Maintenance of thermal comfort, high air quality and prevention against respiratory diseases are some benefits that make cross ventilation a technique indicated for any type of work. In the industrial segment, the concern with these factors becomes even more important, considering the large number of employees involved in the production chain.
In this sense, providing a pleasant workplace and protecting the physical integrity of these people is fundamental for a healthy corporate routine. In addition, by using cross ventilation, companies have lower operational costs, since it is a type of natural ventilation, i.e., it does not consume energy.
Read on and see how to apply it successfully in your shed!
What is cross ventilation?
Cross ventilation is a type of natural ventilation that can be achieved through the shape and arrangement of the walls, doors and windows of a building site. Whether in commercial projects or in industrial retrofits, this type of ventilation has already established itself as an efficient alternative to favor thermal comfort without having to rely on fans and air conditioning units.
The principle of cross ventilation is quite simple: the technique consists in taking advantage of the opposing openings of an environment in order to allow the natural flow of air. Of course, this flow also depends on the climatic conditions of the region and the particularities of each project, such as the layout of industrial warehouses and the number of openings available. But, in general, the intention is to allow air to enter through one opening and leave through another.
As much as there is considerable air intake with the openings concentrated on the same side of an industrial shed, the speed of airflow is much greater when these openings are distributed in the opposite way. The result of this is an effective and agile exchange of internal air, which not only refreshes the environment completely, but also allows constant renewal to eliminate stale air.
How important is it?
Promoting cross-ventilation is important because it is an effective and, at the same time, sustainable feature. After all, there is no energy consumption involved. In this type of ventilation, the wind moves with great intensity through the industrial shed, which makes this feature really eliminate the hot and stale air from the factory.
However, to ensure maximum performance of a cross-ventilation project it is necessary to consider detailed data about wind speed and direction in the place where the shed is located. Thus, designers will be able to design a high performance system based on the particularities of each type of environment.
Horizontal or vertical cross ventilation: understand the differences
A cross-ventilation system can be sized horizontally or vertically. This means that the openings for the wind to enter may be located on different walls - but at the same height - or at different heights. In the second case, the wind would enter through the lower opening, enhancing the cooling effect, since the warmer air tends to rise and move until it is eliminated by the upper opening.
It is also worth noting that when the openings are not aligned, cross ventilation gains power because the wind will pass diagonally through the room. In this way, it is possible to cover a larger radius of the shed, refreshing the place in a wide and uniform manner.
What are the benefits of this technique?
Because it is a type of natural ventilation, one of the main benefits of cross ventilation is the saving of electricity, which is even more significant in the case of industrial warehouses, considering the extent of these spaces and the number of employees involved. Below we list other advantages of this technique.
Maintains thermal comfort
If in our house, with few people, the need for thermal comfort is something constant, it is understandable the difficulty of keeping the internal temperature pleasant in a large industrial shed, with the production chain in full swing and that is always full of people.
Cross ventilation is a great ally in this scenario, and is enhanced by the high ceiling height of the warehouses. This configuration allows the warmer air to be concentrated near the ceiling, keeping the fresh air in the rest of the space. This is fundamental for a healthy and, at the same time, productive workplace.
Elevates indoor air quality
Cross ventilation favors constant renewal in the enclosure, resulting in improved air quality by eliminating dust, gases, and any toxic particles suspended in the room. This is, in fact, one of the industry's greatest concerns in terms of salubrity, because a place with stale air is harmful not only from the comfort point of view, but also in terms of the employees' health.
Prevents respiratory diseases
Speaking of air quality, we know that this aspect is paramount to prevent the transmission of viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause respiratory diseases. In closed locations, such as industrial warehouses, it is very important to prioritize this issue so that the corporate environment remains healthy, comfortable and free of risks - including in relation to the spread of Covid-19.
It is a sustainable technique
Today, one of the industrial sector's greatest concerns is with regard to sustainability. The intention is to design systems with maximum performance, but which operate with the least possible consumption of resources. In this sense, cross-ventilation systems are ideal alternatives precisely because they operate efficiently at zero energy cost.
Low maintenance
Besides promoting thermal comfort and air quality without consuming electricity, cross-ventilation systems do not require constant maintenance. Generally, these systems are dimensioned by combining shutters and industrial louvers. As these solutions have no parts subject to wear, the need for maintenance is very low. We will talk more about these solutions in the next topics.
Makes no noise
Another differential of investing in cross ventilation is from the point of view of acoustic comfort in the workplace. Unlike ventilation systems with air conditioners, fans and exhaust fans, cross ventilation is silent. This favors the quality of life in the corporate environment and makes the factory's daily routine much more pleasant.
Is it possible to have cross ventilation in a natural way?
Natural ventilation systems with industrial blinds and louvers are the most efficient way to apply cross ventilation in a warehouse. In this type of project, the air renewal rate required for each environment is calculated, in order to design a high-performance system with guaranteed return.
The results include all of the above, and also the industry's long-term energy efficiency. In more practical terms, it works like this: the air that enters through the blinds drives the circulation in the indoor environment, providing thermal comfort without having to rely on air conditioning devices.
In the same process, the hot air is propelled into the louvers - thanks to physical phenomena known as Venturi and chimney effects - where the exhaustion of particles takes place so that the indoor air quality remains as good as possible.
Are you aware of all the benefits of natural ventilation? Take our quiz and test your knowledge about the impacts of smart design on industrial sustainability!
How to apply cross ventilation in your shed?
The best way to apply cross ventilation in the factory is to combine industrial shutters and louvers to bring maximum thermal comfort to the shed. As we saw in the previous topic, these solutions enhance natural ventilation because they favor air circulation in the environment, refreshing the enclosure and, at the same time, eliminating pollutants.
Below, we have summarized the advantages and differentials of these two solutions for you to better understand the return involved in this investment.
Industrial blinds
- They provide permanent ventilation at zero energy cost;
- They promote maximum thermal comfort and improve air quality;
- They block UV rays in the shed;
- They have high mechanical resistance, which increases the useful life of the solution;
- They have low specific weight, facilitating installation;
- They can be produced in polycarbonate, which is a translucent material, thus providing natural lighting as well.
Industrial Lanterns
- These are sustainable solutions that do not consume energy to function;
- They boost air circulation and promote constant renewal;
- They eliminate dust, stale air, toxic gases, and other pollutants;
- They contribute to the employees' respiratory health;
- They favor quality of life in the workplace;
- They can be installed easily and are noiseless.
All these benefits justify the value invested in natural ventilation systems in industrial projects. With this resource that enhances cross-ventilation, it is possible to combine industrial sustainability, operational cost control, and well-being in the corporate routine.
Want to know more details about natural ventilation systems? Download our free complete guide and learn the principles involved in this phenomenon!
