Ogdensburg, New York, U.S.A.

(315) 425-1255 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (613) 822-0335

W H E N

Y O U

N E E D

H U M I D I T Y
In recent decades, manufacturers have begun to realize that many processes and machines operate best at optimum humidity conditions. This thinking is now being extended to an even more valuable asset: People. Investigations into Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) show a direct relationship between the psychological well being of employees and the environment in which they work. When the indoor relative humidity drops below 40%, the incidence of absenteeism and respiratory illness increases. Control Humidity to Increase Productivity Contracting Business HVAC installation, a carefully designed humidification system to keep the area at the proper RH levels.

VAPOR BARRIERS AND INSULATION

WHAT IS HUMIDITY?

Humidity is defined as the amount of water vapor in air. Absolute humidity is a measurement of the actual water vapor in a given volume of air, usually expressed in grains of water per cubic foot or pound of air. Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor in a given volume of air compared to the amount of water vapor the same volume of air will hold at saturation (100% RH) at a given temperature. When a volume of air at a known % RH is heated, the % RH decreases as the volume of air increases. The absolute humidity or total moisture available in

the air remains the same. In order to increase the % RH of the air once it has been heated, it will be necessary to add moisture. Example: One cubic foot of air at 0F holds 0.48 grains of water at saturation. One cubic foot of air at 70F holds 8.10 grains of water at saturation. When the 0F air is heated to 70F, the absolute humidity remains at 0.48 grains per cubic foot. The relative humidity of the 70F air will be 6% RH, (0.48 grains divided by 8.10 grains) the amount of water in the 70F air relative to the amount it can hold at saturation. See Figure #1. Air-conditioning and heating installations are designed for comfort conditions. However, in many cases these systems reduce the humidity below the level recommended for people to operate at maximum efficiency in a working environment. Only rarely is an HVAC system designed to maintain the controlled relative humidity needed in modern offices and industry. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to add to the

Water vapor can easily move within a space as well as infiltrate from outdoors or exfiltrate through the building envelope due to vapor pressure differentials caused by different absolute humidity. Under certain temperature and humidity conditions, condensation problems and possible structural damage can occur. To prevent these problems, NORTEC recommends that proper design criteria be followed regarding the installation of vapor barriers and insulation in buildings. Design data on vapor barriers and insulation can be found in the 1997 ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook, Chapters 22, 23, 24 and 39.

THE NEED FOR HUMIDIFICATION

Figure #1 Absolute Humidity

The problems caused by dry air will vary from one building to another and from one area to another, but basically there are three major problems. These are: Static Electricity Poor Moisture Stability Health and Comfort

Printed in Canada

FORM #00-124A

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Static Electricity
Static electricity is a condition caused by stationary charges of electricity and is a major problem in most unhumidified areas. Since static electricity is caused by friction, particularly when the elements in friction are dry, the problem increases proportionately with the speed of production machinery. Without sufficient humidification, todays high-speed machinery might well defeat its own purpose. Reduce efficiency is frequently the result of static electricity. For example, when static electricity occurs in fibrous items, the proper operation of production machinery can be disrupted. This applies particularly to the printing industry where presses must self-feed paper evenly, one sheet at a time at very high speeds. When the static electricity causes sheets of paper to stick together, the paper bunches, the feeding becomes uneven, and eventually the paper jams the presses. The textile industry is another example of a manufacturing process that requires controlled humidity to ensure quality products. For example, if static electricity causes the yarns to adhere to each other, the shuttles miss threads and improper weaving patterns result. In the modern business offices, static electricity can disrupt operations and increase operating costs. In many photocopiers, sheets of paper stick together and jam the machine, wasting time and paper. Severely jammed equipment may even require service calls. Static electricity can also be dangerous. Sparks caused by static are extremely hazardous where volatile fumes are present. Many flash fires - even explosions - are caused by static electricity.

NORTEC humidifiers are designed to eliminate these problems.

