Keeping your workplace and your workers cool in the summer can help improve productivity, reduce absenteeism and protect your equipment from the effects of excess heat.

The weather is now warming up, so if you’re not on top of how you’re going to best cool your factory or workshop this summer, now might be a good time to compare your options.

Evaporative coolers

Evaporative coolers can provide a very efficient way of cooling down an industrial environment. They work by drawing hot air over wet cooling pads and then distributing the resulting cooled air via a fan. They also continuously introduce fresh air from outside rather than recirculating indoor air. Unlike air conditioners, they cool the air without the use of chemical additives.

The benefits of evaporative coolers include being relatively inexpensive to run, low maintenance due to fewer moving parts than air conditioners, and low carbon emission levels.

Some excellent examples of evaporative coolers include those in the Ouber and the Cool-Space ranges.

Misting fans

These industrial fans spray a fine cooling mist of tiny water droplets over the surrounding space, and they can be used either indoors or outdoors. The use of water and fast-moving air together helps create a cooler and more comfortable environment to work in. The mist also quickly evaporates so there is no risk of the zone becoming wet or damp.

Misting fans are inexpensive – generally only costing around a few hundred dollars to purchase. They also come with variable speeds and mist volumes, and in a range of sizes to suit different requirements.

Portable air conditioners

These units provide some of the benefits you would get with a fixed air conditioner but with the added advantage of being movable to different locations. They work by cooling and dehumidifying hot air using a compressor and refrigerants, and then distributing the cooled air around the room. They also come with temperature controls and thermostats.

Portable air conditioners can be great for spot cooling, room cooling, or cooling down different areas within a zone.

Which cooling method is best?

There is no simple answer to this, as it depends on your location, the size of your space, number of occupants in your building, your budget and other factors.

The best way to get started is by booking a consultation with a professional cooling company to help you choose the best evaporative cooler, misting fan or portable air conditioner for your workplace.