space above the door is limited.

In this instance, the unit was installed above the dealership’s double sliding entrance doors. Designed for entrance doors up to 3m in height, the ACV air curtains have a heating capacity of 16.2kW to 34.6kW, delivering a powerful airflow of up to 5,100m3/hour.

The ACV unit is still quiet to operate, making it ideal for exclusive shops, headquarters office buildings, hotel lobbies, golf clubs, conference centres and large glass-fronted structures like the Audi dealership.

In order to achieve the best results, the air curtains should be mounted vertically as close to the door as possible, on either side of the opening, as they were when installed at the Audi showroom. The unit is self-supporting, meaning there is no requirements for extra steel work or brackets, and features adjustable feet which help to compensate for uneven surfaces to ensure a neat installation.

Airbloc ACV range

The new Airbloc ACV range is available in three models, with a choice of either ambient, three phase electric or low pressure hot water (LPHW) connections, which can be through the top or bottom for a discreet, clean finish.

The air curtain is operated through a wall programmer, which which incorporates thermostat/time functions, and also has the option to be controlled over a MODBUS protocol link.

The units are supplied in polished, mirror-polished and brushed stainless steel with a black intake/outlet grille as standard. For the installation at West London Audi, a customised finish in silver (RAL9006) to colour match the dealership’s glazed entrance lobby was specified.

Stuart Godfrey, Project Manager at Hendry Electrical, said: “Thanks to Airbloc’s ACV air curtain, cold draughts no longer cascade throughout the entrance area. Conditioned air is effectively sealed in, and with both modulating heat and five fan speeds the unit automatically compares the exterior temperature to that inside the dealership to maintain the required internal set point.  

“Audi is delighted with the result because the air curtain not only provides a comfortable environment for visitors and staff, but has also delivered important energy savings to help reduce the overall dealership running costs.”

Contact:

Nortek Global HVAC UK,
Fens Pool Avenue,
Brierely Hill,
West Midlands,
United Kingdom,
DY5 1QA

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