Gym Owners - Cooling & Ventilation

GoneShootin

We 2 fitness studios that are almost near enough to saunas. Anyone have references I can chase up to look at installing some decent fans to provide wind chill or air conditioning units?

Based in Cork

wersal gummage

gym i'm in smells like a zoo the past few weeks. i asked one of the lads who works there what the story is - he said they looked into getting air-con installed but got a quote for 700k euro...... now this is a big gym in fairness but it sounds pricey anyway.

GoneShootin

700k? Sounds like a fob off to me. I like the Ben Dunne approach, where instead of cooling the air they employ the "movement of air = wind chill effect". Much more cost effective.

Btw does your gym have carpet or rubber tiles/hard floor? If carpet then that could be the problem of the smell from all the sweat being soaked up.

I'm looking at these kinds of wall mounted units (after a long days research)

http://www.fantechventilation.com/pdfs/Other/pedestal_wall.pdf

wersal gummage

this is a ben dunne gym.... wasn't sure i was allowed to name names.

the place is roasting the last while and stinks (just body odour from others now - i dont mean the actual gym is unhygienic or smells or anything like that).

i mentioned it to one of the lads that works there and he agreed - he said the warmer the weather is, the warmer the gym is.

AntiVirus

wersal gummage wrote: »

this is a ben dunne gym.... wasn't sure i was allowed to name names.

the place is roasting the last while and stinks (just body odour from others now - i dont mean the actual gym is unhygienic or smells or anything like that).

i mentioned it to one of the lads that works there and he agreed - he said the warmer the weather is, the warmer the gym is.

This wasn't the Lucan gym by any chance? I was in there yesterday at around lunch time and there was a bit of a pong alright. It's bad down in the weights section but you get used to it quickly. :pac:

The Guvnor

700k for aircon is vastly over the top. As I had a quote recently for much smaller air con units.

I would estimate you could get near to or over 2000-2500 KW of cooling power for 700k and as a novice all I know is that would cool a huge space! 36,000 sq meters with a height of 7-8 meteres average.

I would not rate the movement of air - it's ok but does not address the issue.

The aircon can heat as well in winter if that makes any difference.

I'm speaking with another chap re aircon soon and he supplies decent stuff but is apparently good value and keen and professional.

squod

Stand alone aircon units are fitted in some places I've been to. Might be worth a look OP.

Red Alert

My gym seems to have fresh air pumped in from outside (which may or may not be chilled in the summer), and also has normal air conditioners hanging from the ceiling. Im not sure the staff know how to use it correctly though, and the whole lot seems to be turned off a lot of the time now.

Owen_S

All you really need is moving air since that's what actually helps the body cool, the temperature of the air doesn't matter too much(as long as it isn't heated)

Mellor

Owen_S wrote: »

All you really need is moving air since that's what actually helps the body cool, the temperature of the air doesn't matter too much(as long as it isn't heated)

Not quite.
The movement of air obviously helps. But that's not the only thing that matters.
Temp matters. And Humidity matters.

It the problem is only slight overheating, then fans alone might be enough. But at a certain point, air movement won't be enough and an airhandling or AC unit will be needed.

You also have a requirement for ventilation. A fan won't help there. Proper ventilation will also eliminate the hot stuff feeling from stale air.

GoneShootin

squod wrote: »

Stand alone aircon units are fitted in some places I've been to. Might be worth a look OP.

Have 2 of those on loan at the moment, and they work well enough in the studio with the lower ceiling height. They cool and warm the air, as well as just help circulate. 2 problems though

1 - They don't do a good enough job with the bigger studio with the high pitched ceiling.

2 - They of course need an exit flu for the exit air, but more-so an exit for water which is a by-product of the whole operation.

I've ordered 2 wall mounted industrial grade 24" blade fans to create a wind-chill effect. Hopefully they will help matters somewhat.

The Guvnor

Best of luck with the fans mate.

It's starting to get colder now so more an issue next year.

I did train twice in a gym in Geneva during the summer and it was hotter than Ireland - maybe 30 degrees outside and he had a fan in the free weights section.

It was certainly nice to stand near to it for a bit. They are what I would say more localised - the immediate area around the fan is pleasant but further away the effect is less and less.

How big is the area that needs cooling?

squod

GoneShootin wrote: »

Have 2 of those on loan at the moment, and they work well enough in the studio with the lower ceiling height. They cool and warm the air, as well as just help circulate. 2 problems though

1 - They don't do a good enough job with the bigger studio with the high pitched ceiling.

2 - They of course need an exit flu for the exit air, but more-so an exit for water which is a by-product of the whole operation.

I've ordered 2 wall mounted industrial grade 24" blade fans to create a wind-chill effect. Hopefully they will help matters somewhat.

4" hole saw and a few of extractors fans above head height might do it. Movement of air won't work. Had two fifteen foot fans stuck into the side of a factory I used to work in. Bloody useless.