WHY RELATIVE HUMIDITY CONTROLS STATIC

materials give off, or take on moisture rapidly which can result in serious damage to the material or the process in which it may be involved. The drying out of a material can result in product deterioration, while conversely, a dry material can also suffer damaging side effects of moisture regain. In many cases, product deterioration is directly related to the lack of moisture stability. Products such as vegetable, cut flowers, fruit and many grocery items cannot be brought back to original quality once they have lost their moisture. By installing an efficient humidification system this costly loss of products can be avoided. Today many food processors humidify their plant and storage areas and are able to store fruits and vegetables for months without any loss of product quality or weigh. But deterioration caused by loss of moisture is also a problem for treasures such as antiques, rare books and the worlds greatest works of art, all of which are susceptible to damage caused by moisture loss. It causes antiques, paintings, paper and bookbindings to crack, warp and deteriorate. Fortunately, most libraries and museums are well aware of the need for controlled humidity to protect their priceless treasures. They know that proper humidity control is a very inexpensive, preventive measure that will avoid costly and often impossible restorations. For any product that requires a certain percentage of moisture to maintain its quality, loss of that moisture reduces its valve. Some products can be brought back to their original condition by returning the moisture to them. However, among those that cannot reabsorb moisture to regain their lost quality are fruit and vegetable products,

Dry air may well be the cause of the static electricity in your plant. If it is, a properly installed NORTEC humidification system is sure to help solve the problems. One of the easiest and most common methods of minimizing static electricity is to increase the relative humidity level. Electrostatic charges do not dissipate through moist air, but through a moisture film that is absorbed on the charged surfaces. This moisture film decreases the surface resistivity and causes static charges to be drained. This effect is most pronounced at RH above 30-35% and it also corresponds with a decrease in ozone production (a by-product of electrostatic discharge). In computer rooms and data processing areas, the lack of humidity results in static electricity that causes problems such as circuit board failure, dust buildup on heads, and storage tape breakage. Static electricity is a problem that should be of primary concern to any manufacturing plant interested in running efficiently and accurately. For more information: 1996 ASHRAE HVAC Systems and Equipment Handbook Atlanta: ASHRAE

Moisture Stability
Moisture stability is the ability of a material to maintain a level of moisture content despite fluctuations the humidity of the environment. Many -2-

paintings and art objects, what about your product? A specific moisture content in materials is essential to the quality of products produced by a wide range of manufacturers of hygroscopic or fibrous materials. Wood, paper and textiles are examples of materials particularly affected by changes in content. If these materials have a correct moisture content when they arrive at a plant, and if they are used immediately, they will respond properly to the manufacturing process. But problems can be anticipated if the materials are stored in a dry atmosphere. All hygroscopic or fibrous materials either lose of gain moisture in direct relation to the relative humidity of the surrounding air. It is evident that any product that is purchased and sold by weight must have a carefully controlled environment. Paper provides a good example of the effects of dry air and the lack of moisture stability. When it is stored under dry atmospheric conditions, moisture from the outer layers and edges of the stacks escapes into the air. The moisture loss is obviously much more rapid from the outer edges than from the center of the stacks. The result is not only curled stock, but also uneven moisture content which creates printing and processing problems. If moisture stability in the surrounding atmosphere is the answer to a manufacturing operation, then complete humidification of the plant and storage areas is an absolute necessity. Humidification is the best and least expensive way of maintaining moisture stability. If the air surrounding the material is maintained at a proper and constant relative humidity level, so that no moisture is emitted or absorbed by the materials, then the products will

remain stable in both moisture content and dimension. Ideally, humidification equipment should be installed in raw material storage areas, manufacturing facilities, and finished goods storage rooms, for full control of the product moisture content.

