Summer’s almost here, and thanks to La Niña, it’s set to be a wet and humid one. Working conditions might get a little uncomfortable — that’s why it’s so critical to know how to cool a warehouse.
Here at Active Air, we think cooling a large warehouse is one of the most important things you can do in order to maintain staff comfort and safety. Comfortable employees are happier and more efficient employees — not to mention being much safer too!
It’s not just about comfort, either — it’s an OH&S safety issue. Working in a warehouse without air conditioning is a surefire way to lead to reduced productivity, overheating, potential damage to equipment and all sorts of other problems. So if you’re wondering how to cool a warehouse space in the coming months, read on. Let’s take a look at the top warehouse cooling ideas.
- Equipment
You’re fighting an uphill battle from the start if you don’t have the right cooling equipment in place to begin with. Thankfully there are a variety of options on the market, and all of them offer their own distinct advantages, depending on the structure of your building.
- Big Ass Fans — Investing in a set of warehouse fans is a great way to assist with air circulation, and also arguably the most inexpensive way to cool a warehouse if you’re on a budget.
- Portable Air Conditioning — Sometimes the cost to air condition a warehouse in its entirety is prohibitive, or the set-up just won’t allow for it. But there may still be specific areas that require that extra bit of cooling, and that’s where portable air conditioners come into action. For example, if you’ve only got workers in particular sections of the warehouse, you could use portable AC as a spot cooler to chill the area directly where the staff are working.
- Evaporative Coolers — Though they’re most useful in states with low humidity such as Victoria, SA and WA, evaporative coolers can be a cost-effective means of cooling large warehouse spaces. However, they’re not suitable for every type of warehousing environment.
- Complete Warehouse Cooling — In many cases, it is possible to create complete warehouse air conditioning systems. The team at Active Air is able to assist, creating a complete system that includes chillers, AHUs and fabric ducting.
- Insulation
If your warehouse is effectively insulated, you’ll have a much easier time cooling your warehouse space. Good insulation will enable you to keep heat out during summer while trapping it for warmth during the cooler months. So if you’re consistently having problems maintaining a comfortable temperature, make sure you investigate the insulation.
- Ventilation
Good ventilation in a warehouse is critical. It helps get rid of moisture and fumes – and importantly, it helps get rid of heat too. Good ventilation is essential for good airflow. So if you don’t have effective ventilation in place, there’s never been a better time to get it fixed or replaced.
- Turning off unnecessary heat sources
This is a commonly overlooked cause of heat within a warehouse environment. Appliances and equipment can be serial offenders, but if you’re using an automated system for heaters and air conditioning, it can magnify the problem even further. Make sure you’re always on the lookout for potential rogue elements — it’ll save you on electricity too.
- Providing your employees with water
Sometimes a hot working environment isn’t always avoidable. In these situations, it’s critical to ensure that employees are still staying cool enough to be able to work. There are a variety of ways to address this — for example, relaxing the dress code to enable them to wear more comfortable clothing. But a key consideration is also providing them with enough water to ensure that they’re well-hydrated, no matter the situation. Having adequate water available is critical.
Discover more about cooling a large warehouse with Active Air
Get in touch with the team at Active Air today to discover more about how to air condition a warehouse. With packaged unit rental and much more on offer, we can help you create a climate-controlled warehouse space to help keep your employees comfortable and productive.