HVAC for warehouses and distribution centres
Warehouses are big boxes with tall ceilings, dock doors and forklifts. Heat rises to the roof, cold air pours in at the docks and exhaust builds up in the aisles. We design heating and ventilation that keeps the floor comfortable and safe without heating the roof deck.
What makes it hard
- Warm air stratifies under the roof, so the floor is cold while the heating system runs flat out.
- Dock doors and overhead doors let in large amounts of cold air through the winter.
- Propane and gas forklifts produce carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide that need detection and ventilation.
- Racking layouts and tenant uses change, leaving heating and ventilation in the wrong places.
Our solutions
Design, build, test and tune: the services we bring to warehouses and distribution.
Codes and standards we work to
- National Building Code of Canada
- CSA B149.1 for gas-fired heaters and make-up air units
- Provincial occupational health and safety regulations for CO and NO2
- NECB and provincial energy codes
- NFPA 13 sprinkler clearance coordination for overhead equipment
Questions
Radiant heat or forced air?
For high bays with many door openings, radiant heat usually keeps the floor more comfortable for less fuel, because it warms people and surfaces instead of air. We compare both for your building.
Do destratification fans really save energy?
In tall heated spaces they usually do, by pushing warm air from the roof back down to the floor. The savings depend on ceiling height, heating type and controls.
Do we need gas detection for forklifts?
If you run fuel-burning forklifts indoors, CO and NO2 detection with ventilation control is normally required. We design the detection and the exhaust together.
Further reading
- 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.
- 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.
- Radiant heating and cooling systems
Learn how radiant systems deliver comfort through surfaces instead of air, where they fit in commercial buildings, and the design and control issues that decide whether they succeed.
- Garage ventilation and CO/NO2 detection
Learn how parkade ventilation systems work, how gas detection saves energy while protecting occupants, and what to check during design, commissioning and maintenance.
- Envelope heat loss: U-values, thermal bridging and infiltration
Learn how to calculate envelope heat loss accurately, why thermal bridges and air leakage often matter more than insulation thickness, and how these factors affect HVAC sizing.
- Utility incentives for HVAC upgrades in Canada
An overview of the incentive and financing programs available for commercial HVAC upgrades across Canada, how prescriptive and custom programs differ, and the steps that protect your eligibility.
Talk to us about your warehouse
Tell us about the building and what you need. We’ll be in touch within one hour.