Air Movement Offers Safety Benefits
Are you ever faced with one or more of the following problems: heat stress on your employees, poor air quality or condensation causing a slippery safety situation? Far beyond simple comfort, air movement has a vast array of safety benefits in the industrial workplace that you might not realize. Large diameter, low speed overhead fans are the most effective, efficient way to move massive quantities of air throughout a space. Big fans negate safety hazards by producing large volumes of air in a silent, effective manner.
Large diameter, low speed fans produce a column-shaped jet of air roughly equal to the diameter of the fan. As this jet strikes the floor it spreads out in all directions, displacing the stagnant air and setting up a convection-type circulation pattern. Air from the floor level is moved out towards the walls or obstructions and then moves up back into the fan to be recirculated. During the cooling season these fans create elevated air speeds that promote the body’s own natural cooling process. In the heating season, the fans can gently circulate
a massive volume of air throughout a space, creating a more uniform temperature and less demand on the heating system, without creating a draft.
Beating the heat
Workplace conditions during hot summer months are more than just uncomfortable – they can also decrease productivity and even jeopardize the safety of employees. OSHA standards indicate temperatures of 100.4 F and above are dangerous for workers while air temperatures that exceed 95 F significantly increase the heat load on the body.1
By using large diameter fans to increase air movement, evaporation is optimized and the result is a perceived cooling effect that can make a person feel up to 10 F cooler.
Derrick Shuler, facility manager at Nucor Steel, a South Carolina facility dedicated to steel manufacturing, found himself faced with a serious problem when employees complained of scorching temperatures in production facilities. Although Nucor had wall-to-wall floor fans, they weren’t cutting it in terms of air movement. These small fans were also noisy and used a lot of energy, without keeping employees cool. Shuler replaced his dozens of small fans with a single 24-ft diameter overhead fan.
The addition of the fan ensured workplace conditions were suitable and desirable for workers, while safety risks associated with high temperatures became less plausible. “My employees immediately noticed a difference and are much more comfortable as a result,” Shuler said.
Winter woes
Drastically different circumstances are presented when facility managers deal with frigid winter temperatures. Not only are workers subjected to excessively cold temperatures at risk from lost dexterity and focus, but large industrial spaces frequently struggle to keep heat at occupants’ level due to the natural phenomenon of stratification. Stratification occurs because hot air from a heater is approximately 5-7% lighter than cool air in a space, and tends to rise to the ceiling. Large diameter fans are slowed to push large volumes of warm air down from the ceiling gently, without creating a chilly draft.
Seifert MTM Systems, located in North Kingstown, R. I., has more than 45 years of experience in the industrial thermal management field, but needed an effective and efficient way to heat their 19,000 sq. ft warehouse. Logistics and Operations Manager Rob Granai recognized that the building’s heaters were poorly placed near the ceiling. Upon installing a 24-ft diameter overhead fan in the warehouse to push this heat down to the workers’ level, “there was an instant temperature difference down at face level,” Granai said.
Not only were the changes felt physically, but Granai began tracking energy costs, and has saved 30 percent on gas bills. Additional air movement allows thermostat setpoints to be lower, creating energy savings. Large diameter fans help save money on the backend while keeping employees comfortable and efficient in cold temperatures.
A refreshing change
All buildings are susceptible to deficiencies in indoor environmental quality. Poor ventilation can create unforeseen effects for building occupants.
“The buildup of noxious fumes, odors, and other contaminants in stagnant air is a common industrial hygiene problem,” explained Jason Hollan, Systems Engineering Manager at Big Ass Fans. “In addition to their ability to provide energy efficient thermal comfort in both summer and winter, the strategic use of large diameter, low speed fans facilitates the mixing and turnover of air in a space, improving the working conditions for everyone in the facility. Fans can be used by themselves or in conjunction with HVAC systems to better circulate air and promote ventilation.”
Employees at the Environmental Service Center (ESC) Household Hazardous Waste drop off facility inHouston, Texas, found themselves stifled under a mixture of fumes from cars driving into the warehouse and a multitude of household hazardous wastes.
Roger Jones, ESC facility manager, acknowledged the problem, stating the air was, “a hazard in itself.” To combat the harmful air, Jones installed an 8-ft diameter overhead fan to diminish vapors present in the air.
With the installation of the fan, employees could breathe easy. “These fans make a big difference,” Jones explained. “We deal with not only the ambient temperature but the odors from all those chemicals we handle and the fans help move those odors out of our breathing zone.”
Slippery when wet
Condensation occurs when warm air contacts a cold surface. As the air becomes colder, it loses the ability to store moisture. In the spring and fall, temperature swings and the accompanying condensation can pose significant hazards. The resulting wet floors create a slip and fall risk for employees and complicate forklift traffic and operation.
Pallet manufacturer John Rock Inc. encountered a perilous situation due to moisture and condensation. Not only were products growing mold, floors were also becoming too wet for employees and equipment to move safely.
Business Development and Purchasing Manager Penn Cooper installed six 24-ft diameter fans throughout the facility. The fans create air velocity across the floor to disturb the stagnant layer of cold air in contrast with the floor slab, helping raise the surface temperature at the floor, reducing the opportunity for condensation to form.
“The fans have been a blessing for us. I never would have thought they would work so well. The fans dramatically improve the safety here,” said Cooper.
