ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA International) announced that the 2015 version of the International Energy Conservation Code will contain a provision enabling air curtains to be considered as an alternative to vestibules. For compliance, air curtains have to be tested in accordance with ANSI/AMCA Standard 220, and be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Air curtains are devices installed above exterior door thresholds that blow a film (curtain) of air downward when the door is opened, keeping conditioned air inside the building. The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is published by the International Code Council (ICC).

“The IECC provision complements a similar provision adopted by the 2012 International Green Construction Code. Taken together, air curtains can help meet baseline energy codes and green construction codes,” said Brian Jones, engineering manager, Powered Aire Inc., Greenville, Pa., and chair of the AMCA Air Curtain Engineering Committee.

“AMCA International is proud of the AMCA Air Curtain Engineering Committee, Air Movement Code Action Review Committee, and Intercode Incorporated for their combined efforts to develop and support this successful code change proposal. We also want to thank the Colorado Chapter of ICC for working with us to develop the language, as well as the numerous code officials from around the country who supported and voted to approve the code change proposals,” said Wade Smith, PE, executive director, AMCA International.

For more information, visit www.amca.org.

Publication date: 11/11/2013