Ever wondered how commercial buildings maintain their indoor air quality and prevent energy loss? The secret lies in commercial make-up air units. These powerful systems play a crucial role in ensuring a comfortable and healthy indoor environment. In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the world of commercial make-up air units, exploring their benefits, types, crucial considerations when choosing a commercial make-up air unit, their common applications, and the top manufacturers. Prepare to delve into the world of commercial make-up air units and gain a comprehensive understanding of these essential HVAC systems.
Short Summary
- Commercial make-up air units are important for maintaining Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and providing a clean, fresh air supply.
- Various heating/cooling options, customization potential, and integration capabilities should be considered when selecting a commercial make-up air unit.
- AbsolutAire, FloAire, and Moffitt Corporation are leading manufacturers of commercial make-up air units offering features to meet various facility needs.
Understanding Commercial Make-Up Air Units
Commercial make-up air units are designed to replenish the air that has been exhausted from a space due to general ventilation, process equipment, heaters, and other HVAC equipment. They are often used in commercial, institutional, and industrial settings, as a part of air conditioning systems. The primary motivation for their installation is maintaining a high level of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) by providing replacement air.
Neglecting the importance of make-up air units can lead to negative air pressure in a building, which can cause a myriad of issues, such as air contaminants not being effectively cleared, uneven air temperature and humidity, exposure to drafts, and inconsistent workspace temperatures. To prevent these issues, a make-up air unit is composed of a fan, metal box, heating and cooling elements, and makeup air modules, which work in conjunction with exhaust systems.
Benefits of Commercial Make-Up Air Units
One of the major advantages of commercial make-up air units is the enhancement of interior air quality. By providing clean, fresh air to the building, they help protect the health of employees and reduce unpleasant odors. Furthermore, commercial make-up air units play a crucial role in optimizing overall airflow and preventing negative air pressure.
Another key benefit of commercial make-up air units is their contribution to energy cost savings. Moreover, commercial make-up air units significantly contribute to energy cost savings by efficiently providing the required air changes while maintaining or reducing the building temperature. In other words, they’re not only safeguarding the health and comfort of the occupants, but also lightening the burden on your wallet.
Components of a Commercial Make-Up Air Unit
A commercial make-up air unit consists of several components that work together to ensure proper ventilation and air quality. They include an intake, back-draft damper, filters, heating/cooling elements, ducts/registers, and an exhaust fan. The filters play a crucial role in capturing contaminants like pollutants, toxins, and allergens from entering the building, while the back-draft damper regulates airflow, allowing it to move in one direction and preventing reverse airflow from entering the system.
In addition to these essential components, make-up air units can be customized with optional features to suit the specific needs of your facility. This ensures that your make-up air unit is tailored to your unique requirements, providing optimal air quality and energy efficiency.
Types of Commercial Make-Up Air Units
There are three primary types of commercial make-up air units available in the market: direct gas-fired, indirect gas-fired, and electric units. Each type comes with its own set of advantages and is suitable for different applications.
In the following sections, we’ll explore the features, benefits, and ideal usage scenarios of each type.
Direct Gas-Fired Units
Direct gas-fired units are known for their energy efficiency and versatility, making them suitable for various commercial applications. These units are equipped with a gas burner installed directly in the outside makeup-air stream, a gas manifold, an optional intake hood, a filter, and access doors. They can be utilized for space heating, make-up air, and ventilation applications.
The makeup air fan, the simplest type of make-up air unit, consists of an intake fan that brings in air to the building without any additional heating or cooling equipment. Natural gas or propane can be used to heat the air before circulating it into the building. This type of system is referred to as a direct gas-fired heat makeup air unit. This efficient system ensures that your facility stays warm and comfortable, even in the coldest weather.
Indirect Gas-Fired Units
Indirect gas-fired units offer a safer heating option with lower emissions compared to direct gas-fired units. They feature a heat exchanger where the burner is fired, and the air is heated by passing over the heat exchanger, thus allowing for the combustion by-products to be separated from the fresh air. These units typically run on oil, diesel, natural gas, propane, or dual fuel and come as a complete package, rail-mounted, wired, piped, and tested-fired for seamless installation and easy start-up.
The main advantage of using an indirect gas-fired heat makeup air unit is that it prevents any gas byproducts from entering the air, providing clean, dry air suitable for heating areas prone to mold. This makes indirect gas-fired units an ideal choice for facilities where safety and air quality are top priorities.
Electric Units
Electric make-up air units are an excellent choice for commercial and industrial environments that require frequent air changes, offering greater efficiency than gas-fired units. They can be integrated with exhaust and supply fans and are often used in kitchens, factories, and other settings where air quality and temperature control are crucial.
Additionally, electric make-up air units boast minimal maintenance requirements, operate more quietly, and are more eco-friendly compared to their gas-fired counterparts. The chilled water cooling module in commercial make-up air units utilizes a coil to draw air over it and provide temperature reduction, fed by a stand-alone water chiller.
