Fan control methods
Text Here are the main ways new would normally control each different fan within a large building. Please note this is intended to be a general control method the actual control used in any building is determined by the site engineer and the site specification.
General fire alarm conditions, GFA as a general rule under GFA conditions supply air fan stop unless they are being used to bring fresh air into the building to assist in evacuation (smoke control) and if they are being used for smoke control a smoke detector must be placed within the fan duct work and used to stop the fan is smoke is detected, these fans will also have auto/off/on control from the Fire indication panel (FIP). See product ABC SW2-GFA
Toilet exhaust fans. Turn on with toilet lights, turn off when toilet light goes off but with a 10 min run on timer used to clear possible smell. To help with this we have developed our ABC FR3 series such as our ABC FR3 A1A-R
Garbage/Bin room extraction fan. As garbage smells all the time these fans are usually left to run 24 hours a day although for power saving they may be on a time clock that turns them off late at night. If using our fast fit system, you may choose product ABC SW3-SL2
Lobby supply air fans. This fan is normally used to maintain fresh air to a lobby, while it can be left to run 24Hr a day, often a dual thermostat is included to stop the fan on days below 10 deg C or above 30 Deg C. If using our fast fit system, you may choose product ABC SW3-SL3.
Common area Gym, ether supply or exhaust air can be used providing relief air vent is included. As the gym is not used 24hours the usual way is to use a motion sensor which will also bring on the lights with a possible run on timer. If using our fast fit system, you may choose product ABC SW3-SL3 or for a stand along product consider our ABC FR3 A1A-R
Switch room extraction fan, rooms with large electrical switch boards can heat up so this room usually has a small extraction fan operated by a wall mount thermostat. If using our fast fit system, you may choose product ABC SW3-SW-A or SW3 SW-B or for transformer room our complete system ABC FFC trans.
Gas Meter room, for this room the possibility of gas build-up has to be considered for this reason if the gas meter room need fresh air ventilation that must be monitored to ensure it is always running. To check for operation the usual thermal and current overloads are not considered good enough so an air pressure sensor located in the fan duct is included. As the fan is often very small the pressure sensor has to be very sensitive and may need shaped duct probes on both the air on and air off sides of the fan motor. Audible and visual alarms are also included to operate if the fan fails. If using our fast fit system, you may choose product ABC SW3-GM-A or SW3-GM-B if you need a complete gas meter fan control system consider our ABC FFC-R1-GM1-V1
EC controlled fans or JET fans, This type of fan is seen more and more these days but are still relatively expensive so far. They consist of a new bread of motor that has built in speed control and be used in most instances where a varying air flow is required although often they are used in Car parks mostly to move air from sections where the air may be considered still to areas that the main extraction or supply air fans cover. The speed is usually controlled by a voltage that will vary from 0 to 10VDC, the voltage signal will come from a controller of some type, for car parks this means a carbon monoxide sensor, if it for fresh air for an occupied room it may be a sensor with one or more of the following, carbon dioxide (CO2), total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), particulate matter (PM), Relative humidity (RH) or in the case of rooms with a type of chemical within a toxic gas sensor. We can help with a variety of these, please see our section on indoor air quality or toxic gas sensors. Once you have the type of sensor you need, we also carry dedicated jet fan switch units in our fats fit range look at our ABC SW3-J2.
Stair way supply air and relief air fans, see the section under Stairwell pressure control
Car park ventilation fans. See section under Car park extraction systems