The Challenges of Cooling Industrial Buildings
Factories, warehouses and workshops gain heat from many sources at once. A system that ignores any of them will be undersized from day one. The most common sources we design for are:
- Machinery, motors, compressors and production processes
- Lighting across large floor areas
- Thin or poorly insulated roofs and walls in older units
- Roller doors that open frequently for deliveries
- Large numbers of people working in one space
Getting this right protects more than comfort. Heat-sensitive stock, electronics, adhesives and food products can all be damaged when temperatures climb.
How We Design an Industrial Cooling System
Heat load calculations
We start by calculating the heat the building gains from equipment, fabric, lighting and occupancy. This tells us how much cooling capacity is needed and where.
Zoning the building
Production lines, packing areas, offices, canteens and control rooms rarely need the same conditions. Dividing the site into zones means each area gets the right temperature, and you only pay to cool the spaces that need it.
Moving air in high-ceiling spaces
Warm air rises, so in tall buildings we choose units and mounting heights that deliver cool air to the working level rather than the roof space. Suspended cassettes, high-capacity ducted units and directional air outlets are typical choices.
Locating outdoor plant
Outdoor units need safe access, good airflow and protection from vehicle impact. We plan wall frames, ground plinths or roof positions with barriers where forklifts and lorries operate.
Industrial Cooling Options Compared
| Option | Best for | Things to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Suspended cassettes | Workshops and units with exposed steelwork | Mounted from the roof structure; even air distribution |
| High-capacity ducted systems | Large open areas and multiple zones | Needs space for ductwork; very discreet once installed |
| Spot or zone cooling | Packing lines, workstations, control rooms | Lower cost than cooling the whole building |
| Dedicated equipment cooling | Panels, servers and heat-sensitive processes | Designed for constant operation, often with back-up |
Keeping Production Running During Installation
We know that every hour of lost production costs money. Before work starts, we agree a programme with your site team, provide risk assessments and method statements, and follow your inductions and permit-to-work systems. Where it helps, we work in phases, on weekends or outside production hours, and we arrange any powered access equipment needed for high-level work.
Office and welfare areas on the same site can be handled at the same time; see our commercial air conditioning service for the systems we use there. You can also read more about our team and accreditations.
Compliance, Safety and Record Keeping
Industrial systems often hold enough refrigerant to fall under mandatory F-Gas leak checking. Systems holding 5 tonnes or more of CO2 equivalent must be checked at least annually, with more frequent checks at higher thresholds, and records must be kept. When we replace old equipment, refrigerant is recovered by certified engineers and disposed of correctly, and you receive the paperwork for your files.
Industrial Estates and Postcodes We Cover
From our base in Newcastle upon Tyne, we work on industrial sites across the region. These include Team Valley (NE11) and Follingsby (NE10) in Gateshead, the Washington estates (NE37 and NE38), Pallion and Hendon in Sunderland (SR4 and SR2), Cramlington (NE23) and Blyth (NE24) in Northumberland, the riverside industrial areas at Wallsend, North Shields, Jarrow and South Shields (NE28 to NE34), Peterlee (SR8) and Consett (DH8).
Smaller workshops and units in surrounding towns and villages are covered as well, and we travel further afield for larger projects. The complete list of postcode districts is on our areas we cover page.