www.rsesjournal.com 12 RSES Journal SEPTEMBER 2018 Images courtesy of Hunter Industrial. BY JEFF CHASTAIN HVLS fans offer HVACR contractors, techs simple way to provide multiple health, safety and productivity benefits to commercial customers. making EMPLOYEE COMFORT and SAFETY a PRIORITY I n many workplace settings, productivity often takes center stage as a primary concern. However, a company’s employees are its most valuable asset. In fact, studies have shown productivity and employees are directly linked. Investments in workplace safety and overall employee comfort can contribute to a company’s bottom line, as workers who feel valued, fulfilled and comfortable tend to work more efficiently, take fewer leaves of absence and remain at a company longer. Improvements in workplace comfort help communicate an employer’s concern for its employees’ wellness and day-to-day work experiences, while providing an optimal environment that feeds productivity. A number of factors contribute to workplace safety and comfort levels, but there is one leading factor that is frequently overlooked––indoor air quality (IAQ). While often undervalued, there is nothing quite as pervasive as the air that employees breathe, live and work in on a daily basis. IAQ typically refers to the air quality in and around buildings and structures, particularly as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Air quality is directly dependent on proper air circulation, and businesses often turn to traditional cooling options like pedestal fans, barrel fans, swamp coolers, etc., to improve circulation. However, these conventional options are packed with pitfalls in the form of potential safety hazards and limited coverage area. Particularly for large facilities and work spaces, high-volume low-speed (HVLS) installations can provide ideal solutions due to the machinery’s ability to move large volumes of air with minimal energy.
Transcript
w w w . r s e s j o u r n a l . c o m12 RSES Journal SEPTEMBER 2018
Images cour tesy of Hunter Industrial.
B Y J E F F C H A S T A I N
HVLS fans offer
HVACR contractors,
techs simple way
to provide multiple
health, safety and
productivity benefits to
commercial customers.
making EMPLOYEE COMFORT and SAFETY a PRIORITY
In many workplace settings, productivity often takes center stage as a primary concern. However, a company’s employees are its most valuable asset. In fact, studies have shown
productivity and employees are directly linked. Investments in workplace safety and overall employee comfort can contribute to a company’s bottom line, as workers who feel valued, fulfilled and comfortable tend to work more efficiently, take fewer leaves of absence and remain at a company longer.
Improvements in workplace comfort help communicate an employer’s concern for its employees’ wellness and day-to-day work experiences, while providing an optimal environment that feeds productivity.
A number of factors contribute to workplace safety and comfort levels, but there is one leading factor that is frequently overlooked––indoor air quality (IAQ). While often undervalued, there is nothing quite as pervasive as the air that employees breathe, live and work in on a daily basis. IAQ typically refers to the air quality in and around buildings and structures, particularly as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants.
Air quality is directly dependent on proper air circulation, and businesses often turn to traditional cooling options like pedestal fans, barrel fans, swamp coolers, etc., to improve circulation. However, these conventional options are packed with pitfalls in the form of potential safety hazards and limited coverage area. Particularly for large facilities and work spaces, high-volume low-speed (HVLS) installations can provide ideal solutions due to the machinery’s ability to move large volumes of air with minimal energy.
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High-volume, low-speed fans used in industrial settings can help improve IAQ while reducing potential workplace hazards.
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making EMPLOYEE COMFORT and SAFETY a PRIORITY
Some of the key differentiators between an HVLS fan versus traditional high-speed floor fan options are the mini-mized energy consumption per sq ft, the low cost to operate of about $1 per day, and reduced noise. In addition, HVLS fans’ cordless design allows for a safer work environment, eliminating trip hazards––an important factor considering many plant and facility managers identify cords as one of the top workplace hazards. HVLS fans also do not pose the risk of falling over, like pedestal fans, or require employees to reach behind the fan’s guard to switch them on or off. Instead, they typically feature a central control panel. In fact, the overall direct interaction between an employee and a fan is virtually eliminated with many HVLS models. The maintenance-free aspect of HVLS fans with direct drive motors also helps reduce employee-fan interaction, and eliminates the risk of oil leaks posed by traditional gearbox motors used in some fan designs.
Another important factor is that HVLS fans are focused on establishing and regulating cool climates, while conventional, high-speed fans serve as a single point source with a limited coverage area. During the warm summer months, one HVLS fan can replace as many as 10-20 floor fans or twelve 48-in. barrel fans, effectively creating a perceived 10°F-12°F cooler temperature environment. This also eliminates just as many cords from the work-place floor.
Equally as important during the winter months, an HVLS solution will continually push warm air trapped at the ceiling level back down to the floor, saving up to 30% on heating costs and evenly distributing warm air. This kind of thermal de-stratification is essential to ensuring that all employees are operating within a healthy, comfortable environment— regardless of where they are working in a company’s facility.
Temperature stabilization in a work facility plays a crucial role in reducing the dangers of heat stress and heat illness, which reportedly lead to dozens of workplace fatalities each year and cause thousands of cases of heat-related employee illnesses. As part of their heat safety campaign, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that more than 40% of heat-related employee deaths occur in the construction industry, but heat illness presents a threat in every work-place in every industry.
When an employee is working in an environment with high humidity levels and air temperatures that are close to or warmer than employees’ own body temperatures, this prevents employees from being able to regulate their body temperatures and get rid of excess heat. Instead, their bodies
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Excessive heat exposure can also result in a range of heat-
related illnesses including heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
store that heat, raising their core body temperatures, increasing their heart rates and causing labored breathing. Ultimately, this leads to the inability to concentrate, irritability, fainting and sickness––translating into higher absentee rates and lower workplace productivity. Excessive heat exposure can also re-sult in a range of heat-related illnesses including heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Under OSHA law, employers are responsible for eliminating these kinds of known safety hazards from the workplace, making invest-ments in cooling solutions like HVLS fans not only a benefit but a critical need.
