Shop Fans

Basics

• This page aims to cover the use of Electric Fans in shops, the potential approaches one could take, and Industry Standards
• This is to guide potential OSE Purchases, as well as OSHW Development

Use Cases

• Heat Stress (help people cool off/avoid Heat Exhaustion / Heat Stroke in the summer, and ESPECIALLY if wearing thick PPE such as Welding PPE etc
• Drying/Cooling things off quickly
• Ventillation
  • Especially if Welding/Grinding/Using Small Engines etc, Shop Ventilation is an important Engineering Control
    • On non-windy days when a Roll Up Door or Window would be insufficient they are especially important
  • SOME care must be taken to not blow away all the Shield Gas for welding, but ventilating a space doesn’t require MASSIVE airflow RIGHT ON TOP OF the welder

Products

Horizontal “Drum Fans”

• Typically available in 24in+ Sizes
• Most are 120v AC Powered
• Most have Wheels to allow portability once “tilted up”
  • Note that larger fans are less and less mobile due to the balance point being off
• Can be Direct Drive or Belt Drive
• Some 120v AC - Rechargeable Battery Pack Hybrid options exist as well

Tower Fans

• Such as those used indoors/in an office
• Can work but typically less Volumetric Airflow (so CFM / M³/S etc)
• Can work for cooling people off, but probably not larger ‘’’Ventillation’’’

Ceiling Fans

• Due to being permanently installed, they aren’t portable, and require a bit more foresight/commitment
• Also more useful for cooling/circulation, rather than pulling air in/out of a space

Industry Standards

Drum Fan

• Max Air 24in
  • Official Product Page
  • A Home Depot Listing ( ‘’’~170 USD as of this edit’’’ )