This makes electric units an attractive option for businesses looking to balance their air quality needs with their environmental concerns.
Key Considerations When Choosing a Commercial Make-Up Air Unit
When it comes to selecting a commercial make-up air unit, several factors come into play. The size, heating and cooling capabilities, customization potential, and integration capabilities should all be taken into account to ensure you choose the right unit for your building’s needs.
In the next sections, we’ll delve into the details of these key considerations.
Sizing Your Make-Up Air Unit
Accurately sizing your make-up air unit is essential for guaranteeing adequate ventilation, sustaining interior temperatures, and optimizing energy efficiency. The size of the unit is calculated by dividing the volume of the space by the number of minutes per air change. This ensures that your make-up air unit is tailored to your facility’s specific requirements, providing optimal air quality and ventilation.
When accounting for the use of ductwork, it’s important to note that the static pressure and resistance in the system will increase. This should be taken into consideration when sizing the exhaust fan. By taking these factors into account, you can ensure that your make-up air unit is the right fit for your facility, providing the perfect balance of ventilation and energy efficiency.
Heating and Cooling Options
There are several heating and cooling options available for make-up air units, including electric heating elements, gas-fired burners, or hot water coils for heating, and chilled water coils or direct expansion (DX) cooling coils for cooling. Each option offers distinct advantages, and the selection should be based on the specific needs and requirements of the facility.
For example, direct gas-fired heating is an energy-efficient option that utilizes a gas-fired burner to heat air directly. In contrast, indirect gas-fired heating uses a gas-fired burner to heat a heat exchanger, which then transfers the heat to the air. Electric heating, on the other hand, uses electric heating elements to warm the air.
For cooling, chilled water cooling uses a chilled water coil to reduce the temperature of the air, while evaporative cooling uses an evaporative cooling coil to cool the air. By considering the unique needs of your facility, you can choose the optimal heating and cooling options for your make-up air unit.
Customization and Integration
Customizing and integrating make-up air units is crucial for enhancing building performance, airflow, and indoor air quality. By using various components such as dampers, filters, and controllers, make-up air units can be tailored to the specific requirements of your facility and integrated with other HVAC systems for optimal functioning.
Some of the advantages of customizing and integrating make-up air units include enhanced building performance, airflow, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency. When customizing and integrating make-up air units, consider factors such as the size of the unit, the type of heating and cooling options available, and the intended application of the unit. By taking these factors into account, you can ensure that your make-up air unit is seamlessly incorporated into your facility’s existing HVAC systems, providing the best possible performance and efficiency.
Common Applications of Commercial Make-Up Air Units
Commercial make-up air units are versatile and can be used in a variety of settings, such as restaurants and kitchens, warehouses and distribution centers, and industrial facilities. In each of these applications, make-up air units play a crucial role in maintaining air quality, temperature, and building pressure.
Let’s explore each of these applications in more detail.
Restaurants and Kitchens
In restaurants and kitchens, commercial make-up air units are essential for ensuring that the air quality is safe and comfortable for customers and staff, as well as helping to maintain the temperature of the kitchen. They supply fresh air and maintain a slightly positive air pressure condition in the building, which is important for preventing the accumulation of hazardous gases and contaminants.
Direct gas-fired units, indirect gas-fired units, and electric units can all be used in restaurants and kitchens. When selecting a commercial make-up air unit for this application, it’s important to consider factors such as sizing, heating and cooling options, customization and integration. By doing so, you can ensure a comfortable and healthy environment for both your customers and staff.
Warehouses and Distribution Centers
Warehouses and distribution centers also benefit from the use of commercial make-up air units, which provide fresh air and maintain a slightly positive air pressure condition in the building. This is crucial for ensuring the air quality is safe and comfortable for personnel, as well as helping to maintain the temperature of the warehouse.
The implementation of make-up air units in warehouses and distribution centers can enhance comfort and safety. By selecting the right make-up air unit for your warehouse or distribution center, you can ensure a more comfortable working environment with improved air quality, temperature control, and overall safety for your employees.
Industrial Facilities
Industrial facilities require specialized make-up air units to maintain a healthy indoor environment. Commercial make-up air units supply outdoor air, also known as fresh air, and sustain a slightly positive air pressure condition in the building, which is vital for ensuring the air quality is safe and comfortable for personnel and helps to maintain the temperature of the facility.
When selecting make-up air units for industrial facilities, it’s essential to conduct an in-depth study of the exhaust CFM and the location of exhaust fans to determine the most suitable make-up air options that will ensure neutral pressurization, high IAQ, and comfortable working temperatures. By doing so, you can create a safe and healthy work environment for your employees, preventing hazardous fumes and gases from accumulating.
