Cooling your workplace

Workers are most comfortable when the temperature in the workplace is between 22 and 25.5C (72 – 78F) above this they start to feel uncomfortable, tempers shorten, and mistakes are made.

In the United Kingdom cooling the workplace is often not considered until the summer when it turns very hot. This is understandable because during the average British summer there are only a few days when temperatures become unbearable, and most businesses are prepared to ‘sweat it out’.

In 2003 the UK experienced an exceptionally hot summer, the effects of global warming led to record temperatures throughout the UK. It seems inevitable that British summers are going to become much hotter!

Factors affecting your choice of cooling

Speed - As noted above, most businesses don’t consider summer cooling until it turns hot, so the most important factor is speed. Workers won’t wait for several weeks while cooling systems are installed. Portable cooling equipment that doesn’t need any installation is the solution, just wheel it in position, plug in and turn on for instant relief from the summer heat.

Cost - The second consideration is cost, because uncomfortably high temperatures don’t last very long in a typical British summer, most businesses don’t want to spend thousands of pounds on equipment that will only be used for a few weeks or months a year. Again portable equipment offers a solution, because there are no installation costs, the overall price is much lower than fixed equipment.

Flexibility - The need for cooling is rarely confined to one place, several parts of a building may need cooling, but not necessarily at the same time. Portable air conditioners, fans, etc are easily and quickly moved from place to place as required. There’s need to install expensive fixed systems throughout your premises, only to have to duplicate them in each area, or leave them behind when you move.

Types of cooling

Portable cooling falls into three categories, each of which has their own advantages and drawbacks:

Portable fans – The most inexpensive and flexible type of cooling.
Fans work anywhere; indoors in offices, workshops, factories etc. and outdoors. They are available in different sizes to suit any application.

When buying a fan, always select one with variable speeds, so that it can be adjusted to suit your needs. Don’t choose a fan on its physical size; many big fans built in the Far East are inefficient and noisy. A smaller higher quality fan may well move more air with less noise, and will last a lot longer too!

Portable air conditioners – Are suited to sealed spaces, where doors and windows can be kept closed, such as offices, small workshops, etc. Because of high purchase and running costs portable air conditioners are rarely used in large areas.

When buying an air conditioner is it very important to calculate the size of unit needed, (normally expressed in BTU or Kw). Too small a unit will run continuously but will not lower the temperature.

You also need to consider how the heat it removes from the room will be dissipated. Two types of portable air conditioner are available – air-cooled, which have an exhaust duct (like a tumble dryer) that needs to be fed outdoors. Or water-cooled, which have a separate radiator that goes outside.

Again low cost units from the Far East, tend to have low outputs, typically 9000 – 12,000 BTU, and are unlikely to be built to high enough standards to withstand day-to-day use in the average workplace.

Evaporative coolers – The least common type of cooling currently used in the UK, although they are now starting to become more popular. Evaporative coolers are less expensive than air conditioners to purchase and run, and are suited to large well-ventilated spaces, such as factories and workshops and for use outdoors.

Evaporative coolers produce high volumes of cool, filtered air. They work best when situated outside, using flexible ducting to deliver cool air into the space being cooled. To prevent high humidity and condensation it is important that doors and windows are kept open. We don’ t recommend evaporative cooling is used in small rooms, offices, etc.

Portable cooling in the workplace

Portable cooling provides businesses with inexpensive, flexible and rapid cooling for their workplaces. Portable fans remain the most popular choice combining low cost, reliability and flexibility in an easy to use package. Portable air conditioning is ideal for offices and small to medium sizes rooms, as long as doors and windows are kept shut. Evaporative coolers are used in well-ventilated open spaces such as factories and workshops, and outdoors.

Whatever type of cooling is required it is important to choose equipment that is sturdy enough for daily use in the business environment. Equipment made in the Far East is often of an inferior quality and gives sub standard performance. All Activair fans and evaporative coolers are built in the EU or USA to the highest standards, and designed to give years of trouble free operation in the toughest workplace.