Retail heating, air conditioning and air curtains

When a retail space needs an air curtain and a heat pump

In a shop, café, pharmacy or salon the door opens hundreds of times a day. In winter a cold zone forms at the entrance where neither the cashier nor the customer is comfortable, and in summer cooled air escapes through the open door. Heating commercial premises with radiators or electric heaters alone does not offset these losses. The most effective approach is to limit air exchange through the opening with an air curtain and to heat and cool the floor with a heat pump that responds to changing loads.

Architecture options

• Electric air curtain for the shop door. GK-3012AS1 air curtains are designed for shops, restaurants, warehouses and other premises where doors or gates open frequently. They help keep heat or cool air inside and reduce the entry of pollutants and insects.
• Wall-mounted heat pumps for small premises. MSZ-AP is a solution for small shops, hair salons and cafés: it cools in summer, heats in the cold season and can supplement an existing heating system.
• Cassette and ceiling units for sales floors. PLA-M-EA four-way cassettes distribute air evenly and fit suspended ceilings, while PKA-M-LAL units suit spaces without a ceiling void or with high ceilings.
• Outdoor units. PUZ-ZM Power Inverter outdoor units pair with Mr. Slim indoor units; we select the right combination for the floor load and installation location.
• Customer washrooms. JET TOWEL NEW SLIM and JET TOWEL SMART hand dryers are a hygienic option for public washrooms without paper towel waste.

For retail chains and leased units

If you run several stores or lease space in a shopping centre, you need the same solution across sites and a clear interface with the landlord's systems. We select a repeatable equipment package, prepare a standard specification and agree connection points with the building manager.

What we need from you

• a floor plan showing doors, shop windows, tills and fixtures;
• door type and dimensions: swing, sliding, automatic or gates;
• ceiling type and height and possible outdoor unit locations;
• a description of lighting, refrigerated displays and other heat sources;
• opening hours and visitor flow profile;
• the landlord's or shopping centre's technical conditions, if any;
• the opening or refurbishment date.

Project stages with EKO2ŠILUMA

• Site survey – we assess the entrance zone, floor loads, ceilings and outdoor unit locations.
• Concept – we propose the air curtain and heat pump combination and the control logic.
• Specification – we prepare the equipment specification; for chains, a standard package.
• RFQ and quotation – we prepare an offer for equipment and installation.
• Supply and installation – we coordinate installation with the fit-out works and the opening date.
• Commissioning – we balance airflows, align curtain and heat pump operation and train staff.
• Service – we offer planned maintenance so filters and units never get in the way of trading.

Typical risks and how we handle them

• A curtain that is too narrow or too weak. The curtain width and type must match the opening; we check this against door dimensions and mounting height.
• Draughts at the tills. We direct indoor unit airflow away from workstations.
• Heat from displays and lighting. We account for internal heat gains, which often drive cooling demand even in spring.
• Outdoor unit location. In shopping centres and city centres we agree it with the building manager and façade rules.

Controls and operating modes

In retail the HVAC system has to follow opening hours. Heat pump and air curtain operation can be linked to a schedule so the floor is ready before opening and the system switches to an economy mode after closing. It is worth controlling the air curtain by door status and season so it does not run needlessly. Using the same controllers across several sites makes it easier for staff to learn the system and for the service team to find the cause of a fault. We discuss remote control options such as MELCloud at concept stage and select compatible units.

Documentation we hand over

Manufacturer datasheets, the equipment specification, the commissioning report, as-built documentation to the agreed scope and an equipment inventory. For chains we build the inventory per store and can register the equipment in the EKO2 portal so the service history is in one place.

Maintenance

In retail premises filters clog faster because of footfall and dust. We set the scope and frequency according to the manufacturer's recommendations and how the site is used, and can schedule work outside trading hours where needed. Contract terms are agreed individually. Start with the system finder or a project request.