A NEW YEAR JUST BLEW INWe hope you're reinvigorated and getting started on planning your year, or if you're really good, you’ve already started on projects! The beginning of the year is also a perfect time to evaluate your ventilation needs. You may already have a list of what must be replaced, added, or upgraded, and are already deciding project timelines and goals. This is good! If not, you may need a bit of help figuring out the right amount of fresh air to get moving through your facility so you know what products to get. This is where we can help. It’s vital to your employees’ safety, comfort, and productivity to get the bad air out and the fresh air in. So, how do you accurately calculate your ventilation needs? It starts by determining the rate at which you need to completely replenish the volume of air in a given room. This is known as an air turnover (or air change) rate and is usually expressed as number of air changes per hour (although it can sometimes be seen as “minutes per air change”). The number of air changes needed ultimately depends on the type of facility or the work being done in a particular area. For example, a typical warehouse should change air approximately 12 times an hour, though this can vary between 6 and 30. By contrast, a garage needs to replenish its air 20 times in an hour to protect employees against heat buildup and noxious fumes. Once the air change rate is determined, we can proceed with our calculation. For purposes of this article, we’ll make the math easy (because… hey… who doesn’t love easy math?!). Let’s say you have a 100’ x 100’ building with a 25’ ceiling height. Based on the work being done, we’ve decided on 12 air changes every hour. Your calculation would look like this: 100’ x 100’ x 25’ = 250,000 ft³ 60/12 = 50,000 CFM Based on our calculation above, you would need to move 50,000 cubic feet of air per minute (CFM) through your facility in order to achieve 12 complete air changes an hour. Being responsible for ventilation in your facility doesn’t have to be difficult. So now that you know your ventilation needs, what’s next? Why not call Patterson?! We have the people, the products, and the knowledge to help you build the ventilation system of your dreams! And be sure to check out our new ventilation brochure. It’s packed full of product specs, proper placement suggestions, and more! THE AUTHORITY IN AIR MOVEMENT
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THE ONE-TWO KNOCKOUT |
It seems like the only constant these days is change. Don’t believe me? Take a look at your cell phone. There was probably a time not long ago when it was the latest and greatest tech gadget ever released. Now, it’s likely been replaced by one or two updated versions, with features you wish yours had! But change isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially when it comes to proper ventilation. Getting the right amount of fresh air moving through your facility is vital to your employees’ safety and productivity. So, how do you accurately calculate your ventilation needs? It starts by determining the rate at which you need to completely replenish the volume of air in a given room. This is known as an air turnover (or air change) rate, and is usually expressed as minutes per air change (although it can sometimes be seen as “number of air changes per hour”). The number of air changes needed ultimately depends on the type of facility or the work being done in a particular area. For example, a typical warehouse should have an air change approximately every 7 minutes, though this can vary between 4 and 10 minutes. By contrast, a welding room needs to replenish its air at a rate of every 3 minutes to protect employees against heat buildup and noxious fumes. Once the air change rate is determined, we can proceed with our calculation. For purposes of this article, we’ll make the math easy (because… hey… who doesn’t love easy math?!). Let’s say you have a 100’ x 100’ building with a 10’ ceiling height. Based on the work being done, we’ve decided on an air change every 5 minutes. Your calculation would look like this: 100’ x 100’ x 10’ 100,000 ft3 5 minutes = 5 minutes = 20,000 CFM Based on our calculation above, you would need to move 20,000 cubic feet of air per minute (CFM) through your facility in order to achieve a complete air change every 5 minutes. Now that you know your ventilation needs, what’s next? Why not call Patterson? They have the people and the products to help you build the ventilation system of your dreams! You’ll be the envy of the industrial park, and your employees will thank you! | CH-CH-CHANGES: |
THE AUTHORITY IN AIR MOVEMENT
SOUND VS. PERFORMANCE:
GETTING THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR AIR MOVEMENT BUCK
We all love to have our cake and eat it, too. But, as anyone in a successful marriage will tell you, life is about compromise. (Seriously ladies, you can’t have it YOUR way EVERY time!) In the air movement business, a trade-off exists when evaluating a fan’s performance versus the noise level it produces. So how much noise is too much? When is it ok to use a quieter, lower performance fan? How do you strike the perfect balance between necessary air flow and acceptable sound levels? Answers forthcoming!
Before we go much further, let’s talk about the different fan types. High velocity (HV) fans are generally considered high performance – designed to accelerate (or “throw”) air over a distance. For HV fans, airspeed (measured in feet per minute, or FPM) is more important than volume. However, this also translates into slightly higher noise levels, typically measured in decibels (dBA). The other end of the performance spectrum includes cage fans and ventilation fans (think supply, exhaust, shop floor, etc.). These fans covet volume over speed, and are usually rated in cubic feet per minute (CFM). Are they quieter than HV fans? Absolutely… but you won’t feel their airflow once you move more than a few feet away.
So which fans are right for your facility, and how should they be used? Well… both… and it depends! (How’s that for an answer?!) For an effective overall air movement solution, it is best to incorporate both fan types. For example, use large supply and exhaust fans for cross ventilation, and couple them with HV fans to accelerate air movement from one end of the building to the other. This works particularly well if your aisle ways run parallel to the airflow. If noise abatement is an issue (industry standard tends to put an upper limit around 80 dBA), mount HV fans well above the floor on columns or racks. If small area “spot cooling” is needed, employ one or more shop floor or cage fans – allowing for airflow without violating any noise level requirements.
So… maybe that example doesn’t fit the layout of your facility. Perhaps you’re looking for both performance and low noise? Great! Give Patterson a call and learn more about their new db fan! It offers the performance of an HV fan, with a 70% reduction in noise level! No matter the fan type, Patterson has the products and the expertise to keep your facility cooler, safer, and more productive!
Before we go much further, let’s talk about the different fan types. High velocity (HV) fans are generally considered high performance – designed to accelerate (or “throw”) air over a distance. For HV fans, airspeed (measured in feet per minute, or FPM) is more important than volume. However, this also translates into slightly higher noise levels, typically measured in decibels (dBA). The other end of the performance spectrum includes cage fans and ventilation fans (think supply, exhaust, shop floor, etc.). These fans covet volume over speed, and are usually rated in cubic feet per minute (CFM). Are they quieter than HV fans? Absolutely… but you won’t feel their airflow once you move more than a few feet away.
So which fans are right for your facility, and how should they be used? Well… both… and it depends! (How’s that for an answer?!) For an effective overall air movement solution, it is best to incorporate both fan types. For example, use large supply and exhaust fans for cross ventilation, and couple them with HV fans to accelerate air movement from one end of the building to the other. This works particularly well if your aisle ways run parallel to the airflow. If noise abatement is an issue (industry standard tends to put an upper limit around 80 dBA), mount HV fans well above the floor on columns or racks. If small area “spot cooling” is needed, employ one or more shop floor or cage fans – allowing for airflow without violating any noise level requirements.
So… maybe that example doesn’t fit the layout of your facility. Perhaps you’re looking for both performance and low noise? Great! Give Patterson a call and learn more about their new db fan! It offers the performance of an HV fan, with a 70% reduction in noise level! No matter the fan type, Patterson has the products and the expertise to keep your facility cooler, safer, and more productive!
THE AUTHORITY IN AIR MOVEMENT
JOHN STRAIT
Patterson Fan's
Air Movement Guru & Man of Wisdom
Air Movement Guru & Man of Wisdom
Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that who cares?... He’s a mile away and you’ve got his shoes!
- Billy Connolly
- Billy Connolly
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