Top Commercial Make-Up Air Unit Manufacturers
When it comes to commercial make-up air units, there are several top manufacturers to choose from, each offering a range of products and solutions for various applications. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at three leading manufacturers: AbsolutAire, FloAire, and Moffitt Corporation. These companies provide high-quality make-up air units with various features, ensuring you can find the perfect solution for your facility’s needs.
AbsolutAire offers a wide range of make-up air units, from small to large.
AbsolutAire
AbsolutAire is a leading provider of direct and indirect gas-fired make-up air units, as well as electric units. Their products are specifically designed to provide 100% fresh make-up air to commercial and industrial buildings, ensuring that air exhausted is properly replaced with various options such as 80% return air and 20% outside air, or 100% outside air.
Their make-up air units are equipped with attractive standard features and a variety of options and accessories to provide optimal design flexibility and application versatility. With AbsolutAire, you can be confident that you’re getting a high-quality make-up air unit tailored to your facility’s specific needs and requirements, including make-up air systems.
FloAire
FloAire offers a range of commercial make-up air units, including indirect-fired and direct-fired options, as well as High Volume Low Speed (HVLS) fans, centrifugal exhaust fans, and axial exhaust fans. Their make-up air units are available in direct gas-fired, indirect gas-fired, and electric models, providing a variety of options to suit your facility’s needs.
By utilizing a FloAire Commercial Make-Up Air Unit, you can enjoy enhanced air quality, energy efficiency, and cost savings. With their wide range of products and commitment to quality, FloAire is a reliable choice for your make-up air unit needs.
Moffitt Corporation
Moffitt Corporation is a renowned manufacturer of commercial make-up air units, offering a variety of models to suit different applications. Their product line includes direct gas-fired units and PressureStream units, which come with standard components such as fan diameter, CFM, direct drive motor, and bird screen. These units are suitable for supply air, make-up air, or warm air exhaust applications.
Additionally, Moffitt offers make-up air units with DX cooling technology. With Moffitt Corporation’s wide range of make-up air units, you can be sure to find the perfect solution for your facility. Whether you need a direct gas-fired unit for efficient heating or a PressureStream unit for a specialized application, Moffitt Corporation has the expertise and experience to provide a high-quality make-up air unit tailored to your needs.
Summary
In conclusion, commercial make-up air units are essential for maintaining air quality, temperature, and building pressure in various settings such as restaurants, warehouses, and industrial facilities. With different types of make-up air units available, it’s crucial to consider factors such as sizing, heating and cooling options, customization, and integration when selecting the right unit for your facility. By choosing a reputable manufacturer like AbsolutAire, FloAire, or Moffitt Corporation, you can be confident that your make-up air unit will provide optimal performance and efficiency, ensuring a comfortable and healthy indoor environment for your employees and customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a makeup air unit in HVAC?
A makeup air unit in HVAC is a system designed to replenish interior air that has been removed due to process exhaust fans. It replaces this air with fresh, tempered air from outside the building.
What is the difference between a make-up air unit and an RTU?
Make-up Air (MUA) is typically used to make up around 80% of exhausted air, while HVAC Rooftop Units (RTU) are used to make up the rest and condition the kitchen space.
RTUs are designed to provide a comfortable environment for kitchen staff, while also ensuring that the kitchen is properly ventilated. They are also designed to be energy efficient, helping to reduce energy costs.
What is the difference between a makeup air unit and an air handling unit?
A Make-Up Air Unit (MAU) is an air handling unit specifically designed to condition 100% outside air and no recirculated air, while an Air Handling Unit (AHU) is typically used to regulate and circulate air as part of a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning system.
MAUs are often located outdoors, whereas AHUs can be found inside or outside buildings.
How much CFM is needed for makeup air?
When installing a kitchen ventilation hood, make-up air is required when the hood’s CFM rating is greater than 400. Depending on the amount of CFM being exhausted, you may need to install a rooftop unit to supplement the existing air being removed.
What is the primary purpose of a commercial make-up air unit?
The primary purpose of a commercial make-up air unit is to replenish air that has been exhausted due to general ventilation and HVAC equipment, maintaining optimal indoor air quality.
This is especially important in areas where the air is being exhausted at a higher rate than it is being replaced. This can lead to a decrease in air quality, which can have a negative impact on the health and comfort of those in the building.
Jason McNutt, the founder of Industrial Combustion, LLC, brings over 10 years of experience as an industrial combustion service technician. With a strong background in HVAC and certifications in safety, including OSHA and Arch Flash, Jason ensures the highest standards in servicing combustion equipment. He holds NATE certifications for various heating systems and EPA Section 608 Universal Certification for refrigerant equipment. Jason remains up-to-date with NFPA86 Standards for Ovens and Furnaces, providing comprehensive expertise to his clients. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outdoors, coaching his son's football team, and working on his Jeep and four-wheelers.