Another aspect of comfort is the fact that humidity in the air makes a room feel warmer , so there will be fewer request to have the thermostat turned up. Most employers today provide air conditioning for employee comfort and productivity during the hot days of summer. Adding humidification for full winter comfort and productivity is just as important as air conditioning in the summer months. In fact, it is one of the most important functions of the complete air conditioning or total comfort system. The advantage of conditioning the interior space of a building to increase productivity and reduce the downtime of machinery has been documented many times. Unfortunately it is usually equipment, such as computers and communications systems, that is placed in separate climate controlled rooms, while the majority of employees have temperature control only. Temperature control must be combined with humidity control to maintain

Health and Comfort

During the heating season, inside air dries to the point where the humidity is substantially lower or comparable to that of the Sahara Desert. Dry air extracts moisture wherever it finds it, especially from hygroscopic materials such as wood, carpets and furniture. This extraction causes floors to warp, carpets to wear out faster due to brittle fibers, and furniture joints to loosen. The effect on people is to dry out nasal and throat membranes. For employees this means more susceptibility to colds and virus infections. The subsequent increased absenteeism proves costly for any employers.

Figure #2 Optimum relative humidity ranges for health

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proper comfort parameters in an office environment. More than 75% of all I.A.Q. problems start with a comfort complaint. If this is not rectified, the employees will continue to complain and become less productive. Temperature control alone does not take into account the physiological aspects of the employees. As demonstrated in figure 2, indoor RH variations above and below the 40-60% range have a dramatic effect on the comfort and well being of employees. Humidity conditions above this range are usually controlled easily by the normal dehumidification process of the air-conditioning system. However, as the cold, dry weather of winter approaches or in arid climates, the indoor RH can easily drop well below the recommended 40% parameter. It is not uncommon to find relative humidities in the 10-15% range in most offices during this period. This low RH creates comfort, productivity, and absenteeism problems costing immeasurable dollars to employers worldwide. Studies conducted by Dr. George Green of the University of Saskatchewan indicates that increasing the indoor RH from 20 to 30% will reduce absenteeism by 15%. This, along with the productivity maintenance or increase that can be gained from the additional comfort economic benefit of general office humidification. It is true that energy must be used to maintain comfort conditions in an office. During warm periods, air conditioning maintains comfortable temperature and humidity levels and costs of dehumidification are absorbed within the operating costs of the air-conditioning system. Since humidification is an additional process to the normal HVAC operating costs, it is easy to define the economic benefits of humidification versus operating expenditures. The following study shows these cost advantages.

This example used a metropolitan office with 250 employees where the indoor design conditions of 72F and 40% RH were maintained. The recommended minimum fresh air requirements of 15 CFM per person were followed, as indicated by ASHRAE Standard 62-1989. When the outdoor design conditions were 0F, a humidification load of 103 pounds of water per hour was required. The amount of time that a humidification system is operational at full output will depend upon the building construction and operation. In this example, 2,000 hours have been used as the seasonal operating hours of the humidifiers. An electric humidifier will require approximately 34 kW, a gas fired humidifier requires approximately 133,000 BTUs, to produce the required output of 103 pounds of moisture per hour. Using a rate of $0.10/kWh for electric units the annual system will be $6,800.00. Using a rate of $0.45/Therm for gas fired, the annual

system will be approximately $1,200.00. Using an average salary of $30,000.00 per employee (including insurance, benefits, etc.), the offices annual salary payments will be $7,500,000.00. even if productivity losses due to lack of humidification (comfort, respiratory problems, absenteeism, etc.) are only 1%, in this office, which really amounts to productivity losses of only a few minutes a day, the employer will have a loss of $75,000.00. The $68,200.00 savings produced by the humidification system helps assure comfortable, and more productive employees.

Table 1 Economic Benefits Of Humidification For I.A.Q. And Comfort

Average office - 250 employees Fresh air infiltration - 15 CFM/person Average salary and benefits - $30,000.00
Electric Gas Fired

Fresh air - 15 CFM/person Average humidifier requires 34 kW x 2,000 hrs x $0.10/KWH 133,000 BTU x 2000 x $0.45/BTU 100,000 250 employees x $30,000.00 1% loss due to respiratory illness, absenteeism, comfort productivity Cost of operation First year savings

= 225,000 CFH/O/A moisture required 103 lbs/hr

34 kW to produce the

moisture

133,000 BTUs to

produce the moisture

= $6,800.00 operating cost

$1,200.00 operating

cost

= $7,500,000.00 annual salaries = $75,000.00

= $6,800.00 = $68,200.00

$1,200.00 $73,800

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