Getting the right air curtain is mostly about three numbers: how wide the door is, how tall it is, and whether the entrance needs added heat. Specify those correctly and the unit does its job for a decade or more. Get them wrong and you either waste money on capacity you never use, or fit a unit that cannot reach the floor and does almost nothing. This guide walks through how to size and select a commercial air curtain for a UK entrance, using the ranges we stock. It is written for facilities managers, contractors and specifiers, not for a spec sheet you already understand.
Quick answer: Match the curtain width to the door width (a 1.5m door needs a 1.5m curtain), mount it within 200mm of the top of the opening, and choose heated only for customer-facing doors that feel cold. For loading bays, cool stores and industrial doors, an ambient (unheated) curtain does the same barrier job for a fraction of the running cost. Browse the full range on the commercial air curtains collection, or call the team on 0161 818 2050 for a sizing check.
In this guide
What actually matters when choosing one
You do not need the full physics to specify the right unit, just one fact: it is the velocity of the airstream that seals the opening, not its temperature. That single point drives every choice below. The airstream has to reach the floor with enough speed left to hold its shape, which means the unit must be matched to the size of the opening and mounted close to it, and heat is a separate decision on top. So the job comes down to three things: door width, door height and mounting, and whether you actually need added warmth. The rest of this guide is those three steps.
Size by door width
The single most important rule: the air curtain should be at least as wide as the door opening it covers. A gap at either end of the curtain is a gap in the barrier, and air takes the easy route through it. Measure the clear opening width, not the frame, and match it:
| Door opening width | Curtain to specify | Typical air volume |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 0.9m (small / personnel door) | Frico PA1508 series | Up to 400 m³/h |
| 1.0m | Frico PA2210 or Thermoscreens C1000 | Up to 1,200–1,250 m³/h |
| 1.5m | Frico PA2215 or Thermoscreens C1500 | Up to 1,800 m³/h |
| 2.0m | Frico PA2220 or Thermoscreens C2000 | Up to 2,400–2,500 m³/h |
| Over 2.0m (or roller shutter) | Two units side by side, or an industrial Frico sourced to order | On application |
For openings wider than a single 2.0m unit, two curtains fit side by side to cover the full span. For roller shutter doors up to about 5m wide we can source larger Frico industrial curtains to order. Send us the door width, height and how the door is used and we will size it for you.
Check the door height and mounting
Width sets the model; height decides whether that model can actually reach the floor. Air curtains are designed to be mounted as close to the top of the opening as practical, ideally within 200mm of the door head. The higher above the opening you fit the unit, the more velocity the airstream loses before it reaches the occupied zone, and a curtain that fizzles out at waist height is not sealing anything.
As a rule of thumb, the standard commercial ranges here are specified for door heights up to about 2.5m. For taller entrances, an atrium or a double-height industrial door, you need a higher-velocity industrial unit or two curtains stacked vertically. Surface-mounted units must have the air outlet directly exposed to the doorway; if you are hiding the unit above a false ceiling, you need a recessed model designed for it.
Common mistake: fitting a 1.0m curtain over a 1.5m door because it was cheaper, or mounting a unit half a metre above the door head to clear a sign. Both leave a barrier that looks installed but performs like an open door. Size to the opening and mount close to it.
Heated or ambient?
This is the choice that most affects both purchase price and running cost, and it is the one people most often get wrong by over-specifying.
A heated (electric) air curtain warms the airstream as it blows, actively adding heat to the entrance. Specify it for shop fronts, restaurants, hotels and other customer-facing doors in cold conditions, where staff and customers feel the draught and the building heating is fighting to keep the entrance warm. Our heated Frico PA units run from 2kW up to 16kW depending on model.
An ambient (unheated) air curtain uses an unheated airstream. The barrier effect is identical, because it comes from air velocity, not warmth. Specify it for loading bays, cool stores, industrial entrances and air-conditioned premises, anywhere you need temperature separation but not added heat. Ambient units cost less to buy and dramatically less to run.
The default rule: specify ambient unless there is a clear, stated need for added warmth at that specific door. In an air-conditioned building an ambient curtain such as the Frico ADA90H or ADA120H is usually the right answer, and the heated version would work against the cooling system.
