Page 29 - MetalForming February 2020
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  at the ceiling down to the occu- pant level without a chilly draft, creating uniform temperatures within the facility, and, therefore, a more comfortable year-round environment for employees.
Why does this fan technology work? Large ceiling-mounted fans—Big Ass Fans’ largest models offer wingspans to 24 ft.—provide significant air circulation, moving air throughout an entire space, from ceiling to floor and wall to wall. As heat rises, fans circulate it throughout the space to warm areas that traditional heating sys- tems often miss, such as corners and lower-height areas. In the summer time, that same air movement provides cooling. While air movement does not lower the actual temperature, it creates a cooling effect as the breeze passes over skin, making occupants feel a temperature drop of as much as 10 F—similar to the effect of a breeze rolling in while outside on a hot day.
Beyond energy savings, the fan installation at New Hamp- ton Metal Fab has improved employee comfort dramati- cally. In winter, “nobody would work back in those (cold) corners,” says Pete Gallup, the fabricator’s purchasing manager. “But now, anybody can work pretty much any- where (due to circulation of warmer air to the corners). The fan has made the temperature uniform through the entire height of the warehouse.”
with productivity and create trip- ping hazards. Replacing box and pedestal fans also brings energy savings.
Increased Comforts, Lower Energy Costs at New Hampton
New Hampton Metal Fab reaped all of the above-men- tioned benefits via the Big Ass Fans addition. With heat rising to the warehouse’s 40-ft. ceiling, cold air filled in the corners, where few employees wanted to work. With the new fan, the ceiling-to- floor temperature differential dropped to less than 1 F.
“Nobody would work back in those corners,” says Gallup. “But now, anybody can work pretty much anywhere. The fan has made the temperature uniform through the entire height of the warehouse.”
And, comfort from the fan addition extended to New Hamp- ton Metal Fab’s bottom line. According to Gallup, the company saves 33 to 38 percent on heating bills during winter and he reasons that the fan installation will pay for itself within five years.
Air circulated by fans moves
over and around obstructions such
as machinery and stacked prod-
uct. This airflow pattern ensures
that air reaches all corners of the building, maintaining consistent conditions throughout, and eliminating condensation and stagnant areas where product integrity is a concern.
just the temperature by the thermostat. In addition, no temperature is ideal for everyone, which requires facility managers to set strict rules about ther- mostat adjustment, or lock out the thermostat altogether. Conversely, employees can adjust fan speed with- out creating a huge energy suck.
More comfortable environments via fan usage also pay off in productivity. Studies show that productivity begins to decrease by about 1 percent for every degree that the temperature rises above 77F.Thecoolingairflowfromfanspre- vents fatigue and reduces the need for breaks. With comfortable workplace conditions, managers can keep employees satisfied and turnover low. Overhead fans such as those offered by Big Ass Fans also eliminate the need for box and pedestal fans that interfere
“It’s not too tough to convince anybody that these fans are a good idea,” he says.
Relief is not confined to the winter months. New Hampton Metal Fab runs the Powerfoil X all summer long, and “the crew on the line really appreciates the air movement,” Gallup says.
The energy-efficient fan from Big Ass Fans has replaced numerous inef- ficient pedestal fans to create steady, continuous airflow that keep occupants cool, according to Gallup, noting that the air circulation rids the facility of stagnant air and provides employees with a more comfortable work envi- ronment during the warm spring and hot summer months. MF
Information for this article provided by Big Ass Fans, Lexington, KY; 844/795- 7605, www.bigassfans.com.
Employing this fan technology pays off in numerous ways. Americans spend as much as 70 percent of sum- mer electricity bills on air conditioning, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, and in the commercial sector, space cooling accounts for 10 to 25 percent of energy use.
Generating cooling from an ener- gy-efficient fan allows a user to raise the thermostat setpoint a few degrees and stay just as comfortable. Every degree raised on the thermostat brings savings of 3 to 6 percent on cooling costs. Additionally, fans mix the air to create complete temperature unifor- mity, allowing a thermostat to read the actual temperature in the space, not
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