The Importance of Shipping Warehouse Ventilation

According to energy advisors, warehouses spend on average 15% of their budget on energy bills every year. Mechanical ventilation can contribute to a high percentage of this spend. In this article, we explore the importance of effective warehouse ventilation. Like many hazards, poor ventilation poses a risk to employee health, machines and equipment as well as goods and products. To avoid negative impacts on businesses ventilation hazards must be eliminated. These include a reduction in productivity, a decreased yield, machines or equipment malfunctioning and damages to goods. Certain stored goods such as pharmaceutical products need to be more closely monitored and require temperature and humidity levels to be kept within a certain range. Inefficient ventilation for this type of product can lead to damages or reduced potency which poses a critical threat to consumers. Whether you work in an office or a warehouse, indoor air quality is a significant factor in productivity and behaviour. A constant airflow is required to maintain a satisfactory working temperature and to remove any harmful dust or potentially toxic particles from the air. It is also important to note that a build-up of dust at ground level can cause a slippery surface and lead to other accidents. Warehouses, with their vast storage areas and high ceilings that are in constant change due to stock movement and distribution, face ongoing ventilation and temperature battles. Natural ventilation can help to maintain a good air quality but it is often difficult to maintain a uniform air temperature distribution. In summer, an incorrectly ventilated warehouse can become overheated as temperatures rise and machinery rolls on, while in winter the cold air from outside will rush in through the open doors and create discomfort. Inefficient ventilation can lead to poor and unsatisfactory working conditions for employees which not only reduces productivity but may also pose a health risk especially where there is exposure to harmful particles or temperatures rising above the standard guideline measures.   In addition to the usual challenges in warehouse ventilation, port and quayside shipping warehouse locations are often subject to the corrosive nature of salt water. Therefore, ventilation solutions need to be made from components that can withstand the harsh environment. Commercial roof fans can be used as an efficient and cost effective solution to maintain the indoor air quality within commercial warehouses and to increase the comfort level and productivity of employees.  

Case Study: Warehouse Ventilation

Warehouse ventilation projects are common occurrences at Axair. Having recently been approached to fit out a large production warehouse with no ventilation, we are familiar with the challenges facing businesses. Following a visit to the site to examine the requirements, the use of multiple commercial centrifugal roof fans cased in seawater-resistant galvanised steel was advised. The DV range of fans, from supply partner Rosenberg, feature a vertical outlet to draw out the stale, warm air. The use of multiple fans rather than one large fan was advised to ensure the even distribution of ventilation across the building. The arrangement of the fans also allows for easy fixing onto the roof via a galvanised sheet steel fixing plate and is designed for higher pressure applications as an alternative to a standard axial fan. Variants in stainless steel or with horizontal outlet air hoods are available. It is important to remember all aspects of a business. Warehousing is commonly one area that can be neglected. In any warehouse, companies will be looking to save money but they also have a responsibility to their staff. Productive employees should be provided with a comfortable working environment. For more information about our warehouse ventilation solutions, please contact us, call 01782 349 430 or email [email protected].  

More shipyard ventilation news >> Dilution & Local Exhaust Ventilation for Shipyards >>