INDUSTRY

PRESTIGE OFFICE SUITES

APPLICATION AREA

MAIN ENTRANCE

Customer Challenge:

Maintaining heat within building

We were approached by Alba Facilities Services on behalf of their client, Tanfield House, to provide a solution to their heat loss problem.  Due to the continuous high footfall passing through the main entrance/exit, which resulted in the doors being   constantly open, there were on-going concerns over heat loss, wasted energy and lack of thermal comfort within the large open plan main reception area.

There is one main entrance/exit door to this building (3m high by 2.6m wide) located by the main reception making it almost impossible to maintain any level of heat.  As a result reception staff required additional heaters to keep warm.  As well as heat loss and thermal/energy concerns, there was also a problem with the  ingress of smoke fumes, leaves and flying insects, especially during the summer months.

Enershield solution:

Following a detailed site survey, an Enershield ECS-72 (European Comfortshield) was installed above the main reception internal sliding doors.  Using ambient air,  Enershield Air Barriers create a laminar flow of air, forced across the opening to create a virtual door and form up to a 90% seal which separates the environments on either side.  The barrier prevents the escape of heated or air conditioned air and the ingress of cold air, fumes, flying insects and leaves.

Result:

Prior to the Enershield Air Barrier installation internal temperatures were commonly between 13°C and 16°C which would drop to around 7-9°C with the door open.

With the Enershield now in operation, the reception area is maintaining a comfortable environment with a temperature of around 22°C and no sudden and extreme temperature drops while the door is open.   Temperature recovery time is reduced and there is no longer any need to use temporary heaters which has provided immediate additional cost savings.

The ingress of leaves and fumes has been eliminated improving cleanliness as well as a noticeable drop in fly ing insects in and around the main reception area.

Additional Benefits:

In addition, since installation of the Air Barrier, the   energy rating of the building has improved and there have been no complaints from clients or staff of feeling cold while in the main reception area.

Another benefit has been recovery of heated air from the high atrium ceiling area.  As the Enershield air      barrier draws in ambient air from above, it achieves an element of destratification by bringing hot air back down, further reducing heating costs and increasing comfort.

 THINK EFFICIENT, THINK ENVIRONMENT, THINK ENERSHIELD