How to Choose Air Moving Components for Manufacturing Ventilation Systems

Choosing high-quality, reliable air moving components is essential for manufacturers. These components ensure the longevity, functionality, efficiency and overall reputation of your products among consumers. Explore this list of FAQs to guide you as you choose air moving components for use in your manufacturing operations. 

Choosing Components when Manufacturing Ventilation Systems; FAQs

The type of product you are manufacturing, including its intended end-use, is the primary factor in determining what internal ventilation system needs to be installed. This also determines what types of components are needed when manufacturing these ventilation systems. Here are some questions you might consider when purchasing components for air moving packages like motorized axial fans, blowers, or welded wire HVAC motor mounts and fan guards.

Why Choose EC Fans for Air Movement?

Electronically Communicated (EC) fans are a more energy-efficient, powerful and flexible type of fan. EC fans are the latest trending technology, are maintenance free, and can reduce energy consumption in some cases by up to 35%. The EC motor’s integrated functions allow it to monitor temperature and load, and can adjust the speed of the fan depending on system factors.This allows for continuous control of pressure and/or airflow. Learn more about EC fans and motors.

What CFM do you require in your Air Moving Package?

It is important to know how many cubic feet per minute (CFM) you require in your air moving package and what components are needed. We have a very wide product range that will cover most or all of your requirements. For instance, our products range anywhere from 1 up to 30,000+ CFM, and static pressures range from free air up to 5 inches.

Is the Fan Manufacturer UL Listed?

Underwriter Laboratories (UL) is one of the oldest product safety certifiers in the world. A UL Listed seal is proof the product has been tested for safety and sustainability standards. Not just fans, but every component of an air moving system, can be affirmed through checking for a UL listing or badge.

Choosing Welded Wire HVAC Fan Guards or HVAC Motor Mounts: FAQs

Fan guards support end user safety and are also important for OSHA compliance. The same is true of HVAC motor mounts that secure the motor. Here is what you need to consider when choosing hardware like fan guards or motor mounts.

What Type of Welding is Used on the Fan Guards?

There are multiple types of welds that might be used on the fan guard:

• MIG Welding
• TIG Welding
• Stick Welding 
• Resistance Welding

Each type of weld affects not only the cost of the fan guard but its reliability. All our fan guards are made with MIG welded intersections and can be fitted with sheet metal mounting points to withstand vibration-heavy environments. We have three state-of-the-art robotic welders to help facilitate any welding needs, which also reduces part costs. Our outdoor HVAC fan guards are powder coat painted in house for durability. We also have in house plating lines for electrodeposited zinc finishes.

Will Welded Wire Rust?

Welded wire will resist environmental conditions that lead to rust as long as it is treated and finished in a quality fashion. This could mean galvanization, painting, coating, plating, or a combination.

What is the Difference Between Fan Guard Finishes? 

Different fan guard finishes contribute to the quality and longevity of the product. 

• Coating: Applications like a zinc coating provide the necessary resistance to water to prevent rust.
• Painting: Powder paint is applied with electrostatic spray for a glossy durable finish.
• UV Resistance: Polyester or urethane may be used to help outdoor fan guards resist the impacts of direct light.

Our high quality industrial fan guards can be custom-designed, welded, and finished to meet exact client specifications along with OSHA guidelines.

What are Different Types of HVAC Motor Mount?

Three-prong or four-prong motor mounts allow for small motors to be mounted for cooling towers, heat exchangers, refrigeration units, and more. We also provide fan guard/motor mount combinations that can support electric motors,hydraulic motors, and EC Motors. 

What Causes Motor Mounts to Go Bad?

Age and stress cause HVAC motor mounts to deteriorate over time. This stress could include vibration from nearby fans, or high temperatures.

Do New Motor Mounts Cause Vibration?

When you replace an HVAC motor mount or blower motor in an existing ventilation system, this should reduce any vibration that was occurring because the old mounts allowed the motor to slip out of alignment. Make sure to choose a quality motor mount to equip the blower motor to withstand the impacts of vibration from any nearby fans and machinery. Fan blades that are out of balance are normally the source of any vibration and should be inspected and/or replaced.

Choosing Industrial Fan Blades and Axial Fans for Manufacturing: FAQs

The axial fan is the oldest design of a fan and is used in many applications for heating, cooling, or ventilation. What is important in manufacturing is energy efficiency and ensuring consistent performance as the CFMs moving through the ventilation system go up or down. 

What Type of Axial Fan Do I Need? 

Axial fans can use AC, DC, or EC motors. The type of fan you need depends on the voltage value available and whether that is fixed or can fluctuate. With each application you also need to determine what your static pressure is and what type of CFM is needed. Static pressures go up if you are pushing air through a filter and/or condenser or evaporator coil. As the filter and coil clog up your static pressures will also go up.  You need to take this into consideration when designing your air moving packages.  Additionally, different fan blades have different functionality. We can adjust the pitch of our fan pedals at one-degree intervals. Normal pitches are in the range of 20-55 degrees. Contact us if you need help deciding which type of fan is best for your air moving packages.

How to Choose One Piece Propeller vs Riveted Propeller

One piece axial fan propellers are ideal for low-stress situations. One piece fan blades are produced from 3” diameter to 14” diameter. Riveted propellers can stand up to higher speeds and static pressures and are available from 10” diameter to 60” diameter.

What are Industrial Fan Blade Materials and Finishes? 

Whether one piece or riveted, industrial fan blades can be made of many materials, including:

• Carbon Steel 
• Galvanized Steel
• Galvalume
• Stainless Steel
• Aluminum
• Plastic

These materials are often determined based on the client’s unique needs, and custom materials can also be used. 

Finishes for industrial fan blades help the fans resist high temperatures and rust/corrosion. These finishes include:

• Enamel Paint
• Aluminum Paint
• Zinc Plating
• Hot Dipped Galvanizing
• Epoxy Paint

As with fan blade materials, finishes can also be customized.

Do I Have to Purchase a Minimum Quantity of Industrial Fan Blades?

Whether a minimum quantity of fan blades needs to be purchased depends on the material, finish, size, and shape of the blade. If the industrial fan blade is commonly in stock, we sell individual blades or smaller batches. If a blade must be custom created, a larger purchase would be advisable simply for the manufacturer to make operations more efficient. 

We hope this list of FAQs has given you some insights into choosing air moving components and other essentials like HVAC fan guards and HVAC motor mounts for your manufacturing operations. If you still have more questions about your needs or whether we have the hardware in inventory to fill your industrial ventilation order quickly, reach out to Zauderer Associates today.