HOW TO COOL WAREHOUSE SPACES WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING
Rite-Hite (India)
A global leader in manufacturing & sale of industrial safety & security equipment and energy efficiency solutions.
Indian summers can be unforgiving in some regions with temperatures soaring as high as 50 degrees Celsius. Large facilities without air conditioning can be brutal to the worker who can lose focus, get fatigued or commit a grievous mistake.
The extreme climate directly affects worker productivity which declines due to heat stress or absenteeism. The lower output is reflected on the overall business goals and eventually the country’s GDP, especially in the peak hot season.
A study of over 58,000 industrial plants across India by EPIC India 2021 revealed a decline of daily output by 2.7% as temperature rose above 35 degrees Celcius and worker absenteeism by 5%.
According to the study’s researchers, developing countries with a hot tropical climate may be subject to an inescapable ‘heat tax’ that could be detrimental to the country’s prosperity in the face of competition in the manufacturing sectors and hurt the workers financially too.
Not just plummeting productivity, hot and humid weather also brings with it unwelcome pests that could damage perishables, and makes for poor indoor air quality due to lack of air circulation and foul odour.
How does extreme heat impact manufacturing or warehousing teams?
It's hard to control the temperature of a large space, but it’s necessary to keep the employees safe and comfortable. When we are exposed to high temperatures, our body’s core temperature also rises. At best, this could lead to a loss of productivity and output, a decrease in employee retention and an increase in day-to-day errors that impact the bottom line.
At its worst, high temperatures could also impact workers’ health and wellbeing. If rising temperatures are left unchecked, it doesn’t matter how much water is consumed or how short the shift is, even healthy and young employees may still be at risk of heat-related hazards:
Unfortunately, heat-related illnesses are common for warehouses and manufacturing facilities. This is because large spaces can be costly to control, the job can be physically demanding for the workforce. Workers who have heart conditions, high blood pressure, are overweight or over 65 years old are particularly at-risk.
Tips for cooling warehouse spaces in the summer:
1. Keep Hot Air Outside and Cool Air Inside by Sealing Trailer Gaps: Rite-Hite?Dock Seals and Shelters?seal the perimeter of the dock keeping out contaminants, unwanted pests, and/or hot air that can cause discomfort to employees during the warmer months.
2. Condition Trailer Environment to Cooler Temperature:?Loading dock fans, such as the?CoolMan 2800 Trailer Fan, are specifically designed for manual loading and unloading environments by providing directional air flow into a trailer.
3. Allow Fresh Air in for Comfort and Productivity: The BugShield?Sliding?or?Roll Up?Industrial Door is a mesh, screen door designed to block the infiltration of pests into a facility while allowing dock doors to be open for fresh air. It is available in a convenient sliding model for wider door-ways.
4. Install HVLS Fans: Warehouses, with or without HVAC systems, benefit the most when they incorporate high-volume, low-speed?(HVLS) fans?into their overall cooling system.
Unlike traditional ceiling fans, just one?HVLS fan?can cool big spaces as large as 31,000 square feet. They have been engineered to move large volumes of air very efficiently, saving energy costs and cooling workers on the ground floor.
A single?Rite-Hite Revolution Fan?can replace up to 20 floor or smaller ceiling fans while lowering energy consumption by at least 20% when used as a supplement to traditional air conditioning. This all happens because HVLS fans are specially created to circulate air evenly throughout the facility, allowing you to experience a decrease in the perceived temperature with no change in the thermostat set point. Ultimately you can increase your AC’s targeted temperature without a change in worker productivity or comfort due to their perceived temperature.?
This ingenuity also has added benefits of reducing condensation on floors, known as?Sweating Slab Syndrome?(SSS), by minimizing ceiling-to-floor temperature differences and increasing surface evaporation. This will increase worker safety by minimizing the risk for falls while also removing the excess moisture and humidity that can rust metal products and damage other warehouse contents.
Beyond comfort, HVLS fans also improve air quality by providing movement which aides in removing hot and cool spots while also dissipating stagnant air that can lead to hampered air-quality.
HVLS Fans are Powerful Solutions to Large Space cooling Problems
Air conditioning is expensive and adds to carbon emissions, especially in large spaces where machines are running and doors or docks are constantly opening. The most impactful way to beat the heat and keep your workers cool throughout your facility is with high-volume, low speed (HVLS) fans. Help your employees stay comfortable and productive, no matter what the season may bring.
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