Keeping cool throughout the working day can be difficult, especially in the peak of summer. If your staff are uncomfortable and focusing on how hot and sweaty they are, they will be unproductive and generally unhappy. Fans are a cost-effective, easy to use solution – but with so many different options on the market, we thought we’d help with our handy guide.
Type of fan
When it comes to purchasing office or industrial fans there are some basic variants to choose between. The most common fan types are:
Ceiling fans
Fans attached to the ceiling are a good option for larger environments – they have a particularly extensive effective coverage area and can often be a more economical option as modern, high-quality models have energy-efficient motors. You will need to spend a bit more upfront, however, both for the unit itself and for installation.
Window fans
This type of fan is mounted within your window frame and works to circulate and exchange air between the inside and outside. Not particularly great in larger offices or facilities, these units typically have quite a small area of effect. Window fans can also be noisier than the other options, and will need frequent cleaning to remove accumulated dust and dirt.
Wall fans
Similar to desk/table fans, a wall-mounted fan is more useful in offices as the elevated positioning gives a good area of effect. They’re not particularly good to look at though, and will need to be professionally installed. Lastly, in winter months or times when they are not in use, these fans can be quite obtrusive as they are fixed in place.
Floor-standing fans
Floor-standing or tower fans are a good, versatile option. You can put them where you need them at any particular time, and if you have the storage space you can pack them away when they are not likely to be needed for sustained periods.
Desk fans
Desk fans are essentially smaller versions of floor-standing fans, with the same benefits but much smaller effective areas. A good choice for smaller, single-person offices, or desk/clusters where people might have different comfort levels and want different levels of air circulation.
Size
The size of your fan will largely be decided by the size of your room and the amount of people using it. Even if you have a very large office, if you are the only person in there then you can get away with a small desk or table model. If you are trying to keep staff cool in the factory or workshop you’ll want a much bigger version.
Sound
Similarly, the noise the fan makes will determine how useful it is. If you have an office full of staff that need constant communication with each other or they use the telephone a lot, then a noisy fan can inhibit productivity. Conversely, in the factory or workshop environment the sound of even the noisiest fan will more than likely be masked by the everyday sounds of the environment.
Movement
Most fan types (excepting window and ceiling fans) can be found with options to provide oscillations (sweeping in an arc) and vertical adjustments. This will allow you to circulate air over a bigger area, or to target the fan specifically at one precise area if required.
Speed
Good quality fans will allow you to choose the speed at which the actual fan spins. This can give you the option to provide a gentle, background breeze for better circulation, a strong blast for quick temperature relief, or anywhere in between.
Aesthetics
If you’ve spent time and money on making your office or other working environment look stylish and attractive, then the last thing you want to do is ruin it with a boring looking fan that doesn’t fit in with the ambience you have created. Modern fans are available in a range of colours, styles and finishes so the right fan can actually improve the look of your space.
Author Bio: First Mats started life as safety matting specialists, but have since expanded to become a complete industrial and commercial supplies company. The focus of First Mats is to provide safety-focused products that improve the wellbeing of staff through quality approved products, backed up by extensive knowledge. www.firstmats.co.uk
