Gravity Ventilators: Model DC-AGV Severe Duty vs. Model AGV Light Duty

Posted on by Aire Technologies

What is a Gravity Ventilator?

A gravity ventilator encourages natural airflow throughout the building, from floor to up toward the ceiling.  Using natural forces, these ventilators introduce cool outside air into the occupancy level of a building while exhausting heated and contaminated air.  They require no power, motors, or fans to function, although mechanically powered ventilators with fans do exist.

Aire Technologies currently offers two types of aluminum gravity ventilators: the Model DC-AGV and Model AGV.  Learn more about Aire Technologies’ AGVs below.

Model DC-AGV Severe Duty AGV

The Model-DC AGV severe-duty aluminum gravity ventilator is designed, engineered, and tested to provide air intake or relief while protecting severe hurricane environments. The DC-AGV meets the following test protocols:

  • TAS 201-94 (Missile Impact Test)
  • TAS 202-94 (Uniform Static Air Pressure Test)
  • TAS 203-94 (Cyclic Wind Pressure Loading Test)

With the Model DC-AGV, you can have peace of mind knowing that this product is Miami-Dade County-certified and can withstand even the toughest of hurricane environments.  Engineered with a strong aluminum angle interior subframe, the Model DC-AGV is reinforced and built to last.  The Model DC-AGV’s wind load performance is +/- 120 psf at 96” W x 144” L and +/- 180 psf at 48” W x 48” L. Air performance data sheets are available upon request.

Available in a wide variety of sizes, the maximum shell size is 96” W x 144” L, and the minimum shell size is 24” W x 24” L.

Model AGV Light Duty AGV

The Model AGV is an aluminum gravity ventilator designed and engineered to provide air intake or relief in noncoastal regions.

The all-new light-duty AGV is lighter and leaner, designed for buildings that don’t need that extra protection that a hurricane environment would require.  By shedding the interior subframe required for hurricane regions, this complementary AGV offers similar air performance and options at a much lower cost.

Available in a wide variety of sizes, the maximum shell size is 96”W x 114”L, and the minimum shell size is 18”W x 18”L.

Can I Customize My Order of AGVs?

Standard construction for both the Model DC-AGV and Model AGV consists of 0.081” thick aluminum shell, a 2” x 3” x 0.188” curb skirt, an expanded aluminum bird screen, and a standard mill finish.

Optional features for custom orders include hinged assembly, filter racks, an insect screen, anti-condensate coating, and powder coating.  Consult an Aire Technologies representative in your area or our Aire Tech customer service team for more information.

Where Can I Buy Aire Technologies’ AGVs?

Ready to buy our aluminum gravity ventilators? As always, we are happy to work with you to deliver your desired HVAC products.  Aire Technologies’ products can be purchased through our representative locations across the US as part of our selective regional distribution network.  Use the Aire Tech representative map to find a rep in your region and place your order today!

Show Some Louver Love

Posted on by Aire Technologies

Show some “louver love” by learning about the purpose of a louver and what types of louvers Aire Technologies has to offer.

What is the Purpose of a Louver?

A louver is a device comprised of horizontal or vertical blades that permits air flow into a system to provide fresh air intake or exhaust while keeping outside elements such as water, dirt, animals, and debris out of the airstream. There are many different louvers with various purposes, including protection from hurricane conditions and manual or automatic air shutoff.

What Types of Louvers Does Aire Technologies Offer?

Aire Technologies offers three main types of louvers: severe duty, stationary, and combination.

When selecting a louver, be sure to check each louver’s specifics to ensure it’s the right type of louver for your building application.  To assist with this process, Aire Technologies offers a comprehensive product selection survey in our catalog to help select the right product.

Severe Duty Louvers:

Aire Technologies’ severe duty louvers are drainable louvers designed, engineered, and tested to provide protection against large debris impact, cyclic loading fatigue, and severe pressure loads experienced in high-velocity hurricane zones.

These louvers provide the maximum level of hurricane and water penetration protection out of all our louvers.  Our severe duty louvers have been certified by Miami-Dade County (with the exception of the Model WDV-6) and AMCA, ensuring a high-quality product that can be specified with confidence.

