Where Does This Fan Go? Proper Placement for Explosion Proof Fans

The primary function of an Explosion Proof fans is to draw air out of a room to keep combustible fumes from accumulating. Exhaust fans are valuable in areas such as warehouses, plant, mills, spray booths, tanks, or other confined spaces where ignitable fumes and dust can gather quickly.

Exhaust fans used in a hazardous location are built with components that must be explosion proof, spark proof, or intrinsically safe. The fan itself must be a non-sparking unit.

Wall Mounted and Roof Mounted Explosion Fans Exhaust Fans

There are essentially two types of explosions proof exhaust fans: wall mounted exhaust fans and roof mounted exhaust fans. The size and nature of the room plus the overall environmental factors will determine where your fan is mounted.

• Wall-Mounted Exhaust Fans. Wall mounted fans include shutter, cabinet, panel, filtered wall, fiberglass, and centrifugal fans. Each fan is used for a very specific application. A wall exhaust fan can capture fumes nearby before they escape to the ceiling. Wall Exhaust fans are also ideal for small areas. Confined space blowers also work well in small spaces and can act as a supplement to a wall-mounted fan.
• Roof Mounted Exhaust Fans. Explosion proof exhaust fans that are mounted on the ceiling work better in larger areas where heat and fumes quickly rise to the ceiling. By installing a roof-mounted fan in the ceiling, it can create suction for the topmost area of the room and draw all rising heat, fumes, and gasses out.

Regardless of the type of explosion proof fan you use, make sure that it is properly installed and airtight around the frame to ensure that it can create sufficient suction in the room.