Door accessories can reduce air exchange, improve closing and protect the opening from impact.
In short: choose from the real traffic pattern, not an assumed percentage saving.
- Strip curtains: inexpensive and effective when strips overlap and remain flexible.
- Air curtains: need correct sizing and positioning; poor airflow can increase mixing.
- Door closers and alarms: help prevent a door being left open.
- Bollards and guards: protect the frame from trolleys or forklifts.
- Vision panels or access control: may improve traffic safety and traceability.
Freezer applications need materials suited to low temperature and ice. Curtains must never obstruct the inside emergency release or create an unsafe escape route.
Why doorways matter
Every opening exchanges conditioned air for ambient air, raising the heat load and driving condensation and frost. Door accessories exist to limit that exchange — and on a working room they typically pay back faster than any other fit-out.
The three options
| Accessory | What it does | Typical spec | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strip curtain | Overlapping flexible PVC strips that part for traffic and fall back to seal the opening | Clear PVC standard; polar grade rated to −30 °C for freezers; 200 mm or 300 mm strips with ~50 % overlap | Pedestrian and pallet-truck doorways; cheapest infiltration control |
| Air curtain | A fan-driven vertical air jet forming an invisible barrier across the opening | Door-linked or motion-sensor activation | High-traffic and forklift doors where strips are impractical |
| Door alarm | Audible/visual alert when a door is left open too long | Adjustable delay (≈30 s to 5 min); can integrate with a BMS | Any door where "left ajar" is a real risk; freezers especially |
How to choose
A strip curtain is the default first buy: low cost, no power, and a large cut in compressor runtime and defrost demand. For doors that see constant forklift traffic, an air curtain avoids the wear and visibility problems of hanging strips. A door-open alarm complements either by catching the human-error case — a door propped open during a busy shift.
See Energy efficiency for how infiltration control feeds into running cost.
Related articles
- Cold room accessories: an overview
- Interior accessories: shelving, rails & lighting
- Monitoring & control
- Door types & specifications
- Energy efficiency
Accessory availability and ratings vary by configuration and are confirmed at quotation. For current options and pricing, contact [email protected].
