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temperatures can also affect productivity. But there���s a simple solution to efficiently bring heat back down to the occupants��� level. Luck Stone of Manakin���Sabot, Va., experienced firsthand the power of a large���diameter, low���speed fan manufactured by Lexington, Ky.���based Big Ass Fans (see sidebar) in its large equipment service center. In the winter, the shop was heated to 70 F, but all the heat rose to the top of the 30���ft. ceiling, leaving technicians shivering below, particularly when the four large bay doors were opened to move equip��� ment. The temperature differential between the floor and a second���story loft was frequently 8 or 9 degrees. Stratification occurs because air from a heater is approxi��� mately 5���7 percent lighter than cool air in a space and tends to rise to the ceiling. Unlike small fans, in the win��� ter, Big Ass Fans are slowed, not reversed, to efficiently destratify heat by slowly moving large volumes of warm air off the ceiling without creating a draft. The steady mix��� ing of air creates a uniform temperature throughout the space, which can help the heater to maintain the same thermostat setpoint with less effort, resulting in a serious reduction of operating costs. When temperature and humidity levels rise, the body���s natural ability to cool itself decreases. Government stan��� dards indicate temperatures of 100.4 F and above are dangerous for workers, while air temperatures that ex��� ceed 95 F significantly increase the heat load on the body. Discomfort issues have a negative impact on productivity and the bottom line. Research shows that elevated tem��� peratures affect our potential for both mental and physi��� cal work. Hot working conditions affect worker morale, absenteeism, turnover, quality of workmanship, and the frequency of both accidents and grievances. At Luck Stone, the Big Ass Fan is used to keep employees comfortable on hot days as well as cool. The single over��� head fan replaced several noisy floor fans that cluttered the shop. ���Taking out the floor fans cleared up some space and got cords out of the way,��� Endries said. ���Our people used to take breaks to get water or cool off in front of the floor fans, and I think our productivity may have been a little ���We were basically heating the rooftop of the shop,��� said Project Manager Mark Endries. ���It���s just not a smart way to run your business. We recognized we needed a way to improve the comfort level of the mechanics working in the shop, while being operationally efficient and environmentally conscious too.��� Luck Stone tried typical small ceiling fans, but they didn���t make any difference in the tall space. ���We tried several different things to bring that heat down here and provide comfort, with limited success,��� Endries said. Luck Stone ran the numbers and saw that a large���diame��� ter, low���speed Big Ass Fan in the shop would recirculate enough heat to pay for itself within three years. A 20���ft. diameter Powerfoil X was put into service. Although a mild winter of 2011 skewed their actual heat usage in the first six months after installing the fan, Endries was thrilled with the fan���s performance. ���It was something we never tried before and for us to take that risk and be so happy with it is fantastic,��� he said. Comfortable Workers Are Productive Workers As well as providing winter heat recirculation, Big Ass Fans also work all summer, providing air movement that can make a person feel 10 F cooler. That 10 F can make a big difference when it comes to worker safety and comfort. www.rockproducts.com ROCKproducts ��� DECEMBER 2012 29