Conclusion
Various problems can sometimes be solved with a single solution. Large diameter overhead fans can aid employers in solving many safety related complications ranging from hot employees to slippery floors.
Large diameter, low speed fans produce a column-shaped jet of air roughly equal to the diameter of the fan. As this jet strikes the floor it spreads out in all directions, displacing the stagnant air and setting up a convection-type circulation pattern. Air from the floor level is moved out towards the walls or obstructions and then moves up back into the fan to be recirculated. During the cooling season these fans create elevated air speeds that promote the body’s own natural cooling process. In the heating season, the fans can gently circulate
a massive volume of air throughout a space, creating a more uniform temperature and less demand on the heating system, without creating a draft.
Beating the heat
Workplace conditions during hot summer months are more than just uncomfortable – they can also decrease productivity and even jeopardize the safety of employees. OSHA standards indicate temperatures of 100.4 F and above are dangerous for workers while air temperatures that exceed 95 F significantly increase the heat load on the body.1
By using large diameter fans to increase air movement, evaporation is optimized and the result is a perceived cooling effect that can make a person feel up to 10 F cooler.
Derrick Shuler, facility manager at Nucor Steel, a South Carolina facility dedicated to steel manufacturing, found himself faced with a serious problem when employees complained of scorching temperatures in production facilities. Although Nucor had wall-to-wall floor fans, they weren’t cutting it in terms of air movement. These small fans were also noisy and used a lot of energy, without keeping employees cool. Shuler replaced his dozens of small fans with a single 24-ft diameter overhead fan.
The addition of the fan ensured workplace conditions were suitable and desirable for workers, while safety risks associated with high temperatures became less plausible. “My employees immediately noticed a difference and are much more comfortable as a result,” Shuler said.
Winter woes
Drastically different circumstances are presented when facility managers deal with frigid winter temperatures. Not only are workers subjected to excessively cold temperatures at risk from lost dexterity and focus, but large industrial spaces frequently struggle to keep heat at occupants’ level due to the natural phenomenon of stratification. Stratification occurs because hot air from a heater is approximately 5-7% lighter than cool air in a space, and tends to rise to the ceiling. Large diameter fans are slowed to push large volumes of warm air down from the ceiling gently, without creating a chilly draft.
Seifert MTM Systems, located in North Kingstown, R. I., has more than 45 years of experience in the industrial thermal management field, but needed an effective and efficient way to heat their 19,000 sq. ft warehouse. Logistics and Operations Manager Rob Granai recognized that the building’s heaters were poorly placed near the ceiling. Upon installing a 24-ft diameter overhead fan in the warehouse to push this heat down to the workers’ level, “there was an instant temperature difference down at face level,” Granai said.
Not only were the changes felt physically, but Granai began tracking energy costs, and has saved 30 percent on gas bills. Additional air movement allows thermostat setpoints to be lower, creating energy savings. Large diameter fans help save money on the backend while keeping employees comfortable and efficient in cold temperatures.
A refreshing change
All buildings are susceptible to deficiencies in indoor environmental quality. Poor ventilation can create unforeseen effects for building occupants.
“The buildup of noxious fumes, odors, and other contaminants in stagnant air is a common industrial hygiene problem,” explained Jason Hollan, Systems Engineering Manager at Big Ass Fans. “In addition to their ability to provide energy efficient thermal comfort in both summer and winter, the strategic use of large diameter, low speed fans facilitates the mixing and turnover of air in a space, improving the working conditions for everyone in the facility. Fans can be used by themselves or in conjunction with HVAC systems to better circulate air and promote ventilation.”
Employees at the Environmental Service Center (ESC) Household Hazardous Waste drop off facility inHouston, Texas, found themselves stifled under a mixture of fumes from cars driving into the warehouse and a multitude of household hazardous wastes.
Roger Jones, ESC facility manager, acknowledged the problem, stating the air was, “a hazard in itself.” To combat the harmful air, Jones installed an 8-ft diameter overhead fan to diminish vapors present in the air.
With the installation of the fan, employees could breathe easy. “These fans make a big difference,” Jones explained. “We deal with not only the ambient temperature but the odors from all those chemicals we handle and the fans help move those odors out of our breathing zone.”
Slippery when wet
Condensation occurs when warm air contacts a cold surface. As the air becomes colder, it loses the ability to store moisture. In the spring and fall, temperature swings and the accompanying condensation can pose significant hazards. The resulting wet floors create a slip and fall risk for employees and complicate forklift traffic and operation.
Pallet manufacturer John Rock Inc. encountered a perilous situation due to moisture and condensation. Not only were products growing mold, floors were also becoming too wet for employees and equipment to move safely.
Business Development and Purchasing Manager Penn Cooper installed six 24-ft diameter fans throughout the facility. The fans create air velocity across the floor to disturb the stagnant layer of cold air in contrast with the floor slab, helping raise the surface temperature at the floor, reducing the opportunity for condensation to form.
“The fans have been a blessing for us. I never would have thought they would work so well. The fans dramatically improve the safety here,” said Cooper.
Conclusion
Various problems can sometimes be solved with a single solution. Large diameter overhead fans can aid employers in solving many safety related complications ranging from hot employees to slippery floors.
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