In this article, we discuss the benefits of evaporative cooling in terms of productivity within the workplace in medium-to-large production plants.
Production processes generate significant amounts of heat, which is released by machinery in operation. As external and internal temperatures rise during the summer period, this factor significantly impacts personnel productivity within the work environment.
It often becomes difficult in these large environments to maintain a comfortable temperature during the hot season, leading to situations of discomfort for employee health.
Table of Contents
Thermal stress: the effects on productivity
Thermal stress, commonly known as heat stress, is one of the main causes of fainting and illness in the workplace. It can cause numerous consequences for workers' health, their safety, and consequently, company productivity.
According to the Ministry of Health, "Thermal stress occurs when the body's thermoregulation system fails. Air temperature, intense work pace, ventilation, humidity, and work clothing are all factors that can contribute to thermal stress."
The body reacts to heat by increasing skin blood flow and sweating, which allow it to cool down. When the body loses 2% of its body weight through sweating, heat stress is present.
In this situation, visual and motor control, memory, and attention decrease, and dehydration caused by heat stress reduces reaction times by as much as 20%.
These are the data reported by a study on productivity conducted by NASA, which demonstrates how the error rate increases exponentially as the temperature rises, consequently reducing productivity.
All this causes:
- Illness, cramps, and heatstroke, resulting in sick days for personnel;
- Reduced ability to respond to stimuli and unforeseen dangers, with a consequent increase in inattention;
- Greater risk of injuries such as slips, falls, and wounds caused by contact with objects or equipment.
The resulting absences due to illness, the drop in morale, and safety issues related to heat stress can significantly compromise productivity.
Why are production plants sensitive to heat?
Industrial plants are characterized by high ceilings and are often poorly insulated, which is why it is difficult to maintain a constant and comfortable temperature, especially during the summer period.
Furthermore, the presence of additional heat sources such as machinery, ovens, and equipment certainly does not help, making the situation even more complex to manage. In fact, machinery is particularly sensitive to thermal fluctuations, and an excessively high temperature within the work environment can cause the overheating of the latter, with a consequent stoppage of the production process.
These factors make production plants particularly sensitive to heat. For this reason, it becomes essential to find a solution for summer climate control.
The installation of a traditional air conditioning system is, in most cases, difficult because the installation of ducted systems can represent an obstacle for the movement of certain equipment present, such as overhead cranes. In other cases, the installation of a traditional air conditioning system may not be feasible due to the size of the plant or turns out to be very expensive in terms of initial investment and operating costs.
In specific sectors such as steel mills, automotive industries, glass molding industries, and the production of baked goods, work cycles are characterized by high heat intensity. In these production plants, ovens operate all day and the use of fans is inefficient. In fact, they merely circulate the hot air present in the department without actually reducing the temperature.
In these cases, the most effective solution is the use of evaporative coolers, which manage to lower the air temperature naturally thanks to the principle of water evaporation.
What is evaporative cooling?
Evaporative cooling is the most natural, effective, and economical technological solution for the summer climate control of industrial buildings and warehouses.
It is the ideal system, in terms of comfort and performance, which allows for the creation of a healthy and comfortable work environment for collaborators even on the hottest days, without wasting large amounts of energy or creating environmental pollution.
The installation cost is significantly lower than traditional air conditioning systems, making it the ideal solution for multiple sectors and processes.
How does evaporative cooling work?
Evaporative coolers utilize the natural principle of water evaporation for their operation. Water, in fact, acts as a natural refrigerant.
The individual units draw in hot air from the outside which, once filtered, passes through honeycomb panels soaked in water. The air, pushed by the fan, gives up part of its heat to the water contained in the evaporative cooling pads, thus lowering its temperature.
The air is then introduced into the work environment at more comfortable temperatures.
Would you like to discover more about evaporative cooling? Learn more by reading the article below.
Evaporative cooling: what it is and how it works
Discover what evaporative cooling is, how it works, and the main advantages it offers for cooling industrial environments such as warehouses, factories, and storage facilities.
Advantages of evaporative cooling for productivity
The benefits provided by evaporative coolers in terms of productivity within work environments are manifold:
- Improvement of thermal comfort;
- Reduction of thermal stress;
- Increase in concentration and productivity;
- Reduction of breaks.
