8 Best Industrial and Commercial Fans to Cool a Facility

When it comes to cooling industrial facilities, air conditioning systems are rarely practical. Whether a machine shop, mechanic garage, commercial gym, or manufacturing facility, these structures are typically large with tall ceilings, making costs to install appropriate air conditioning systems extremely expensive - and that’s before the energy costs to run them.

That said, there needs to be a way to keep personnel cool and air fresh during spring and summer months. The solution is to rely on industrial fans.

How Fans Keep Industrial Facilities Cool

Fans have long been one of our most useful tools as they provide cooling during hot months via the evaporative process. The reason our bodies sweat is so we can make use of this process; the thermal energy of our skin causes the liquid to evaporate into the air, reducing the temperature of the skin and the blood near its surface which can then circulate through the body and cool it.

This process happens more readily when there is air sweeping over the skin. You’ve likely experienced this before on a hot, humid day with no wind vs. one with a breeze. That “cool breeze” is the evaporative process working to keep our body’s temperature lower than it would be otherwise.

Fans are a tool we use to create that breeze to help cool the body. Anything that can push air across the skin can create cooling, and thus a fan delivering constant air can have a powerful impact. As it relates to industrial facilities where air conditioning systems are prohibitively expensive, industrial fans provide a steady, powerful stream of air to maximize the evaporative process, allowing personnel to stay far cooler than they would otherwise be.

Major Benefits of Industrial Fans

• Induce the evaporative effect by providing a constant flow of air across the skin of personnel
• Ventilate the facility and provide fresh air
• Destratify the air layers in facilities with tall ceilings to improve air circulation

Types of Industrial Fans

HVLS

High Volume, Low Speed (HVLS) fans are the workhorse of industrial fans. You’ve probably seen them before as their sight is impressive with massive wingspans spinning like helicopter blades. This blade length is where they derive their utility, as it doesn’t take high speeds for those long blades to move tremendous amounts of air.

HVLS fans are uniquely suited for providing cooling and air flow in the largest of industrial and commercial applications. Whether warehouses, data centers, manufacturing facilities, and even large, tall-ceilinged retail stores, even just one or two HVLS fans provide substantial air flow that keeps the structure cool.

Directional

While HVLS fans provide building-wide cooling, this isn't always needed in some industrial and commercial applications. In many instances, targeted air flow and associated cooling is the priority, and this is where directional fans are useful. Although not as big as HVLS fans, they are by no means less powerful: industrial-grade directional fans provide incredibly strong airflow and thus cooling in a targeted way, as they are aimed directionally to impact specific areas of the facility. Readily mountable and directional from their mounts, they are a fantastic solution for facilities that only need air flow in specific areas.

Drum Fans

Similar to directional fans, drum fans are not mounted but rather sit on the ground on movable platforms. Drum fans provide significant air flow over large distances but in a more focused way than HVLS fans. Because they are moveable, drum fans are a great alternative to mounted directional fans as they can be repurposed within the industrial or commercial facility depending on changing needs.

Exhaust

Exhaust fans are a bit different than the above fans, but can be a critical adjunct depending on your commercial or industrial facility. Mounted either in walls or on the ceiling, exhaust fans provide a pathway for air within to be exhausted outside, or air from without to be supplied to the interior. For applications where the air quality inside needs to be improved and refreshed, exhaust fans work to provide fresh air for interior fans like HVLS, directional, or drum fans to take care of circulation and cooling.

8 Best Industrial and Commercial Fans

1.  HVLS - Powerfoil® X4 from Big Ass Fans

The Powerfoil® X4 HVLS Industrial Fan is a great example of the power an HVLS fan can bring to your facility. With a diameter of 12 feet to a record-setting 30 feet, this fan creates immense airflow and cooling no matter the conditions. The fan is IP56-rated against dust, water jets, and other harsh environments, making this fan a powerhouse and ideal choice for the harshest of industrial settings.

2. HVLS - ECO Fan from Hunter Industrial

The industrial and commercial space is a spectrum of intensity, and not all facilities require the biggest and baddest fan to provide powerful cooling. The ECO HVLS fan is a fantastic option for those facilities seeking cooling but don’t have a harsh environment nor a large facility. The fan offers a direct-drive motor for quiet, energy-efficient airflow and comes in diameters of 8 feet up to 24.

3. Directional - Jan Fan from Hunter Industrial

When it comes to directional fans, the Jan Fan is our go-to pick. Jan Fan has a storied 60 year history providing powerful, energy efficient directional fans for all sorts of commercial and industrial applications. Offered in 12", 18", 20”, 24”, 30”, 36", 42" sizes, this directional fan is ideal for providing powerful air flow and cooling for targeted areas.

4. Directional - AirEye from Big Ass Fans

From the excellence of Big Ass Fans comes another great directional fan, the AirEye. Designed with IP65-rated resilience and a mountable, powder-coated steel frame, the AirEye is designed to endure difficult use conditions while providing excellent, targeted air flow.

5. Drum - Drum Fan from Hunter Industrial

The standard drum fan from Hunter Industrial delivers everything one seeks from a portable drum fan. Available in 36" or 42", this fan operates on a 2-speed, high-efficiency motor and mounted on wheels to be moved wherever a powerful stream of air is required.

6. Drum - SD4VFF from Super Duty Fans

The SD4VFF fan from Super Duty Fans is a powerhouse, offering a 48” diameter and 31,500 CFM variable speed to deliver powerful air flow from the deck of your facility. Capable of tilting up to 30 degrees and mounted on 4 locking wheels, the SD4VFF is a portable drum fan with directional ability.

7. Exhaust - UBB and UBX Upblast Propeller Roof Exhaust Fan by Soler and Palau

For an exceptional roof exhaust fan, look no further than the UBB and UBX Upblast Propeller. Capable of handling 5900 - 78,000 CFM, these fans are perfect for providing superior ventilation for commercial and industrial facilities.

8. Exhaust - DDE and DDS Direct Drive Sidewall Propeller Exhaust/Supply Fans by So9ler and Palau

For wall-mounted exhaust fans, this fan is a mainstay. Extreme durability, low maintenance, and economical operation makes this offering a powerful addition to any facility looking to exhaust and/or supply air without having to mount on the roof/ceiling.

Work with TBC Supply for the Best Industrial and Commercial Fans on the Market

At TBC Supply, our work is to identify and provide the best industrial and commercial fans on the market to provide for your every need. No matter the size of your facility or the intensity of the activity within, there is a fan ready to provide outstanding cooling and air flow to help your business run as optimally as possible.