Wednesday, 28 April 2010

RNLI heating system rescued by Reznor

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s repair and maintenance centre in Cowes, Isle of Wight, switched to a Reznor Air Mixing™ duct to provide excellent heat distribution with essential ventilation of potentially harmful fumes.

The entire RNLI inshore fleet of rubber and rigid body boats is repaired at the centre. On two production floors, operatives carry out rubber (or solutionist) work, which involves the use of contact adhesives. A constant air temperature of 19-20?C is required to ensure optimum conditions for the adhesives, while vapours they give off must be swiftly removed by ventilation.

Four Reznor Air Mixing ducts, two on each floor, are suspended above the production areas. Warm air is ducted to the Air Mixing socks from a single remote air handling unit and forced through small perforations along the socks’ length, creating an immediate mix with room air. Continuous gentle forcing of tempered air through the socks causes room air to be expelled through wall vents, and with it any noxious fumes from the adhesives, ensuring the production area complies with health and safety standards.

Durability and ease of maintenance were key to the decision to install a Reznor Air Mixing system, according to RNLI Production Manager Carl Baker. Made of strong pvc, the ducts will, Mr Baker expects, ‘last the lifetime of the heating system’. This contrasts with the previous fabric air socks, which survived only 10 years.

The Reznor ducts are suspended from a roller bearing track and can be simply unhooked for cleaning. They produce a better mix of air and temperatures can be closely controlled.

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