Ask the Expert: Indoor Air Quality

Why should we install destratification fans?

• By Christian Avedon
• 06/01/16

First, it’s important to understand what a destratification fan system will do. A destratification system is a grid of multiple ceiling fans working in concert to continuously mix the ceiling air to the floor and balance a facility’s air temperature.

When a space’s temperature is balanced, the need to over-heat or over-cool the space due to stratification is eliminated and significant savings can be realized.

Colleges and schools have indoor athletic facilities, large classrooms and lecture halls, libraries, storage facilities and other highatrium areas where destratification fans are effective and will reduce the energy used to condition the space.

There are many other benefits from a destratification fan system:

• Improved comfort:
  Any facility has areas that are often too cold or too hot. Occupant comfort is improved with a quality destratification fan installation.
• Safer work areas:
  A PHI (photohydroionization) kit can be installed in some destratification fans to eliminate molds, bacteria, VOCs and odors. Health conditions can be improved in kitchens, cafeterias, locker rooms, janitorial storage areas, etc.
• Fits into tight spaces:
  An enclosed destratification fan, unlike paddle or HVLS (high-volume, low-speed) fans, can fit tightly into a ceiling with rafters, ducts or other truss structure.
• Helps swimmers:
  In indoor swimming facilities, destratification fans can remove the layer of chloramines just above a pool’s surface, which often irritates swimmers.
• Longer life for lighting systems:
  Decreasing ceiling temperatures extends the life of the lighting system.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .