How Different Types of Air Ventilation Can Help Ensure Cal/OSHA Workplace Temperature Compliance

With temperatures already pushing record highs in much of the country, it’s becoming increasingly vital for industrial facilities to ensure compliance with the latest Cal/OSHA indoor temperature regulations. Upgrading industrial ventilation systems can reduce indoor temperatures as much as 30 degrees! Decreasing triple-digit temperatures down to the 90s or even 80s, which are far safer levels for your team. However, designing optimal ventilation systems requires experience, and a thorough understanding of how the different types of air ventilation affect indoor temperatures.

A Crash Course in Aerodynamics, Thermodynamics, and Fluid Dynamics

Industrial ventilation is a complex system of carefully designed components that work together to improve indoor air circulation. They harness the physics of aerodynamics, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics to draw cooler air in and drive hot air out. 
  • Aerodynamics, which focuses on how air flows around objects, is essential for optimal ventilation designs. Understanding how building construction and equipment layout can hinder or facilitate air circulation helps ensure efficient industrial ventilation. Sometimes it’s as simple as making sure that the wall louvers are not obstructed and that fresh air can enter freely. Other times, this involves finding the right style of roof vent to minimize wind load on the building.
  • Thermodynamics, which explains how heat is transferred between air, surfaces, and equipment, plays a significant role in designing ventilation systems. The correct application will help to maintain more comfortable internal temperatures. This is especially critical in heat-producing environments where air can become trapped and heated to dangerous levels. It’s not enough to just look at a table and select the number of fans for your building, you need to know if you have the right equipment and if it is located in the right spot.
  • Air, which contains microscopic water particles, is governed by fluid dynamics and behaves in predictable ways when exposed to various conditions. Air ventilation systems take advantage of these principles to ensure optimal efficiency. 
Effective ventilation requires the successful application of air, heat, and fluid dynamic principles. Each type of ventilation system affects indoor temperatures in different ways. 

Air Turnover in an Industrial Setting

The key to designing optimal industrial ventilation is to maximize air turnover, preventing stale hot air from accumulating and causing uncomfortable working conditions. There are several ways to boost air turnover in industrial settings, from roof vents and wall louvers to upblast fans and forced-air evaporative cooling units. Ventilation equipment is categorized by how it alters air turnover.
  • Exhaust—Hot air is removed from the building using either natural, powered, or hybrid systems.
  • Supply—Cooler, fresh air is introduced into the facility, either by passive or powered means.
  • Mechanical—Systems that use mechanical processes to aid air turnover, such as roof exhaust fans or high-powered upblast fans.
  • Natural/Passive—Systems that use gravity and natural air-flow to let warm air exhaust by itself.
  • Evaporative Cooling—Systems that add or remove moisture and facilitate heat transfer, effectively reducing or increasing temperatures to more comfortable levels.

Natural vs. Powered Ventilation

Air ventilation systems are available in natural, powered, and hybrid configurations. Determining which system is best for your facility comes down to a number of factors, including the location’s climate, the building’s construction, and heat-producing processes. As a rule of thumb, buildings with high ceilings and very high internal temperatures can see huge benefits from natural ventilation. However, working with these nuanced details requires years to learn and longer to master. However, most facilities benefit from hybrid solutions that provide cost-effective natural ventilation boosted by strategically placed powered components. The Moffitt team can help you determine which solution would be best for your facility.

Cal/OSHA’s Stricter Stance on Indoor Heat-Related Illness Prevention

In July 2024, Cal/OSHA adopted strict indoor temperature regulations aimed at reducing indoor heat-related illnesses by establishing guidelines and processes that protect workers in high-temperature environments. As internal temperatures climb higher, employers must take additional steps to protect workers from injury and illness. For example, once internal temperatures reach 82℉, employees must have access to fresh water and a designated cool-down area. At 87℉, additional measures must be implemented to ensure safety, which may include personal heat protective equipment or more robust powered industrial ventilation. Installing a new ventilation solution is the best way to get ahead of these problems.

Stay Ahead of Regulations with Moffitt

As indoor heat regulations become more stringent, having a future-proof ventilation system is no longer optional. Moffitt’s custom ventilation solutions are built on decades of engineering experience and a deep understanding of industrial airflow. Our team is standing by, ready to dispatch to your location for a free site evaluation and ventilation system design, helping you meet today’s compliance standards and be ready for tomorrow’s challenges. Contact us to learn more and schedule your evaluation today.
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