Maintaining proper humidity is important for year-round indoor air quality in commercial and residential buildings. Natural gas humidifiers add moisture to the air to increase occupant health and comfort, reduce static electricity, protect product materials and enhance manufacturing processes. Efficient natural gas also makes them economical to operate.

Primary applications for natural gas humidifiers

• Schools and churches
• Health care and nursing facilities
• Multi-family housing
• Libraries and museums
• Office buildings
• Food and dairy processing
• Printing facilities
• Environmental test facilities
• Computer and semiconductor operations
• Textile and paper manufacturing
• Warehouses
• Wood and wood products manufacturing
• Photographic material processing
• Animal housing

Occupant health and comfort

Moisture extremes – wet or dry – create breeding grounds for germs that can cause illness, discomfort and absenteeism. Disease-causing bacteria and viruses live longer in these conditions. When air is extremely dry, for example, most of these agents are inactive as room dust. But when inhaled, they become moist and active again. Respiratory disorders, allergies, dry skin and other problems can result.

Dry air also feels colder, even when the temperature is raised. But when optimum humidity is maintained, building temperatures can be lowered without impacting comfort. Studies have found* that a 20 percent change in relative humidity is equivalent to a one degree Fahrenheit change in dry bulb temperature (actual thermometer reading, unaffected by wind or other factors).

Optimum humidity also helps control odors, especially important in healthcare facilities and manufacturing operations.

Static electricity control

Static electricity can wreak havoc in computer rooms, research laboratories, healthcare and other operations. Dry air can damage electronic circuits in high-tech equipment or cause malfunctions. Controlling static also helps ensure safety for facilities such as healthcare that sometimes use potentially explosive gases.

Maintaining optimum indoor relative humidity of 40 to 50 percent helps reduce or eliminate static-producing conditions. It cushions the tiny particulates that conduct electricity with a microscopic layer of moisture that provides a path for static electricity to "ground out."

Product and manufacturing quality

Dry air also has a detrimental effect on the raw materials used in manufacturing and production. Food goods, textiles, carpets, wood, paper, leather, vinyls, plastics and other goods will shrink, harden, crack, or be otherwise damaged when a dry environment pulls the moisture out of them.

Energy and cost savings

Studies have proven that the cost of energy used to increase humidity is directly offset by the energy savings made possible by lowering room temperatures because the air feels more comfortable.**

In addition, a natural gas humidifier:

• Costs up to 75 percent less to operate than electric humidifiers.
• Contributes to healthier air and reduced absenteeism.
• Helps prevent lost hours due to equipment malfunctions.
• Reduces product shrinkage and other material loss.

See our case study on humidifiers.

For more information call your account manager or contact us.

*ASHRAE Journal, June 1981

**Plant Engineering Magazine, May 27, 1982