JS Air Curtains has star role at BFI IMAX cinema
Faced with cold draughts into the entrance of the BFI IMAX cinema near Waterloo Station in London, a Rund air curtain from JS Air Curtains has been installed for its aesthetic design and controllability. This entrance is particularly draughty because it is directly opposite a subway tunnel that funnels the wind straight off the Thames corridor into the reception area and cafe. At show times, up to 500 visitors arrive and leave during a short period, and doors are constantly open.
BFI Facilities manager Duncan McKeich believed air curtains would solve the problem, but he had three criteria to meet. The air curtains had to be mounted vertically and aesthetically pleasing as there was little roof space for concealed horizontal units.
Rund air curtains satisfied these criteria, and a 2.5 m-high electrically heated unit has been installed either side of the entrance doors to form a barrier against cold outside air. They can also be quickly turned up to combat the cold at busy visitor times.
One benefit has been to enable the heating in the reception and cafe area to be reduced, offsetting the additional electrical load.
