Top 5 Ways that Make-Up Air Units Help

Imagine a bustling restaurant kitchen, a thriving manufacturing line, or a cutting-edge university laboratory.

Each of these spaces is a hive of activity, constantly adapting to meet new demands.

But what happens when the very air that fuels these endeavors becomes a silent threat?

The answer lies in the delicate balance of exhaust versus intake, a balance that can be thrown into chaos with just one additional exhaust fan or a new piece of equipment.

In summary, a building under a negative is dangerous, unhealthy and costs significantly more to operate.

In commercial and industrial applications, this balance is not just a matter of comfort; it’s a matter of survival. An imbalance in building pressure can lead to five major negative impacts that affect everything from the structure of the building to the health of its occupants.

But there’s a solution: the make-up air unit (MUA).

We’ll dive into the top 5 ways that Make-Up Air Units can be a game-changer for your facility. From preventing damage to equipment and buildings to safeguarding the well-being of the people inside, the MUA is a resourceful tool that addresses the most common issues caused by building pressure.

Keep reading to find out the top 5 ways make-up air units can make things better in your specific application.

We are the official distributors of the top make-up air unit manufacturers in the USA. As official representatives, we’ll be happy to help explain the best make-up air unit for your application.

Occupants

When the building pressure is off balance, the number of air changes required to maintain a healthy environment suffers.

An example is if a production space has more exhaust than intake, the negative pressure will draw air from outside that space, most often an office area, to try and balance the pressure. This robs those other areas of the building of the air that is required to maintain a safe and healthy environment.

Think about the rush of cold air through the main entrance of an office space. This happens because the building is trying to neutralize pressure, and that opening is the path of least resistance.

The lack of uniform fresh air throughout a space with a negative pressure allows more germs, bacteria, viruses, and mold to remain stagnant and promotes a more concentrated exposure to the people within the space, causing a higher probability of contracting an ailment. (click here to learn how UV lights can sanitize indoor air)

Think about the rush of cold air through the main entrance of an office space. This happens because the building is trying to neutralize pressure, and that opening is the path of least resistance.

The addition of make-up air will create a neutral pressure that will promote air movement which in turn will dilute the air and lower the concentrations of the contaminants within the building.

The benefit of this fresh conditioned air back into the building is healthy employees, improved work efficiency, reduced absenteeism and potentially company health insurance premiums.

Learn how UV lights in an HVAC unit can help sanitize an office space

Structure

When a building is under negative pressure, it is constantly fighting to neutralize the pressure. It fights to pull air through cracks in bricks, windows, doors, etc.

This suction pressure puts stress on doors and windows that was never intended. In fact, if the pressure is negative enough, it can pull a window right out of its frame or collapse a wall.

A building with negative pressure is one in which the doors are hard to open and when they are, air rushes in quickly. Depending on how the door swings, it can be the other way around, where the door is hard to close.

This pressure puts quite a bit of stress on doors and windows and can significantly reduce their lifespan as well as require increased maintenance.

A good example of a building under a negative pressure is one where the doors are difficult to open and when open the air rushes in.

Additionally, the high concentration of unfiltered air causes dirt and grime to collect on window and door tracks, putting further stress on the operators (click to view filters).

The addition of make-up air will create a neutral pressure that will eliminate the stresses on a building.

Contact a Pro to help find the best make-up air unit for your application

We are official distributors for the manufacturers listed below. As official representatives, we’ll be happy to help explain the best make-up air unit for your application. Contact us for a quote or any information regarding their products.

Equipment

Most buildings have heat, and those buildings most likely utilize gas for a pilot flame or gas furnace. On a larger scale, many manufacturer’s include furnaces as part of their process.

Each of these processes involves a flue pipe to exhaust the products of combustion.

A building under negative pressure will always pull air from the path of least resistance in an effort to neutralize the space. In most cases, the flue pipe of heating and/or processing equipment is the path of least resistance.

By pulling in through the flue, the products of combustion are never exhausted and instead are introduced to the workspace, creating a health hazard.

The most dangerous byproduct is the aforementioned carbon monoxide. An odorless, tasteless, and tasteless gas that is toxic to humans & animals. Additionally, the equipment can be starved of combustion air which does not allow for proper operation, if anything at all.

The most dangerous byproduct is the aforementioned carbon monoxide (learn more about CO poisoning). An odorless, tasteless, and tasteless gas that is toxic to humans & animals. Additionally, the equipment can be starved of combustion air, which does not allow for proper operation, if anything at all.

A make-up air unit will force fresh, conditioned air into the building, providing the air necessary to allow for proper ventilation and combustion, which is potentially a life-saving benefit of having a make-up air unit.

Energy

A building with negative pressure puts additional pressure on the mechanical systems. An air conditioner, a heater, and an exhaust fan all have to work harder to obtain the air they need for proper operation.

An air conditioner, a heater, an exhaust fan, they all have to work harder to obtain the air they need for proper operation.

A motorized door has to overcome the push or pull to one side of the track. In all cases, the additional stress requires additional horsepower to overcome the resistance.

The addition of make-up air will create a neutral pressure, allowing the equipment to operate as intended. The resulting benefit is increased performance from the existing equipment, less maintenance, and lower utility bills.

Types of Make-Up Air Units

There are a wide variety of make-up air products that are suitable for every application.

The four main categories of MAU are:

Tempering requirements will vary based on the climate as well as the desired comfort level. Each make-up air unit has its place that will provide you with the optimal results required.

A proper make-up air unit provides buildings and people with many benefits. Not having one could potentially cause catastrophic damage to both property and/or people.

Make-up air equipment should be viewed as an asset as well as an investment in the health of your building.

Providing a neutral building pressure will provide a return on investment through increased production and energy savings, while at the same time protecting your most valuable assets.