HVAC and ventilation for industrial facilities
Manufacturing plants have heat, fumes, dust and big doors that open to Canadian winters. We design ventilation that captures contaminants at the source, replaces exhausted air without freezing the plant, and keeps energy costs in check.
What makes it hard
- Welding fume, dust, solvent vapour and process heat must be captured at the source to keep workers within occupational exposure limits.
- Every cubic metre exhausted has to be replaced and heated, which is a major cost through an Alberta or Ontario winter.
- Process lines change over time, so exhaust systems end up unbalanced, with hoods that no longer capture.
- High bays, large doors and stratified heat make comfort and freeze protection difficult.
Our solutions
Design, build, test and tune: the services we bring to industrial and manufacturing.
Codes and standards we work to
- ACGIH Industrial Ventilation: A Manual of Recommended Practice
- Provincial occupational health and safety regulations and exposure limits
- NFPA 652 and 654 for combustible dust (where adopted)
- CSA B149.1 for gas-fired make-up air and heaters
- National Building Code and National Fire Code of Canada
Questions
Can you test our existing exhaust hoods?
Yes. We measure capture and duct velocities at each hood, compare them to design or industry guidance, and rebalance or recommend changes.
Do we need make-up air if we only added one exhaust fan?
Almost always. Without make-up air the plant goes negative, doors are hard to open, gas appliances can backdraft and the new fan underperforms.
Can heat be recovered from process exhaust?
Often. The options depend on what is in the exhaust; clean warm air suits heat recovery cores or run-around loops, while dirty or corrosive air needs more careful selection.
Further reading
- Industrial process ventilation
Learn how local exhaust and dilution ventilation protect workers in industrial facilities, how hoods and ducts are sized, and which Canadian regulations and standards apply.
- Exhaust system design for commercial buildings
A practical overview of commercial exhaust systems: required exhaust rates, fan types and locations, discharge and re-entrainment, makeup air and code requirements.
- Make-up air units: direct-fired and indirect-fired
Learn how direct-fired and indirect-fired make-up air units heat outdoor air, the code and safety rules that limit where each can be used, and how to size and control them for kitchens, warehouses and industrial spaces.
- Heat recovery strategies in commercial HVAC
Compare the main ways to recover heat in commercial buildings, including wheels, plates, run-around loops, heat pipes, heat recovery chillers and refrigeration heat recovery, and learn where each fits.
- Odour control and exhaust re-entrainment
Learn how exhaust plumes behave around buildings, the separation distances and stack design practices that prevent re-entrainment, and how to diagnose odour complaints in existing buildings.
- Warehouse and distribution centre heating and ventilation
Learn the practical options for heating and ventilating large warehouses and distribution centres in a cold climate, and how to handle dock doors, forklift emissions and sprinkler freeze protection.
Talk to us about your plant
Tell us about the building and what you need. We’ll be in touch within one hour.