We carry out installation and servicing of humidification
systems across the UK and beyond across a diverse range of industries. Here are
10 interesting places you’ll find humidification systems.
Offices
Keeping an office environment comfortable for staff means
that it’s usually air conditioned in the summer and heated during the winter
months. This also results in drying out the air, potentially leading to
employees experiencing headaches, sore eyes and throats, skin complaints and
lethargy. The best solution is to add water to the air by using a humidifier,
which may be installed as a standalone unit or integrated into an existing HVAC
system.
Data centres
Storing vast quantities of important information on rows of IT
equipment, data centres must maintain a relative humidity (RH) of 40% to
prevent the build-up of static electric charges. These charges can cause sparks
which may damage computers and servers, with the risk of data being permanently
erased. All data centres are designed to include a humidification system
which ensures an RH of 45–60%, the level recommended by CIBSE (Chartered
Institute of Building Service Engineers).
Museums
A major problem faced by museums and serious art collectors is
that paintings and frames are susceptible to warping and cracking in the wrong
conditions. This is especially true of older works which are often the most
valuable. As paintings age, the materials become more fragile and more likely
to become damaged by varying air moisture levels. RH must therefore be
constantly controlled at around 45–55% depending on seasonal conditions, with
fluctuations strictly limited to ±3%. This requires a responsive,
well-maintained and reliable humidification system.
Cold stores
As air enters a cold store, its moisture content drops in
line with temperature. The water then condenses on to the refrigeration
system’s cooling coils. As cold air is circulated around a cold store, it warms
slightly, meaning it must have a higher moisture content in order to achieve
its natural equilibrium. The air draws moisture away from surfaces, including
the products in the cool store, reducing their shelf life in the process. To
combat this, industrial
humidifiers can be installed to monitor and manage humidity levels at all
times and ensure products retain their freshness for as long as possible.
Printing
Paper is highly vulnerable to changes in RH, with an optimum
level of 50–60% recommended. The consequences of the RH falling below this
range include static build-up and changes to the physical state of the paper
such as web breaks and paper curl. In an industry where accuracy is essential,
even the smallest changes in the dimensions of the paper will cause misfeeds
and printing errors, especially during the cold winter months when RH can drop
to 15–20%. That’s why humidification systems are essential for ensuring
consistency and quality in the printing industry.
Textiles
The efficient production of high-quality textiles can be
jeopardised by dry air and a low RH, as yarns with a low moisture content are
weaker, less elastic and more prone to shrinkage. A humidification system
allows textile producers to have confidence in their materials and eradicates
cutting and fitting problems during garment manufacture.
Hospitals
A comfortable RH is important in all areas of a hospital,
including wards and day rooms, as dry air can lead to headaches, nasal congestion
and sore eyes. This is of particular concern in maternity wards as babies are
more susceptible to dry air. However, humidification is especially vital in the
operating theatre, where electrostatic shocks caused by sub-40% RH can have
potentially fatal effects on surgery. There’s also the issue of moisture being
drawn from exposed body tissue during operations, causing it to dry prematurely.
A safe and sterile humidification system is an integral part of the modern
hospital.
Cleanrooms
A cleanroom is a special manufacturing or research
environment where it’s essential to have a low level of environmental
pollutants such as dust, microbes and chemical vapours. Cleanrooms are common
in the pharmaceutical industry, where humidity must be tightly controlled to
ensure the standard and safety of medicines being produced. A quality humidification
system will also lead to less wastage and will increase worker
productivity.
Explosives
manufacturing
The highly-combustible materials used during the manufacture
of explosives may become unstable should RH drop below around 55%, due to the
discharge of static electric. Precise monitoring and management of humidity
levels are essential in this dangerous industry, which produces fireworks,
flares and munitions.
Concert halls
Pipe organs in concert halls and churches are vulnerable to
changes in humidity, with the standard of musical performance at risk when RH
dips below 55%. This is because a low RH will see moisture sucked from the
wooden organ chamber, leading to it becoming out of tune. Low humidity in the
auditorium will also affect musicians’ wooden instruments, not to mention the
singer’s voice as their nose and throat become dry.
Gibbons supply humidification systems for
all manner of applications, including those listed above. To speak to an
industry expert about your requirements, call Steve Rix on 07966423165 or email
steve.rix@gibbonsgroup.co.uk.
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