Information Center — Industrial

They’re characteristic of any paint booth – let alone many other industrial settings. What do they all have in common? They produce fumes that have the potential to combust – causing an explosion that could not only injure you and your co-workers, but could also wreak havoc on the environment and indoor air quality if not properly disposed of. But there’s one simple solution to keeping your paint booth safe and fume free: explosion proof fans, or non-sparking fans. Specifically, these types of fans work to filter out fumes and particles from a hazardous location while minimizing the chances that...

Thinking of purchasing a duct inline fan for your commercial or industrial setting? Be informed before you buy. Here’s what you need to know about them: What they do: Duct inline fans can be used either for exhaust (removing air out an area) or supply (bringing air into an area) purposes. They’re ideal for settings where air quality may be of concern. Ideal settings: While fan models exist for smaller applications, an ideal setting for such fans are in large commercial and industrial settings, such as warehouses, factories, garages, paint shops and any other large setting that relies on a...

Evaporative cooling provides a low-tech, low-cost alternative to air conditioning. It cools by combining water evaporation with the simple movement of air. A blower circulates fresh outdoor air after it has been pulled through wet material, cooling the air by evaporation. Also known as a swamp cooler air conditioner, this type of cooling can lower temperatures as much as thirty degrees. They work best in dry areas rather than in humid regions. A small evaporative air cooler can be installed in a window to blow cool air into a room. Larger evaporative cooling units can be used with duct work...

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than air from outdoors. To keep air quality optimal for homeowners and employees, various methods of ventilation can be used to exchange stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) suggest air circulation in the amount of 15 cubic feet per minute (CFM), per person to maintain a safe balance of indoor and outdoor air. Equipment, installation, operation, and maintenance are key to striking a balance in air quality. The overall design of a system...

While explosion-proof fans (or hazardous location air exhaust/ventilation fans) are more expensive than regular axial or centrifugal fans, they’re the safest way to cool in a volatile environment. They are required in any location in which flammable gases, vapors, or fine dust is concentrated enough to cause fire or combustion. Explosion-proof ventilation fans can be found in the following industries (among others): Paint spray booths Textiles Woodworking Petroleum refining Fiber processing Dry cleaning Solvent extraction Plastics manufacturing Gas plants Fuel servicing Grain elevators Spice grinding If you’re in an industry where explosion-proof fans are required for safety purposes, it is...