Improving Working Conditions in Warehouses and Production Halls During Hot Weather
As soon as the first warm days arrive, many businesses notice a direct change in their warehouse, production hall, or logistics environment. Temperatures rise quickly, employees struggle, and productivity drops. Fortunately, there are smart solutions that work well in existing buildings, without major renovations.
Why Does Temperature Build Up So Quickly in a Hall?
Warm air rises and accumulates in the upper part of a space. Especially in buildings with limited air circulation or restricted natural ventilation, temperatures can climb significantly. In warehouses with multiple order-picking levels or large production halls, this effect is even more pronounced: the higher up in the hall, the warmer it gets.
On top of that, machinery in production halls generates its own heat. And as buildings become increasingly well insulated, that heat is retained even more effectively. Natural ventilation becomes less and less reliable, which means the situation can deteriorate quickly during summer months.
Working Conditions and Health: What to Consider
High temperatures in a hall have a direct impact on how employees feel and perform. Research shows that productivity drops by approximately 2% for every degree above 25°C and that adds up quickly during a warm period.
Humidity, air velocity, and radiant heat from machinery also affect how warm it feels on the work floor. The perceived temperature can therefore be higher than the measured air temperature, particularly near active machinery or at elevated working levels.
Health and safety legislation in most countries places a general obligation on employers to provide a safe and healthy working environment. A good indoor climate is one of the foundations of that and something employees increasingly value.
How Do Fans Help Improve Working Conditions?
Fans don’t create cold air, but they do improve air movement, direct the extraction of warm air, and bring in cooler outside air. In industrial applications, it’s about smart deployment: the right air, in the right place, at the right time.
There’s another important effect worth noting: air movement past a person feels cooler, even when the actual temperature remains the same. The airflow carries heat away from the body more quickly, creating a noticeable cooling sensation.
A good ventilation plan therefore looks at:
- Where warm air accumulates
- Where cooler air is available
- How air flows through the building
- What existing provisions are already in place
By extracting warm air in a controlled way and drawing cooler air in at the right points, a more comfortable and stable working environment is created.
Smart Ventilation Solutions for Warm Halls
Depending on the type of building and the specific situation, there are several ways to reduce heat problems.
Drawing in Cool Air at Low Level
A widely used solution is drawing cooler outside air in at low level through a wall intake grille, preferably on the cooler north-facing side of the building. This brings relatively cool air into the hall at the level where people are working.
Extracting Warm Air at the Top
Because warm air rises, it is best extracted from the upper part of the space. This can be achieved with:
- Axial wall fans
- Axial roof fans
- Centrifugal fans
The most suitable solution depends on the required air volume, system resistance, available space, and the desired control method.
Using Night Ventilation
In some situations, it pays to run fans at night to draw in cooler outside air in advance. This means the working day starts with a lower indoor temperature, so the hall heats up more slowly during the day. It’s also an energy-efficient approach: using cooler outside air requires significantly less energy than mechanical cooling.
Case Study: Additional Ventilation Capacity in an Existing Warehouse
In a recent project, we added extra ventilation capacity to the existing air handling units of a large warehouse with multiple order-picking levels.
During hot days, temperatures in this hall rose considerably, particularly in the upper part of the building. Employees working at height noticed this directly while picking orders.
For this situation, the fans were connected to the existing air handling units, meaning no additional roof penetrations were required. The units already had connections to the interior of the hall. The fans are used as additional warm air extraction during the summer months, working in conjunction with the existing air handling and damper controls.
This project demonstrates that smart optimisations are often possible in existing buildings, without major structural modifications.
Existing Buildings Can Often Be Improved
Many businesses assume that a more comfortable working environment is only achievable through major renovations or entirely new installations. In practice, existing provisions are often already in place that can be connected to intelligently, such as:
- Existing air handling units
- Roof penetrations
- Ventilation ducts
- Natural air supply
- Existing control systems
By carefully assessing the existing situation, practical and efficient solutions can often be realised, including in distribution centres, logistics hubs, and other large-scale working environments.
When Is the Right Time to Take Action?
Many businesses wait until the first truly hot period arrives. But that’s precisely when time pressure sets in, leaving little room to properly assess the situation and choose the right solution.
If you want to make adjustments or optimisations to the working climate in a warehouse or production hall before summer, it’s wise to look at this in good time. That way, there’s sufficient space to:
- Map out the situation properly
- Assess air flows
- Select suitable fans
- Plan and schedule any adjustments
Advice on Ventilation in Warehouses and Production Halls
Every hall and working situation is different. That’s why we’re happy to look at a suitable solution for your specific situation, whether it involves:
- Additional extraction of warm air
- Drawing in cooler outside air
- Expanding existing systems
- Ventilation for logistics environments
- Ventilation for production halls
- Custom fans
We’re glad to think along with you towards a practical solution for a more comfortable working environment.
Need advice? Get in touch!
We’re available Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 17:00.
