"Top-floor readings were pushing 135 degrees before noon."
Every building stacks heat differently, which is why SysTech never starts with a catalog answer. We question operators and plant engineers, study how air really moves through a space, and only then design a system. This project for a snack-food manufacturer near Lancaster, PA came together because plant staff shared the details that mattered. The plant's dry-roasting line gave off huge volumes of hot, humid air that pooled in the upper two levels every summer afternoon. Outdoor highs sat in the upper 80s, yet top-floor sensors read past 135°F, forcing production shutdowns and putting workers at risk.
Ventilation System Design
Before specifying anything, SysTech personell walked the facility, mapped every heat source, and modeled the airflow. Propped-open hatches and dock doors had barely helped, and they let dust and pests into a food-grade space. Drawing on the same approach behind our steel building ventilation systems, the design pulled cool make-up air in low and pushed accumulated heat out high. Two adjustable louvers fed fresh air to the third level through a two-stage MERV 8 and MERV 13 filter bank to protect product quality.
At the roof, two upblast axial exhaust fans drew heat off the top of the building at roughly 14 air changes per hour. Heartzell Fans were ideal for this application becuase of their heavy-duty construction and high efficiency. Motorized backdraft dampers sealed the openings whenever the fans idled, and variable frequency drives adjusted airflow by ramping up or down with outdoor conditions.
The Result
The system proved itself two weeks after start-up, when a heat wave pushed outdoor highs past 96°F. Top-floor temperatures never climbed above 112°F, the afternoon shutdowns ended, and the open-hatch workaround was retired for good.
| Measurement | Before | After Install |
|---|---|---|
| Top-floor afternoon temperature | 135°F+ | 112°F or below |
| Outdoor high (heat-wave test) | 96°F | 96°F |
| Air changes per hour (upper levels) | ~2 incidental | ~14 |
| Afternoon production | Halted | Full shift |
Keep your crew safe and your line running through the hottest part of the year. Let SysTech design the ventilation system that does it.
Call SysTech: 800-456-9460