In a key example, a Nashville, TN, company experienced heat-related issues despite using pedestal fans to keep its workforce cool in a 55 ft by 100 ft unconditioned warehouse during the brutal Tennessee summer. The company found the fans only provided relief for those employees working within the fans’ immediate vicinity. As a result, a facility manager fell sick from the heat and was not able to return to work, ultimately forcing the facility to close its doors during the hottest portion of the summer. With these coverage area challenges in mind, the company installed two 14-ft HVLS fans, which generated a consistent breeze throughout the warehouse. Since then, the warehouse has remained open without an interruption.
Indoor pollutants, another key issue that HVLS fans can help manage, play a significant role in indoor health concerns facing a workforce. Controlling indoor pollutants can help reduce health-related leaves and call-outs, boosting overall productivity. By consistently providing large-scale airflow, HVLS fans prevent stagnant air and a dust-riddled environment.
Always mount the fan directly to a building structure that can withstand double the maximum hanging fan weight.
A retention cable secured to the building structure should always be used to attach an HVLS fan motor.
When installing HVLS fan blades at heights care must be taken to ensure safety.
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High air turns in particular eliminate toxic airborne chemicals at a rapid pace. In addition to pollutants, HVLS fans can also be central to managing moisture in a facility—specifically where it relates to condensation. Often, condensation can form on the floor in between two different climate-controlled environments, presenting a significant safety hazard to workers. Quality indoor air movement helps quickly dry this condensation to eliminate both those fall risks and the pollutants and bacteria that can form from unchecked moisture.
The connection between indoor air temperature and workplace productivity was highlighted in a 2014 study by the Indian Statistical Institute entitled, “The Impact of Temperature on Productivity and Labor Supply: Evidence from Indian Manufacturing.” The study showed that labor productivity decreases in high temperature environments— with productivity reducing 3% for every 1°C/1.8°F temperature
increase. The study also stated that “sustained heat may reduce worker attendance.” This is a scenario repeated in numerous case studies across industries—from engineering and warehousing, to manufacturing and food and beverage.
In another example, a remanufacturing and logistics firm was able to improve its workforce conditions after installing seven 24-ft HVLS fans in its unconditioned 300,000 sq ft warehouse with 36-ft ceilings. Its previous cooling method included pedestal and barrel fans, which proved ineffective in cooling down the entire workforce. The inconvenience of papers and mechanical parts blowing around because of the fans’ sporadic air movement was also an issue. The company had experimented with swamp coolers, but the resulting maintenance proved to be a headache.
In the end, the HVLS fans were able to provide them with increased workplace comfort across the seasons, running the fans 24/7 to prevent the buildup of stagnant air and heat.
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HVLS fans should be located away from any air discharge, including air conditioning units and evaporative coolers.
HVLS installation safetyInstalling an HVLS fan is a relatively simply process. However, there are some key safety tips and important facts to note prior to the installation, including:gAlways mount an HVLS fan directly from the building
structure that can withstand double the maximum hanging fan weight and install the retention cable.gBefore installing or servicing an HVLS fan, always
disconnect the power by turning off the circuit breaker or breakers to the fan locations.gIf you cannot lock the circuit breakers in the off position,
securely fasten a prominent warning device, such as a tag, to the electrical panel.gAll wiring must be in accordance with national and
local electrical codes, including ANSI/NFPA 70. If you are unfamiliar with wiring or in doubt, consult a qualified electrician.gDo not install the HVLS fan to be used in the presence
of flammable vapors and gasses or environments where combustible dust is present.gDo not bend the blades or blade posts when installing
or cleaning an HVLS fan.gDo not insert foreign objects in between rotating
HVLS fan blades. gDo not use an extension cord with the HVLS fan.gDo not remove covers while power is on.gDo not use an improper voltage source.gAlways wear personal protective equipment, such
as a hard hat, safety glasses and a fall harness when installing HVLS fans.gAlways attach the retention cable to the HVLS fan motor and secure to the building structure on
every HVLS fan.gAlways mount the HVLS fan so the bottom edge of
the blade is at least 10 ft from the floor and at least 25% of the fan diameter from the ceiling.
gHVLS fans should not be located directly beneath any air discharge, including air conditioning units and evaporative coolers. Such equipment can be used effectively in conjunction with HVLS fans, but the discharge must be located outside of the swept area of the fan.gDo not operate or install HVLS fans in windy locations
or near large garage doors.gDo not locate HVLS fans where they may come into
direct contact with water.
Note: these are supplemental tips, and individual installation manuals should always be consulted prior to installation.
Regardless of the industry, a company’s success is ultimately built off of the safety and health of its workforce. That safety is tied to the very air that its employees breathe, but beyond this, a workplace’s air quality impacts everything from the amount of moisture on the floor to the risk of heat illness and the presence of airborne pollutants. The importance of a facility’s air circulation and air management cannot be underestimated, and investments in a quality HVLS solution can make radical transformations in not only a work envi-ronment but in the productivity, comfort and overall wellness of the workers themselves.
Jeff Chastain is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Hunter Industrial/Commercial Division. Prior to Hunter, Chastain held positions as Chief Operating Officer for Detroit Renewable Energy; President for Silvercote, LLC; Vice President and General Manager for Guardian Insulation, Inc.; and Director of Research & Product Development and General Manager for James Hardie Building Products, Inc.
