Ensuring Workplace Safety, Indoor Air Quality, Comfort & Efficiency as Industrial Buildings Re-Open

Now, more than ever, the health and safety of industrial building occupants is paramount. Providing clean, fresh, conditioned air in industrial workspaces is critical to improving indoor air hygiene and controlling the spread of infection. In addition to ensuring indoor air quality, industrial building owners and facility managers today are challenged with achieving energy efficiency while maintaining occupant comfort.
Typical industrial buildings have vast, open storage spaces mixed with smaller workspaces, as well as high bays and numerous dock doors. As a result, a one-size-fits-all HVAC approach doesn’t meet the very diverse needs or standards of many industrial buildings. Leading agencies such as the American Society of Heating Refrigeration Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have all recommended increased fresh air ventilation to reduce spread of airborne pathogens.
Building designers and owners need a more balanced, integrated system that addresses fresh air requirements and enhanced indoor air quality, while still allowing zoned heating for better efficiency and less waste.
Roberts-Gordon and Rapid Engineering have a hybrid HVAC system, called VIRTUAL WALL, that combines Roberts-Gordon’s infrared heating systems with Rapid Engineering make-up air systems. Large, open buildings require ventilation and heat, but using heated air to heat the entire building is wasteful (since much of the space is storage and not occupied). MAKE-UP AIR HANDLERS efficiently address fresh air requirements and improve indoor air quality by providing building ventilation plus heating. Make-up air handlers also displace carbon monoxide/dioxide and significantly reduce the spread of airborne pathogens, while satisfying ventilation codes. Elevated outdoor air ventilation rates also prohibit virus, bacteria and mold reproduction.
Heating with infrared (versus air heating) keeps the radiant heat focused in the heated area. Infrared heat does not spread out or quickly disperse like heated air does, thus infrared heating behaves as if there are “Virtual Walls” containing the heat to the occupied area. These infrared systems can save 40% on energy consumption over conventional air heaters. They keep heat where needed and keep occupants warm, even when overhead doors are open. Workers feel warm, EVEN at lower air temperatures because infrared heat warms people, floors and surrounding objects, NOT the air.
Building management controls conveniently integrate RAPID® make-up air units and ROBERTS GORDON® infrared heaters.
When it comes to industrial buildings, one size does not fit all, but one solution certainly does! This combination of fresh air, heating and zoned radiant heat delivers energy efficiency, air quality and comfort for large, open spaces with occupied and unoccupied areas.
Learn more about Virtual Wall:
www.specifiedai...
Virtual Wall Brochure:
www.specifiedai...