Keeping Your Warehouse Cool: A Guide To Improving Thermal Comfort And Productivity

Properly managing the temperature of your facility is not only important for maintaining the integrity of your products, it’s also important for maintaining your employees’ health, safety and productivity. Extreme temperatures, whether they’re hot or cold, can negatively impact your team’s efficiency and pose potential risks to their well-being. Plus, the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 requires employers to ensure the health and safety of their workers and provide an environment without risks, as far as is reasonably possible, meaning your business could be liable for not maintaining proper temperature control in your facility.

Luckily, we have a few solutions to help make sure your warehouse stays comfortable, even in the peak heat of summer. But before we get into the solutions, let’s talk about thermal comfort.

What is ‘thermal comfort’ and why is it important?

According to WorkSafe New Zealand, thermal comfort describes whether a person feels too hot, too cold, or just right. While it may seem obvious, people aren’t usually at their most productive if they’re too hot or cold and prolonged exposure to temperatures that are too high or low can impact their health.

WorkSafe has identified the following temperature ranges as a guide to maintaining thermal comfort. These temperatures will be comfortable for most people in an indoor environment.*

Summer Winter
Sedentary Work         19-24°c 18-22°c
Physical Work         16-21°c 16-19°c

*These values assume:

  • Workers are wearing seasonally appropriate clothing
  • The air speed is about 0.1–0.2 metres per second (without creating a draught where sedentary work occurs)
  • Humidity levels are normal (40-70%)
  • Workers are not directly exposed to any radiant heat sources

So I think we can all agree that properly managing the temperature of your facility is good for everyone – but the real question is how?

Are heating and cooling systems the answer?

The obvious solution many people turn to for maintaining thermal comfort is a heating and/or cooling system. While these are an important piece of the puzzle, in large areas such as warehouses, maintaining consistent temperatures is incredibly difficult. In addition to a heating/cooling system, large areas require good ventilation, insulation and layout planning to properly maintain thermal comfort.

That’s where HVLS Industrial Fans Come In

HVLS fans are designed to circulate the air in your facility more efficiently, moving large volumes of air at an optimised low speed to help maintain a consistent temperature across your facility. They create an airspeed of only 3-5 km/h but due to their size (up to 7.5m in diameter), they still move large amounts of air without creating a draught.

The top 5 benefits of HVLS Industrial Fans

1. Keeps things cool in summer

As we’ve already discussed, an HVLS Industrial Fan can lower the overall temperature of your facility by 3-6 degrees. And due to their low speed, they don’t create uncomfortable draughts. They support existing air conditioners by moving the air around more efficiently so the air conditioning system itself doesn’t have to work as hard, creating a more comfortable environment for your employees.

2. Keeps things warmer in winter

While it may seem counterintuitive, HVLS Industrial Fans also help keep your facility warmer in the winter, too, by minimising the stratification of the air. Stratified air is the cool, dense air that sinks, pushing warm air up. HLVS fans disrupt this by cycling the warm air down.

3. Enhances air quality

Poor air circulation can not only cause temperature differences throughout the facility, putting products at risk of spoilage, it can also encourage bacteria growth and mould in some areas. HVLS Industrial Fans move a high volume of air consistently through the facility, reducing these risks and keeping your staff healthy.

4. Combats moisture and humidity

Similar to the way they enhance air quality, HVLS Industrial Fans also help combat moisture and humidity by moving high volumes of air around the facility. This keeps moisture in the air from settling onto surfaces, which if not dealt with can lead to product damage, rust on equipment or bacteria growth.

5. Keeps staff comfortable

As we discussed earlier, thermal comfort is an important part of Health and Safety in the workplace and as part of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, you can be held responsible for not maintaining proper thermal comfort. HVLS Industrial Fans give your heating and cooling systems a boost to maintain a consistent temperature and keep the thermal comfort of your facility in check.

As you can see, investing in a proper system to help maintain temperatures in your facility is good for business in several ways. An efficient system keeps your people safe, your products safe, and saves you money on excessive energy waste. While having the proper heating and cooling equipment is important, an HVLS Industrial Fan could be the missing piece in helping you maintain thermal comfort.

Talk to our experts today and find out if HVLS Industrial Fans are right for your facility.

