Are doors in your facility unexpectedly slamming shut, even on a calm day? It’s not only annoying, but extremely dangerous to your employees. This is a common indication that the indoor air pressure being generated by your industrial ventilation system is off-balance.
Buildings can have either negative or positive air pressure. When your facility has positive air pressure, it means there’s more air being introduced into the system than is being removed, causing excess air to be forced out through any cracks or openings, including doors and windows. This can lead to doors being forcefully pushed open.
On the other hand, negative air pressure occurs when more air is being extracted than is being introduced. This causes the building to draw in air from outside to balance the pressure, which is why you have your doors suddenly slamming shut. Both scenarios indicate an imbalance in your ventilation system that needs addressing.
Our team of industrial ventilation experts can evaluate your system and provide a practical, cost-effective solution to improving the air pressure in your facility. Get in touch with us to schedule an assessment at your facility.
What Causes Negative and Positive Pressure?
Designing an industrial ventilation system is not a one-size-fits-all task, but rather a meticulous process that takes into account the specific attributes of the space and the nuances of the industry application.
Various factors, including the size and layout of the facility, the nature of the work being conducted, and the industry-specific regulations that apply, all play a significant role in determining the design and configuration of the ventilation system. A system that works effectively for one industry or facility may not provide the same results for others due to variations in air contaminants, volume of air to be moved, and other environmental considerations.
That’s why it is important to properly design an industrial ventilation system for your building that maintains the appropriate type of air pressure.
Applications that May Need Negative Pressure in Industrial Buildings
Ventilation systems can create negative pressure for applications that require high control over airflow to maintain a healthier work environment and improve overall air quality. The air pressure inside is lower than the pressure outside, preventing contamination from the room from flowing out into surrounding areas. Exhaust air runs 10% to 15% higher than the supply air.
Certain industrial, processing, or manufacturing applications require controlled environments with negative pressure to ensure optimum operational efficiency and safety. These include pharmaceutical manufacturing, where the containment of airborne pathogens is critical to maintain product purity. In chemical processing, negative pressure helps to contain potentially volatile or harmful fumes within a specific area, mitigating the risk of exposure for employees. Additionally, in woodworking and metalworking industries, negative pressure systems can effectively control dust and particulates, preventing them from contaminating other areas of the facility.
However, too much negative pressure may create a workplace hazard as it often leads to doors slamming shut. This unexpected movement can pose a risk of injury to employees, particularly to their hands or fingers.
Positive Pressure May Be Required for Some Processes
Positive air pressure in an indoor space works much like inflating a balloon. When more air is introduced into a space than is being removed, the room essentially behaves like a filled balloon. The excess air, having nowhere else to go, pushes out through any available outlets such as doors, windows, or cracks in the structure.
This pressurized environment can help prevent outside contaminants from entering the workspace, maintaining a clean, controlled environment. It is essential in industries where purity, precision, and contamination control are of utmost importance.
Certain manufacturing sectors necessitate a positive pressure environment for effective operation. For instance, in the food and beverage industry, positive air pressure is paramount in processing areas to prevent external contaminants, like bacteria or dust, from compromising the product’s safety and quality. Likewise, in the electronics industry, especially in semiconductor manufacturing, positive air pressure is vital in cleanrooms to keep out particulates that could interfere with the precision manufacturing process. Medical device manufacturers also rely on positive pressure environments to maintain sterility in production areas.
However, if not managed properly, the excess outward pressure can result in doors being forcefully pushed open. It may even make it more difficult to open doors and windows, which could be a problem in the event of an emergency.
What Type of Air Pressure Does Your Building Need?
Determining whether your facility needs a positive or negative pressure industrial ventilation system is based on the location of heat or airborne contaminant sources. If these sources are inside your building, a negative pressure system is typically the best solution, as it helps regulate the emissions of heat or contaminants by supplying exhaust ventilation in their vicinity.
However, if these sources are outside of the building, a positive pressure system can help reduce possible infiltration of these contaminants, provided that the supply fans are equipped with filters.
Evaluating Your Industrial Ventilation Systems
Maintaining proper air pressure in a building is essential for ensuring a comfortable and safe environment. To evaluate your existing industrial ventilation system and the air pressure it is creating, our technicians use specialized tools and techniques, such as manometers and smoke tubes, to measure the volume and velocity of airflow. These measurements help them identify the problem areas so they can determine which components may need to be added or updated to restore proper air pressure.
Industrial ventilation systems can be complex and intricate, and the size and type of components chosen are based on precise calculations. An experienced technician will understand how each of these components work together to effectively regulate air pressure.
A key component is the exhaust fan, which is responsible for creating the necessary airflow to move air throughout the system. Other required components may be louvers or dampers, which control the amount of air that is allowed to pass through a given area. Properly installed, these help to maintain air equilibrium and prevent air pressure imbalances from occurring. In addition to these components, filters and ductwork also play a crucial role in the overall functionality of the system.
Expert Insight on Industrial Ventilation Systems – Eldridge
Investing in a customized ventilation solution from Eldridge ensures that you will receive quality, reliable products that come with unparalleled customer service. If you find yourself dealing with slamming doors and forced entry during daily operations, it may be time to upgrade your ventilation system. Contact us today to schedule an evaluation.