Does anyone know the name...

[moominmuppet]

Of those "walls of air" used to divide spaces, usually to prevent heat or cold loss, or to prevent smoke from travelling? They're high-pressure air shooting down from the ceiling, and commonly encountered in public spaces (I know I've encountered them in some restaurants, grocery stores, and our public transit buildings).

Comments

[brujah.livejournal.com]

The only thing I've even got a clue about when it comes to air pressures and space differences is negative air pressure used in some hospital environments. A room with a lower pressure than its surroundings will cause air to flow into the room from the outside whenever one of the portals is opened. So, all the airborne contagions stay in the room, rather than being sucked out to be shared, all friendly-like, with the rest of the hospital.

I know this isn't what you're looking for, but maybe negative air pressure would be a place to start poking?

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, used for TB containment! (I just had to re-up my "TB safety training" despite not even working on main campus, let alone in actual health care work)

[leveldeaded.livejournal.com]

Um. there was an error. not sure if my earlier reply was posted.
so here's the same answer and a different link.
they're called Air Doors or Air Curtains.
http://www.bondorseals.com/cgi-bin/quikstore.cgi?category=Air_Doors

I think Bondor was the brand they had at the VI!

i love a good question...

[leveldeaded.livejournal.com]

Like at the VI! Between the bar and the back room! Usually only encountered by Peeps when on their way to the bathroom in the back corner!

They seem to be refered to as either "Air Curtains" or "Air Doors" by the industry.

http://www.actroninc.com/airdoors.htm

Re: i love a good question...

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Yes, thank you, perfect!

[grendelkhan.livejournal.com]

Darn. Everyone else got here first, but they are indeed air curtains; many of them say that on them. (They're also mentioned by name in the graphic novel version of The Probability Broach, if that isn't random enough for you.)

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

Others have mentioned the "air curtain" name for the flow of air itself. A space enclosed by 3 solid walls and an air curtain, (plus ceiling and floor, though ceiling often contains elaborate ventilation arrangements), is called a "laminar flow hood." They're often used as one of several layers of containment in working with hazardous vapors or infectious diseases.

An air curtain by itself might be used to reduce heat transfer as by helping keep the expensive warm air in a building.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Yay, random nifty info! Thanks!

[fabulousmisst.livejournal.com]

the better question is, why do you want to know? they look pretty expensive....

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Oh, nothing particular -- just a conversation with marnanel about better and worse ways of handling smoking areas in restaurants and such.