Let's explore them in detail.
Improvement of thermal comfort
A comfortable work environment is essential for keeping employees motivated and productive.
Evaporative cooling creates the ideal microclimate for the psychophysical well-being of workers, reducing the internal temperature without using refrigerant gases.
This system utilizes water evaporation to lower the temperature, making the air fresher and more humid. Enriching the air with the right percentage of humidity is essential to make the air more breathable and avoid that annoying sensation of dryness in the eyes and throat—the perception of discomfort often felt when staying for a long time in an environment cooled with a traditional air conditioning system.
When workers feel physically comfortable in the work environment, they are less distracted by the heat and more focused on their tasks, thus improving their overall productivity.
Reduction of thermal stress
As explained previously, thermal stress is a condition in which the body struggles to maintain a stable internal temperature due to an excessively hot external environment. This can lead to a reduction in cognitive and physical abilities, negatively affecting work performance.
Evaporative cooling significantly reduces thermal stress by maintaining internal temperatures at optimal levels. Consequently, employees can work without feeling fatigued or exhausted, improving their efficiency and output. To ensure their health during the hottest hours of the day, it is recommended to arrange a schedule of breaks appropriate to the worker's physical effort and to ensure they have the opportunity to hydrate constantly with fresh water.
Increase in concentration and productivity
A fresh and comfortable work environment helps maintain high concentration. When the temperature is too high, cognitive functions can slow down, increasing the risk of accidents or injuries, whether minor or serious.
Evaporative cooling creates the conditions to make the work environment sufficiently cool, improving the concentration and performance of employees. This translates into more accurate work and greater overall productivity.
Reduction of breaks
In hot environments, employees tend to take more breaks to cool off and recover energy, which can reduce the time actually dedicated to work, with a consequent loss of revenue for the company.
Thanks to evaporative cooling, the environment remains constantly cool, reducing the need for frequent breaks. Workers can maintain a steady work pace and dedicate more time to their duties without interruptions. This increase in efficiency is directly reflected in company productivity.
Successful case study on evaporative cooling: Forno Da Re
Forno Da Re, a company producing crumbly dough snacks and various types of breadsticks, always very attentive to work comfort within its facility, needed to cool its production departments. These environments, where the dough takes shape and the breadsticks are stretched manually, were very hot during the summer period. To avoid heatstroke, personnel were often forced to suspend their work activity with frequent breaks.
It was sufficient to install 2 Eucold evaporative coolers to reduce the temperature of the production departments from 35 to 28 °C. Employees no longer risk suffering from heatstroke and do not have to interrupt their activities as frequently as before.
These are the words of Giovanni Da Re, owner of the company Forno Da Re along with his sons Leonardo and Jacopo:
<<"Our main fear was drying out the dough: if the airflow directed towards the dough had been too intense and the air too dry, there was a risk of creating, in a few minutes, a film on the dough that would have dried it out. This never happened thanks to Eucold! We are truly enthusiastic about the result obtained; our staff can work in a comfortable environment without suffering from heat-related fatigue." >>
Conclusion
Evaporative cooling represents the most efficient solution for cooling production plants and for improving thermal comfort in work environments, with a significant impact on employee productivity. The benefits of this system are evident: reduction of thermal stress, increase in concentration, improvement in performance, and reduction of breaks. All this contributes to creating a more comfortable and productive work environment.
Implementing an evaporative cooling system not only improves the quality of working life for employees but also leads to energy savings and a reduction in operating costs for the company. As demonstrated in the case study, companies that adopt this system can expect tangible improvements in both productivity and employee well-being.
If you would like to discover more about how evaporative cooling can transform your work environment, improve the comfort of your employees, and increase company productivity, we invite you to visit the product page for EUCOLD – industrial water coolers. Discover all the available solutions and find the one that best suits your needs.
Eucold evaporative coolers
Industrial evaporative coolers are the most natural, effective and economical technological solution for summer cooling of industrial warehouses, storage facilities, commercial spaces, workshops and plants.
They are the most sustainable alternative to traditional air conditioning systems.
