The conundrum of how to cool down workers on the factory floor without creating a high velocity impact that would affect a tig (tungsten inert gas) welding process has been resolved with the installation of the Breezair Evaporative Cooling System at one of Eminox’s three factory buildings on its site in Lincolnshire. Temperatures in excess of 30°C have been reduced by up to 6°C to provide the workforce with an healthier air and safer working environment.
A major European manufacturer of purposedesigned stainless steel exhaust-systems and emission control devices for heavy-duty diesel engines, Eminox main manufacturing activity and head office is located on a 6.5- acre site in Gainsborough.
The older style building has an apex roof and no natural ventilation. The 3000 m² structure houses heavy-duty plant including presses, sheet metal equipment and tig welding equipment. During the summer months, temperatures on the factory floor reached in excess of 34°C on warm summer days making the 40 strong workforce extremely hot and uncomfortable. Looking at ways of overcoming the problem, Harry Fitzakerley, Head of Maintenance Health & Safety & Environment at Eminox looked at various options. Dismissing air conditioning as prohibitively expensive, his first consideration was to introduce air changing to provide between 12 and 15 changes per hour. However, he decided that this would only move air around the factory and not cool down temperatures.
Instead, he looked at installing the Breezair Evaporative Cooling System with louvre vents. Now, hot air is expelled through the louvres and cool, refreshing air is introduced to the factory via five Breezair units sited on the roof with the cool air being ducted through internal pipework to strategic locations within the factory.
Commenting Bob Sullivan, Director of CoSaf Environments said: “Because Eminox uses the tig welding process within the factory it was essential that any cooling system had to have a low velocity. We were able to design the Breezair system so that it was able to meet this specific requirement.”
"The Breezair has worked extremely well reducing temperatures by around 6°C”, said Harry Fitzakerley. “The workforce can regulate the system to control the level of cooling required."
Seely International is proud to announce that the Breezair Evaporative cooling system has been shortlisted for product of the year at The 2008 Building Services Awards.
