Most Common Types of Ceiling Fans For Commercial and Industrial Settings

Although all ceiling fans appear to be the same at first glance, there are several types of ceiling fans, which all have their unique benefits.

Let’s take a deeper dive into the uses and benefits of industrial ceiling fans and explore the different types of ceiling fans for modern facilities and work environments.

4 Types of Ceiling Fans

When it comes to industrial ceiling fans, there are 4 main categories that help facilities cool down and utilize air flow to create an comfortable environment:

1. Traditional Ceiling Fans

Traditional ceiling fans are the types of ceiling fans that you would normally see within your commercial settings. Although they usually consist of three of four blades, which can be adjusted to an appropriate spin speed, there are a few different types:

Ceiling Fans with Lights

These are the most common type of ceiling fan that you will find within a commercial space. The TRAK wired commercial fan pictured above, featuring a singular LED light, comes in a variety of different finishes and sizes to meet the modern style of your commercial space. It also makes an excellent ceiling fan for fitness centers, restaurants, and sports facilities.

Ceiling Fans without Lights

Another type of ceiling fans are those without lights, which look similar to the ceiling fan in larger commercial or industrial areas—just without the light bulb. XP HVLS Fan featured above is designed for cost savings and comfort, not to mention hassle-free installation.

2. HVLS Fans

High-volume, low speed (HVLS) fans are the standard for cooling large areas like warehouses and manufacturing facilities. These fans use large blade diameters, typically 6-24 feet long, which provide a large volume of air to be spun quickly and powerfully.

For facilities with large, open-air spaces that need general cooling, HVLS fans are the perfect solution. Because they are not spinning quickly, they are energy efficient and cost-effective—and much cheaper than traditional HVAC systems.

The usefulness of HVLS fans now sees their installation in other places, such as restaurants, bars, commercial gyms, and even schools, especially in locations where there is an open supply of air.

3. Directional Fans

If there isn’t enough room for HVLS fans, or if only certain areas need to be cooled, directional fans are the ideal industrial ceiling fan. Directional fans are much smaller and spin faster, providing a directed stream of air flow to cool specific areas.

These fans are great in smaller facilities to cool the overall room, can be used to effectively cool specific areas where personnel are at work, and are also useful in manufacturing itself as these are the fans utilized in the previously mentioned unique uses section.

4. Marine-Grade Outdoor Fan

Because coastal areas are surrounded by salt water, traditional outdoor ceiling fans have a tendency to be damaged easily, creating a need for a more durable type of ceiling fan: the marine-grade fan.

The Haiku® Coastal fan is just one example, but it is wet-rated and resistant to salt, corrosion, and wind. In other words, it’s designed to stay stylish, even during the most unforgiving coastal environment, and provide a sleek luxurious appearance that cools and comforts during the peaceful moments.

Benefits of Ceiling Fans

Now that we’ve covered the different types of ceilings fans, let’s look at the benefits of using high-quality ceilings fans:

Climate Control

Ceiling fans provide a measure of climate control by moving a significant volume of air within a structure, whether that be a commercial or industrial facility. Because buildings often have tall ceilings, it’s common for a temperature differential to exist, and ceiling fans can be used to bring down moving air to provide a cooling effect within a room, one that can also impact the overall temperature of a building.

Air Quality and Flow

Another benefit of ceiling fans is the simple movement of airflow. While this is intrinsically related to how fans cool the body via the evaporative process of air flowing over the skin, it’s also important to circulate fresh air for further enhanced well-being.

Energy Efficiency / Reduced Costs

Larger commercial or industrial facilities typically require a lot of energy to provide proper cooling systems. As a result, there needs to be a way to ensure efficiency and reduce the costs of cooling systems. This is where the different types of ceiling fans can shine, assisting the air cooling systems and, therefore, reducing the necessary costs.

Increased Comfort

Not surprisingly, the largest benefit of ceiling fans is to provide a cooler environment. Whether it’s a manufacturing facility lacking a climate control system or a commercial setting with inadequate HVAC systems, the environment can become terribly warm in spring and summer months. By using ceiling fans, you can create a cooling effect that significantly helps individuals stay cool, which translates first to better health and then to improved efficiency.

Unique Uses Ceiling Fans

In addition to their main benefits, there are many specific ways you can use the different types of ceiling fans:

Spot Cooling

Although ceiling fans can be used to cool environments, an often forgotten use of ceiling fans is spot cooling, which is when a fan is used to directly help reduce something, typically machinery or technology, from overheating.

Drying

In many industries, drying materials is a critical component of the overall process. Using the different ceiling fans can help in this regard, that is, if set up as part of the process.

Dust Control

Workshops, whether it be in a commercial car garage or industrial facility, can generate significant amounts of dust, which can damage machinery and increase health-risks. Industrial ceiling fans and their ability to move a lot of air can be used in these situations to remove dust into dust collection systems and keep the air clean and debris-free.

Smoke and Fume Extraction

Similarly, machinery and processes that create unhealthy fumes and smoke can be aided by the addition of industrial ceiling fans to move the fumes to where it can be removed from the environment effectively.

Work with TBC Supply for the Best in Industrial Ceiling Fans

At TBC Supply, we carry the best in HVLS and directional fans to take command of your facility’s climate. If you’re looking to provide cooling for your personnel and create a comfortable environment from which to maximize efficiency, give us a call today and we’ll find the best fan for your unique situation.