FAQs | Industrial Ventilation

General Industrial Ventilation

What is Industrial Ventilation?

Industrial ventilation is a system designed to remove contaminated, hot, humid, stale air and replace it with fresh and filtered air in your facility.

Why is industrial ventilation important?

Proper ventilation protects workers from heat stress, airborne contaminants, fumes, and dust. It also preserves equipment lifespan, prevents moisture-related damage like mold and corrosion, and helps facilities comply with OSHA and ASHRAE standards. A well-designed system can displace 100% of the solar and operational heat load in a building.

What are the ASHRAE standards for ventilation system design?

ASHRAE Standard 62.1 specifies minimum ventilation rates to provide acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) for commercial and industrial occupants. ASHRAE Standard 62.2 covers residential dwelling-unit ventilation. These standards are the baseline for compliant ventilation system design across most industries in the United States.

What are OSHA’s ventilation requirements for industrial facilities?

OSHA regulations under 29 CFR 1910.94 govern ventilation for processes involving grinding, abrasive blasting, spray finishing, and open-surface tanks. OSHA also requires adequate ventilation to control employee exposure to hazardous airborne contaminants below permissible exposure limits (PELs). Eldridge designs systems that meet and exceed these requirements.

What is the difference between supply ventilation and exhaust ventilation?

Supply ventilation introduces fresh air into a facility using fans and ductwork to pressurize the space. Exhaust ventilation removes stale or contaminated air and creates a negative pressure environment. Most industrial facilities use a combination of both to achieve proper air change rates, temperature control, and contaminant removal.

How do I calculate the number of air changes per hour my facility needs?

Air change requirements depend on the facility type, occupancy, heat load, contaminant levels, and applicable codes. As a starting point, general manufacturing facilities typically require 6–10 air changes per hour, while higher-hazard environments may need 20 or more. Eldridge offers in-house heat load and fluid flow analysis to calculate the precise requirements for your building.

What is a heat load calculation and why does it matter?

A heat load calculation determines the total amount of heat generated inside a building — from machinery, lighting, workers, and solar gain through the roof and walls. This figure is critical for selecting the right ventilation equipment. Eldridge’s design team performs full psychrometric and heat load calculations to guarantee system performance before any equipment is specified

How long does industrial ventilation equipment last?

Industrial fans and ventilation equipment typically last 10–25 years with proper maintenance. Lifespan depends on the duty rating, operating environment (corrosive, marine, or explosion-hazard environments are more demanding), and the quality of the equipment. Eldridge specifies and supplies equipment from industry-leading manufacturers to ensure long service life.

Can Eldridge design a complete ventilation system, or do you only sell equipment?

Eldridge provides complete, turn-key ventilation solutions — not just equipment sales. Our in-house engineering team performs heat load calculations, psychrometric analysis, fluid flow modeling, acoustic assessments, and CAD design. We then specify and supply equipment and manage installation through our established network of contractors built over 75 years.

Does Eldridge offer free site surveys?

Yes. Eldridge offers free site surveys to assess your facility’s ventilation and noise control needs. During a site survey, our experts evaluate your building dimensions, heat sources, existing systems, and operating conditions to design a custom solution. Contact us at 1-844-780-7200 to schedule your survey.