How Dock Levellers Can Ramp Up Your Warehouse Efficiency

If you run a warehouse or a distribution center, you know how important it is to have a smooth and efficient loading and unloading process. You need to move your goods quickly and safely from the warehouse floor to the truck or container, and vice versa. This can mean dealing with the issues of different truck sizes, maintaining environmental control during loading and unloading, and the all-important issue of safety.

That’s where a dock leveller comes in.

A dock leveller is a device that bridges the gap between the warehouse and the vehicle, creating a level platform for forklifts and other material handling equipment to transport your goods. A dock leveller can make a huge difference in your warehouse operations, improving your productivity, safety, quality, and profitability.

But how do you choose the right dock leveller for your business? And what are the benefits of a dock leveller? In this blog, we’ll answer these questions to help you make an informed decision and optimize your warehouse performance.

 

What is a dock leveller?

A dock leveller, is a metal ramp that connects the warehouse floor to the truck or container bed. It allows forklifts and other transport equipment to move smoothly and safely between the warehouse and the vehicle, without any bumps or gaps. It also accommodates differences in height between the warehouse floor and the vehicle bed, which can vary due to factors such as load weight, suspension, or tire pressure. Check out our handy blog, “What is a Dock Leveller?” for a more detailed breakdown.

 

Why do you need a dock leveller?

A dock leveller can offer many benefits for your warehouse operations, such as:

  • Improved productivity: A dock leveller can significantly reduce the loading and unloading time, as it eliminates the need for manual handling or lifting. You can move more goods in less time, increasing your throughput and output. A dock leveller can also accommodate different vehicle heights and sizes, so you can handle a variety of vehicles without any hassle.
  • Enhanced safety: A dock leveller can minimise the risk of accidents and injuries, as it provides a smooth and stable transition from the warehouse to the vehicle. And even more so, when combined with our other dock safety accessories like wheel guides, control systems, and wheel restraints. You can avoid slips, falls, bumps, or drops that can damage your goods or harm your workers.
  • Optimised quality: A dock leveller can maintain the quality of your goods, especially if they are temperature-sensitive or perishable. You can use a dock leveller in combination with a dock seal to create a controlled environment for loading and unloading cold goods. This way, you can protect your goods from temperature fluctuations or contamination that can affect their freshness or shelf, whilst also preventing pests, debris, or intruders from entering your warehouse, improving your security and hygiene.
  • Increased profitability: A dock leveller can boost your profitability, as it lowers your operational costs and increases your customer satisfaction. You can save money on energy bills, maintenance fees, or insurance premiums by using a dock leveller. You can also deliver your goods faster and safer to your customers, enhancing your reputation and loyalty.

 

So how do you choose the right dock leveller for your business?

Choosing the right dock leveller for your business depends on several factors, such as:

  • Your warehouse layout and space: You need to consider the size and shape of your warehouse, as well as the location and number of your loading docks. You also need to consider the height and clearance of your overhead doors, and the availability of power sources. These factors will determine the type and size of dock leveller that will fit your warehouse.
  • Your vehicle types and sizes: You need to consider the types and sizes of vehicles that you serve, such as trucks, trailers, or containers. You also need to consider the frequency and volume of your loading and unloading operations. These factors will determine the capacity and functionality of dock leveller that will suit your needs.
  • Your budget and preferences: You need to consider your budget and preferences, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each type of dock leveller. You also need to consider the installation and maintenance costs, as well as the warranty and service options. These factors will determine the cost-effectiveness and reliability of dock leveller that will meet your expectations.

 

There’s no doubt about it, dock levellers play a crucial role in optimising the efficiency of your facility. They are safe, easy to use, and streamline your process. The only question is, which model is right for you?

At Ulti Group, we have over 30 years of experience in providing customised solutions for loading docks. We have a range of dock levellers for different purposes, including vertical storing, horizontal storing, container, and edge. We can help you select the best dock leveller for your business, as well as install and service it for you. But remember, a dock leveller is just one part of a bigger system. With our comprehensive range of other loading dock safety solutions, we’ve got you covered for your entire loading dock system.

Talk to our team of experts about what you need out of a dock loading system and we’ll set you up with a customised system that gets it done!