Commercial And Industrial Fans: A Brief Buying Guide

Fans offer an easy and affordable way to make any room a more comfortable one. They are highly useful as standalone devices, but they are also often used to support a cooling or heating equipment in circulating cooled or heated air. 

For businesses looking for suitable fans, commercial and industrial-grade fans are a perfect choice. But here enters a question asked by many buyers: how to choose between commercial and industrial fans?

How to choose between commercial and industrial fans

As their names suggest, commercial and industrial fans are designed for specific applications. They often appear to be very similar, but they do have several differences in terms of materials, construction, airflow rate, and price.

Industrial fans are made for heavy-duty use. Because of that, they are constructed with more robust components designed to withstand long-term use and high airflow requirements. You can expect them to be more expensive than commercial models, but their functionality and long service life make them reasonable investments for large spaces like factories, warehouses, and even garages.

Commercial fans, on the other hand, are made for light-duty use. They’re made with lighter and less expensive materials, so they are more affordable than industrial fans. They are ideal for offices, restaurants, and other small to medium-sized spaces. Some commercial-grade fans are also perfectly suitable for residential use.   

Given the wide variety of commercial and industrial fans, it can be very challenging to choose one specific model that you can trust and buy. With that, here is a shortlist of the things you should consider and look out for when choosing the best fan for you:

Consider where you intend to use the fan

Your very first consideration in buying a fan should be the purpose that you want it to serve. Do you need a fan for your office, for a high-ceiling room, or for residential use? What size of a fan can your place accommodate? Do you need a fan you can install on the wall, the ceiling, or something portable? Do you want something stationary or a fan that can oscillate?

Answering these questions would dramatically decrease your choices and filter out those models that might seem good but aren’t suitable for your needs. It would also make it easy for you to do your research. For example, instead of looking for the best industrial fans, you can research the best industrial oscillating wall-mounted fans and get a narrower set of choices.

Consider trustworthy manufacturers 

It’s easy to get swayed by sleek designs and impressive product claims that we see online. However, just like fast fashion, a lot of the fan units out there are made to be stylish yet lacking the necessary durability and functionality that can serve you for a long time.

Because of that, you should be careful in choosing not just the fan that you want but also the manufacturer you’re willing to trust. Instead of going for new, seemingly impressive names, you’re more likely to get the best value from brands that are familiar and have been consistently dependable for some time.

Consider CFM, RPM, and your noise tolerance

Different fans produce different airflow rates and noise levels. You can find out about how much air a fan can move through its CFM (cubic feet per minute) rating and how much movement its blades perform through its RPM (revolutions per minute) rating. 

A CFM rating of 4,000 to 5,000 is generally sufficient for light-duty fans while 5,000 or higher is needed for heavy-duty fans. 

Note that fans with higher RPM are also noisier. With that, you’d like to choose a fan with high CFM but low RPM. 

Consider safety features

As with any electrical device, you have to make sure that your fan isn’t just well-performing but is also safe to use. Some of the common safety features you can look out for are the fan housing (not applicable in most ceiling fans), impedance protection, thermally protected motor, safety wires, and impact-resistant cables.

You should also be extra cautious when choosing industrial fans since these devices can become sources of hazards. Some commercial and industrial fans, for example, are labeled as compliant with the standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Markings like those of OSHA and other quality certification agencies are good indicators of safe-to-use products. 

Modern features to look out for

For improved safety and/or convenience, you can choose fans with additional features like quiet operation, water or dust-proof construction, remote control, programmable timer, and cast wheels. Just be sure to weigh both the pros and cons.   

Conclusion

The availability of a wide variety of fan models is both convenient and dangerous. To avoid purchases that don’t give lasting value, be sure to purchase according to your needs and objective considerations like a fan’s airflow rate and safety features. 

Review the guidelines above as often as needed, and keep them in mind before and during your hunt for the best commercial or industrial-grade fan.