In big services, like industrial warehouses, manufacturing plants and distribution centers, monitoring air quality can be a challenge. There are a number of conventional options—exhaust fans, HVAC units, high-speed floor fans, swamp coolers––but these traditional routes often fail to provide comprehensive solutions. However, high-volume, low-speed (HVLS) fans mobilize and de-stratify large volumes of air in a way that truly “clears the air” in any facility.
HVLS Fans: What Are They?
HVLS fans vary from traditional high-speed floor fans in a number of ways, including their reduced noise, minimized energy consumption per square foot and significant cost savings—HVLS fans will need less than $1 per day to run. They also prove to be better than alternative options due to their cordless design, eliminating trip hazards—an important factor considering many plant and facility managers identify cords as one of the top workplace hazards.
Another distinguisher is that in addition to controlling warm temperatures, HVLS fans also focus 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 12 48-inch barrel fans, effectively making a perceived 10-12-degree cooler temperature environment. Equally as important are the winter months. A quality HVLS solution will regularly push warm air captured  at the ceiling level back down to the floor, saving up to 30 percent on heating costs and evenly dispersing warm air.
The Benefit of Air Quality
The term “indoor air quality” refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, peculiarly relating to the health and comfort of building occupants. Poor air quality – which contains an excess of hot or cold air, indoor pollutants and stagnant air – can bring labored breathing and illness in employees while also posing product quality control risks such as condensation build up and spoilage.
In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) highlighted these dangers in their heat safety campaign and winter weather advisory – linking cases of cold stress and heat exhaustion in employees to extreme air temperatures and/or humidity levels.
However, it’s been proven that air quality can be improved by simply increasing air circulation. HVLS fans are particularly proficient at this, providing large-scale airflow that regulates temperature while preventing stagnant air and dust. High air turns also help eliminate toxic airborne chemicals. Additionally, HVLS fans can manage a facility’s moisture, which can form on the walls and equipment on the plant or factory floor between two different climate-controlled environments. Proper indoor air movement can quickly dry this condensation to reduce fall risks, pollutants and bacteria associated with unchecked moisture.
Conclusion
Regardless of industry, your company’s success is ultimately built off of the safety and health of your workforce. Managing your facility’s indoor air quality is one of the first—and most impactful—steps you can take to ensure workforce safety and overall employee comfort, and choosing the right HVLS solution is crucial to the success of this step. At Hunter Industrial Fans, we created a purpose-built product to make every space a better place.



This article is originally posted on Tronserve.com