Currently, Aire Technologies offers the following severe duty louvers:

Stationary Louvers:

Aire Technologies’ stationary louvers are drainable, louvers (with the exception of the Model 445-SW) designed to prevent water penetration in building exterior walls for non-wind-driven rain applications. Water is channeled away from the face of the louver via built-in drain gutters into vertical downspouts that allow the water to drain at the sloped sill.

These louvers provide various levels of water protection and louver depths.  Our stationary louvers are AMCA certified (with the exception of the Model 245-SD), ensuring a high-quality product that can be specified with confidence.

Currently, Aire Technologies offers the following stationary louvers:

Combination Louvers:

Aire Technologies’ combination louvers are drainable (with the exception of the Model 445-CW) and adjustable, utilizing a uniquely designed weather control blade to be used in intake and exhaust applications that do not require high water penetration protection.  Water is channeled away from the face of the louver via built-in drain gutters into vertical downspouts that allow the water to drain at the sloped sill.

These louvers provide the functionality of a louver with the bonus of controlling the built-in airflow shutoff damper.  Our combination louvers are AMCA certified, ensuring a high-quality product that can be specified with confidence.

Currently, Aire Technologies offers the following combination louvers:

Can I Order Custom Louvers?

Each Aire Technologies louver is manufactured custom to meet customer specifications.  Regardless of the model of louver you’re looking for, you can choose whatever custom options you’d like, including a variety of colors in weather-resistant powder finishes, flanged vs. non-flanged, and more.

In addition to those custom options, we offer many size options, from as small as 12”x12” up to larger width and height sizes (within reason), scaling in 1/8” increments.

Where Can I Buy Aire Technologies’ Louvers?

Ready to buy some louvers? As always, we are happy to work with you to deliver your desired HVAC products.  Aire Technologies’ products can be purchased through our representative locations across the US as part of our selective regional distribution network.  Use the Aire Tech representative map to find a rep in your region and place your order today!

Schedule an Aire Technologies Product Training Now!

Posted on by Aire Technologies

Schedule a training session with our Aire Technologies representatives today to ensure you’re up to date with our four core product lines’ latest essential training information.

Who Should Attend Aire Technologies Trainings and Why?

Aire Technologies manufactures very specific life safety products that, when installed or used incorrectly, can void the critical UL rating to which the products were originally designed, tested, and approved. These products increase the allowable amount of time occupants of a building have to escape in the event of a fire.

Our training courses are meant for manufacturer’s representatives, wholesalers, contractors, engineers, inspectors, architects, and anyone else who would benefit from Aire Technologies product training.  Architects, please note that our courses are AIA accredited for one LU credit.

What Training Courses are Available?

Aire Technologies offers four key training courses with the following learning objectives:

  • Ceiling Radiation Dampers (CRDs)
    • Specify the appropriate floor/ceiling and roof/ceiling assembly for a multi-family, senior living, or mixed-use project.
    • Identify operation, testing procedures, classifications, and listings for UL-rated life safety products in architectural assemblies.
    • Specify approved life safety dampers for different floor/ceiling and roof/ceiling assemblies by navigating the UL fire resistance directory.
  • Fire Dampers
    • Specify the appropriate fire and/or smoke-resistive products given a penetration through a wall, floor, barrier, or partition.
    • Identify operation, testing procedures, classifications, and listings for UL-rated life safety products.
    • Understand the differences and similarities between using fire dampers, smoke dampers, and combination fire and smoke dampers.
  • Leakage-Rated Life Safety Dampers
    • Specify the appropriate fire and/or smoke-resistive products given a penetration through a wall, floor, barrier, or partition.
    • Identify operation, testing procedures, classifications, and listings for UL-rated life safety products.
    • Understand the differences and similarities between using fire dampers, smoke dampers, and combination fire and smoke dampers.
  • Louvers
    • Specify the appropriate louver for intake or exhaust penetration.
    • Identify operation, testing procedures, classifications, and listings for extruded aluminum louver products.

Each training course takes approximately 30-45 minutes.  If desired, you may schedule more than one training course consecutively.

Where Does the Training Take Place?

The best part about Aire Technologies’ training courses is that our representatives will come right to you, or it can be conducted virtually, depending on your preference and schedule.

Whether you attend in person or virtually, you’ll receive the same high-quality educational training from our knowledgeable representatives.

How Do I Schedule a Training?

