There are many different components of industrial ventilation systems. These systems help keep indoor air quality healthy and free of contaminants and uncomfortable temperatures and humidity levels. The result is a successful environment for people, products, and processes. A good ventilation system includes ways to exhaust contaminated air through both general and local exhaust systems. However, it’s also important to replace that air with fresh air. This is called make up air and is essential for industrial ventilation performance. In this article, you will learn more about make up air, why it’s important, and how to make sure your facility has plenty of it.
If you need ventilation solutions for your industrial building, contact us now for a quote.
What is Make Up Air? Why Is it Necessary for Industrial Ventilation Systems?
There are a number of industrial fans and ventilation equipment that make up a good industrial ventilation system. You may be familiar with exhaust systems, which remove contaminated air from the building using fans and ducting. As they remove air, the building will naturally try to replenish it. This is known as make up air.
Without a make up air system, the building draws in air from any cracks or crevices, such as around doors and windows. However, this is not a very effective way to replenish the air. For starters, many buildings today feature tight seals for energy efficiency. This can make it difficult to get enough air in the building and basically “starve” your building of air, creating negative pressures.
Also, if your industrial ventilation systems don’t address make up air, this means that there’s little control over the air coming into the building to replace make up air. This can cause poor indoor air quality. The air that comes inside through small cracks in the building envelope may hold contaminants or cause uncomfortable temperatures or humidity levels.
Instead, make up air units provide fresh air to replenish exhausted contaminated air. Usually, these use fans to draw in fresh air from outside and pull it into the building at about the same rate as your exhaust system removes air. If needed, these can also be equipped with things like filtration and climate control options to ensure the air fits your facility’s needs.
Signs You Need Make Up Air Units for Your Ventilation System
There are many signs that your industrial ventilation systems don’t provide enough make up air for your building. If you notice these, get in touch with our ventilation specialists:
- Doors slam on their own
- Doors are hard to open
- Exhaust systems work too hard
- Exhaust systems aren’t functioning correctly
These are generally signs that your building isn’t replenishing enough air to keep up with the exhaust systems in your industrial ventilation systems.
Industrial Fans & Ventilation Solutions from Eldridge
Get ventilation solutions from Eldridge. We’ve been providing state-of-the-art ventilation design, installation, maintenance, and equipment supply since 1946. Our experts can help design a ventilation system from scratch or assist with noise control for industrial ventilation systems. Our goal is to create successful environments for your workplace. Contact us now to request a quote or browse our online store for ventilation equipment.