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How to Cool Warehouse Spaces Without Air Conditioning
Summer comes every year. While we all welcome the sunshine and a break from the cold and snow, an increase in warm weather patterns could cause a decrease in worker productivity and lead to real safety concerns. Are your employees ready for higher temperatures, rain and an influx of bugs and pests?
How does extreme heat impact manufacturing or warehouse teams?
It's hard to control the temperature of a large space, but it’s necessary to keep 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:
- Heat Stroke
- Heat Exhaustion
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Heat Syncope
- Heat Cramps
- Heat Rash
Unfortunately, heat-related illnesses are common for warehouses and manufacturing facilities. This is because large spaces can be costly to keep temperature-controlled. In addition, jobs in these environments tend to be physically demanding and these industries are grappling with an aging workforce. Workers who have heart conditions, high blood pressure, are overweight or over 65 years old are particularly at-risk. Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep your warehouse cool in the summer without having to rely on expensive air conditioning. Here are some tips for cooling warehouse spaces in the summer:
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 to help increase worker comfort and productivity by controlling temperatures inside the 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 also available in a convenient sliding model for wider door-ways.
4. Move Large Volumes of Air by Installing HVLS Fans
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. With high-volume, low-speed (HVLS) fans, a constant, gentle air flow provides evaporative cooling which can help lower effective temperatures up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. For an added bonus, HVLS fans also provide consistent air movement that can help to reduce condensation in your facility.
5. Try Spot Cooling in Challenging Spaces
Install CoolMan® Zone fans in aisles, small spaces and around obstructions to better move air throughout a facility, allowing HVAC systems to run more efficiently. These small, cost-effective directional fans create a concise column of air that provide cool air to areas in your facility where you need it most, especially in tight spaces. They help eliminate hot spots and increase worker comfort year-round.
6. Contain Heat and Humidity with Fabric Walls
When machines generate high temperatures that affect the environment, including employees in adjacent areas, insulated curtain walls can be constructed to separate the equipment and the heat being produced. They can also be used in loading dock applications where heat and humidity commonly pour into the building.
7. Control Temperatures Between Areas within a Facility
Our high speed doors, like the FasTrax®, have operating speeds up to 100" per second (2.5 m/sec). These fast cycle times help maximize energy savings by controlling temperatures between areas in a facility.
Rite-Hite Has Powerful Solutions to Large Space Cooling Problems
Air conditioning is expensive, especially in large spaces where machines are running and doors or docks are constantly opening. Help your employees stay comfortable and productive, no matter what the season may bring by consulting with your local Rite-Hite representative on ways to cool your facility in the hot summer months.
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