To schedule one of Aire Technologies’ four key training courses, please fill out the online submission form below, or contact [email protected] with the following information:

  • Full Name
  • Company
  • Location (City, State)
  • Product line(s) of interest
  • Have you done business with Aire Technologies in the past?

To avoid scheduling conflicts, please get in touch with us to schedule your training at least one month before the desired date.  Our representatives may be able to accommodate a sooner date, depending on their schedules and time of year.

We look forward to seeing you and providing the product training you deserve!

 

Model DC-AGV: Built to Last

Posted on by Aire Technologies

Made to endure whatever life throws at it, the Model DC-AGV aluminum gravity ventilator is designed, engineered, and tested to provide air intake or relief while protecting severe hurricane environments.

 

The Model DC-AGV meets the following test protocols:

  • TAS 201-94 (Missile Impact Test)
  • TAS 202-94 (Uniform Static Air Pressure Test)
  • TAS 203-94 (Cyclic Wind Pressure Loading Test)

Learn more about the Model DC-AGV that’s built to last at rb.gy/8aid5j.

Louver Q and A with Sales Management Solutions

Posted on by Aire Technologies

Our newest line of air management products, Louvers, have been available since the start of 2020 and naturally there may be some questions about them. Our Engineered Sales Consultant and Louver Product Specialist Justin Burke sat down with one of our Manufacturer Reps, Sales Management Solutions (SMS), to answer some questions and provide some clarity on the newest product offerings from Aire Technologies.

Questions:

Why would you put a motor on a louver and why do you want an adjustable louver?

a. Adjustable louvers act as a combo louver AND damper. Can be manually controlled with a hand quadrant, but if they are inaccessible or tied to a fan system, you need a motor. There are 2 sets of blades – one set is stationary.

Are stationary louvers or combination/adjustable louvers more popular?

a. Stationary

Are actuators typically installed in the airstream, or out of it?

a. In the airstream – “internal mount”

If the power fails, do the blades stop open, or closed?

a. Typical wiring would have them fail closed, but you can invert them and have them power closed, and fail open.
Is it spec’d that the blades should fail open, or closed? ATI will do some research to determine this.

Are all motorized louvers drainable?

a. You can order them either way. Specs do not generally call them out to be drainable or not. The drainable profile helps with keeping water out so the test data behind the drainable profile is typically better than models that do not drain water through a gutter (in meeting CFM requirements).

Can these be wired into a control panel?

a. Yes, they can. An electrician would perform this.

How are louvers installed?

a. Non-hurricane rated products do not have stringent rules on installation. Screws, anchor clips, and a water-tight caulking are generally used.

Should you be requesting a flange to provide the material to anchor to the wall?

a. No, anchoring is usually done on the back portion. The flange provides a more aesthetically appealing look on the install. It also acts as an extra water repellent.

Will it ever be spec’d to have a flange, or is it merely for aesthetic purposes?

a. Yes, it would/could be spec’d.

Could you sell the flange add-on as something that protects the integrity of the masonry by keeping water flow off of it?

a. Yes. A bottom flange has a curve on it, which pushes the water away from the wall.

How deep are the (optional) sleeves that attach to the louver?

a. There are 4 different options – 8, 10, 12, 14, or 16” standard options.

How do the anchor clips work (on the hurricane rated model for Dade County)?

a. There are set installation instructions on the website for this specific product.

How do you choose one style of blade vs another, ie storm resistant/drainable?

a. This is tied to the performance data behind the louver. One of the deciding factors is the profile of the blade.

Why is the free area important in the louver testing data (on AMCA rated products)?

a. It affects how well air flows through the product. The more free area available, the easier air can flow through the louver.

What are the finish options available on louvers?

a. Mill finish is standard. Where the product needs to be painted, the surface can be powder-coated in many colors. A sample color chart is available. ATI can offer powder coat finishes compliant to AAMA standards.

Why do some louvers have minimum and maximum sizes?

a. Hurricane rated products are limited to what sizes were tested. Other product sizes are based on manufacturing capabilities of single sections. However, if a larger size is needed, multi-sections can be done.

Click Here to browse our line of available louvers for more detailed information and specifications. Should you have additional question or inquires about our louvers or any ATI product you can reach us through our Contact Page or by calling 1-855-258-3033.

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