For years, building performance conversations have focused on better equipment, tighter envelopes, and higher efficiency ratings. These advances have moved the industry forward. But there’s another important lever that hasn’t received the same level of attention: air movement strategy.

Many commercial and industrial buildings are fully equipped with high-quality equipment, yet are underperforming. The issue isn’t the equipment—it is that the air movement strategy fell short, either by focusing on airflow in isolation without fully accounting for how air behaves in occupied, functioning spaces, or by overlooking equipment performance data.

The good news is we can fix this! (And avoid repeating the mistake.)

By applying a modern air movement strategy, particularly at doors and large openings, buildings can address a critical source of energy loss, comfort disruption, and indoor air quality challenges. Every time a door opens, air moves in ways the original design may not have fully anticipated. Comfort drops. Energy use rises. Indoor conditions become harder to control.

This is why code compliance now includes air curtain performance. Energy codes no longer treat air curtains as simple accessories. Performance expectations are more explicit and measurable than ever.

Minimum air velocity near the floor, operation coordinated with door activity, and verified performance data are no longer optional considerations. Both the 2024 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 Addendum r now include requirements for air curtain performance, controls, testing, and commissioning.

In 2026, air movement strategy is no longer about airflow alone. It’s about balancing performance, energy use, and acoustic comfort, while getting the fundamentals right: sizing, mounting, and a clear understanding of the real-world trade-offs between velocity, heat, and noise.

While every space is unique, here are five non-negotiables for any modern air movement strategy.

Non-Negotiable #1: Velocity, Heat, and Noise Must Be Balanced Together

Effective air movement is never about maximizing a single variable.

Higher velocity can improve separation at an opening, but it can also introduce acoustic concerns. Adding heat can improve occupant comfort, but it must be balanced against energy use. Mounting height influences throw, coverage, and whether the air stream reaches the floor as intended.

These trade-offs have always existed. What’s changed is that modern air curtain technology provides greater control, better data, and more options for intentional management.

Balancing these factors is now central to achieving acceptable performance in real-world commercial and industrial spaces.

Non-Negotiable #2: Doors Must Be Treated as Active Performance Zones

Doors were once viewed as brief interruptions in an otherwise controlled building envelope. In reality, they are among the most dynamic and influential zones in a commercial or industrial facility.
High-traffic doors, loading docks, and large openings can account for a significant share of uncontrolled air exchange. Climate volatility, wildfire smoke events, and rising expectations for indoor air quality have only increased the impact of these openings.

Organizations like ASHRAE https://www.ashrae.org and the EPA https://www.epa.gov now recognize infiltration control as part of broader indoor air quality and resilience strategies. Air movement at doors is no longer secondary. It plays a direct role in protecting occupants and maintaining stable indoor environments.

For more details, see ASHRAE wildfire response resources
https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/wildfire-response-resources
and EPA indoor air quality and wildfire smoke guidance
https://www.epa.gov/wildfire-smoke-course

Non-Negotiable #3: Air Movement Design Must Be Based on Four Inputs

Historically, air movement decisions were often made late in the design process. Air curtains were frequently selected based solely on opening size, with little consideration for how the space would actually operate.

That approach no longer holds up.

To improve performance, air movement design must account for four critical inputs:

• Discharge velocity at the floor
• Mounting height
• Pressure differentials across the opening
• How the unit operates in coordination with the door

When these factors aren’t intentionally designed for, performance suffers, even when high-quality equipment is specified.

Non-Negotiable #4: Equipment Performance Must Be Verified, Not Estimated

For many years, air curtain performance was often estimated using rules of thumb. That was common practice when expectations were lower, and performance data was limited.

Today, assumptions aren’t enough.

Verified air performance data allows engineers and building owners to understand how much air is actually being delivered, where it reaches, and how it behaves in real conditions. Standards like ANSI/AMCA 220 exist because air curtain effectiveness depends on measurable outcomes, not just product size. Certification brings clarity to a space that was once difficult to quantify.

Non-Negotiable #5: Air Curtains Are a Primary Performance Lever, Not a Last-Minute Add-On

Air curtains are often introduced late in the design process, sometimes as a compliance requirement or an operational fix. That mindset limits performance.

When considered early and applied in accordance with modern air movement principles, air curtains can function as dynamic extensions of the building envelope. They reduce infiltration, support comfort, and help stabilize indoor conditions without restricting access or consuming valuable space.

This shift toward performance-based application is reflected in recent code updates and standards language. Air curtain performance is no longer assumed. It’s expected.

At Schwank, this is evident across thousands of installations, from sports complexes and distribution centres to oceanside patios and high-traffic commercial entrances. Across climates and building types, thoughtful air curtain application consistently delivers better outcomes.

Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond

AHR Expo has always been where the industry looks ahead. In 2026, this conversation includes how air actually moves through buildings once they’re occupied and operating.

Schwank will be part of this discussion, sharing our insight into how modern air movement strategies, particularly around air curtain performance, can help buildings perform better.

The Bottom Line

Modern air movement strategy takes a broader view of how buildings actually operate. It recognizes that performance depends on balancing multiple factors, not optimizing one in isolation.

Because air curtains are one of the most visible and immediately impactful applications of air movement science in commercial and industrial buildings, they deserve special attention. As we move into 2026, air curtains can no longer be treated as peripheral equipment. When thoughtfully designed, specified, and verified, they represent one of the most practical opportunities to improve energy efficiency, comfort, and indoor air quality.

Closely tied to this is performance transparency. The AMCA Certified Ratings Program allows engineers, building owners, and operators to rely on standardized, independently verified air performance and sound data. This transparency goes hand in hand with a modern air movement strategy.

This year, the question is no longer whether air movement matters. It’s whether it’s being considered comprehensively in order to realize the best possible performance.