The Frico PA range at a glance
Most UK commercial entrances are covered by the Frico PA2200 series, which uses efficient EC motors, variable speed control, and includes a remote and integrated controller for speed, heat and scheduling. The naming tells you the size and heat: the middle number is the width class (10 = 1.0m, 15 = 1.5m, 20 = 2.0m), and CE denotes electric (heated) while CA denotes ambient.
| Model | Door width | Air volume | Heat |
|---|---|---|---|
| PA1508E | Small / personnel | Up to 400 m³/h | 1–3kW electric |
| PA2210CA | 1.0m | Up to 1,200 m³/h | Ambient |
| PA2210CE (03 / 05 / 08) | 1.0m | Up to 1,200 m³/h | 3–8kW electric |
| PA2215CA | 1.5m | Up to 1,800 m³/h | Ambient |
| PA2215CE (08 / 12) | 1.5m | Up to 1,800 m³/h | 8–12kW electric |
| PA2220CA | 2.0m | Up to 2,400 m³/h | Ambient |
| PA2220CE (10 / 16) | 2.0m | Up to 2,400 m³/h | 10–16kW electric |
| ADA90H / ADA120H | Up to 1.2m | Up to 1,400 m³/h | Ambient (for AC premises) |
Where the doorway needs a discreet, surface-mounted look, the Thermoscreens C1000ENT, C1500ENT and C2000ENT cover the same 1.0m, 1.5m and 2.0m widths with higher heat outputs. See the full listing and current stock on the air curtains collection.
Recommendations by entrance type
Retail shop front (1.0–1.5m door, cold climate)
Heated Frico PA2210CE or PA2215CE. The added warmth keeps the entrance welcoming and stops the door draught reaching the tills. Pair with a door switch so it only runs when the door is open. View the Frico PA2210CE.
Restaurant, hotel or public building entrance
Heated PA2215CE for a standard 1.5m door, with the integrated controller set to a comfort temperature. If the lobby is already well heated, a lower-kW option keeps running costs sensible. View the Frico PA2215CE.
Warehouse or loading bay (ambient, temperature separation)
Ambient PA2215CA or PA2220CA. You want the barrier, not the heat, so the ambient unit does the job at a fraction of the running cost. For roller shutters over 2m, ask us about industrial Frico units to order. View the Frico PA2220CA.
Air-conditioned premises or cool store
Ambient ADA90H or ADA120H. Adding heat here would fight the cooling system; the unheated curtain holds the conditioned air in and the outside air out. View the Frico ADA90H.
Keeping running costs down
Three things do most of the work here. First, choose an EC-motor model such as the Frico PA2200 series, which uses far less electricity than an older AC-motor curtain at the same air volume. Second, specify ambient wherever added heat is not genuinely needed, because the heating element is where almost all the running cost sits. Third, interlock the curtain with a door switch so it only runs when the door is actually open, which on an intermittently used door can cut run hours dramatically.
A well-specified air curtain typically pays back its running cost many times over in reduced heating demand, but only if it is sized and controlled properly. That is the whole point of the three steps above.
FAQs
What size air curtain do I need for a 2 metre door?
A 2.0m unit such as the Frico PA2220 or Thermoscreens C2000, mounted within 200mm of the door head. For openings wider than 2m, fit two units side by side to cover the full span.
How do I know whether to choose a heated or ambient air curtain?
Choose heated only for customer-facing doors that feel cold and where you want to add warmth to the entrance. For loading bays, cool stores, industrial doors and air-conditioned buildings, choose ambient. The barrier works the same either way; heat is the only difference, and it is where the running cost sits.
How high above the door should the air curtain go?
As close to the top of the opening as practical, ideally within 200mm of the door head. Mounting too high lets the airstream lose velocity before it reaches the floor, which weakens the barrier. For doors over about 2.5m tall you need a higher-velocity industrial unit or two curtains stacked.
Can one air curtain cover a wide roller shutter door?
Up to 2m, yes. Beyond that, use two units side by side, or an industrial Frico curtain sourced to order for shutters up to around 5m. Send us the width, height and usage and we will size it.
Do air curtains need much maintenance?
Very little. Keep the intake and filters clean and check the fan and mountings periodically. A quality commercial unit typically lasts 10 to 15 years in regular use.
Not sure which unit fits your entrance? Send the door width, height and how the door is used to the eFans team on 0161 818 2050 or through the contact page, and we will specify the right curtain and confirm stock and lead time. Browse the full range on the commercial air curtains collection, or read more practical guides on the eFans help & advice blog.
Last updated: July 2026. Specifications and stock are indicative and can change; confirm current availability, lead time and pricing with the eFans team before ordering. For a sizing recommendation, get in touch.