Humidification – Improves Comfort of Building Occupants, Performance of Equipment and the Bottom Line
Low humidity levels, like excess humidity, have a significant effect on the health of building occupants. Low humidity aggravates asthma and other allergy and respiratory-related illnesses. Insufficient humidity can also adversely effect high-tech medical equipment, computers, and other electronic equipment. In some industrial processes with a high
risk of fire or explosion due to static electricity, low humidity can be dangerous.In the past, the space heating or process boilers provided indoor humidity—either through system leaks or steam injection manifolds. Due to environmental concerns about boiler water treatment chemicals, dedicated boilers were the logical alternative, but these were expensive for small facilities or those that would not otherwise need a boiler. Ultimately, the need for a cost-effective humidification option led to the development of direct-fired gas humidification.
Description of Humidification Technology
The optimum relative humidity range (see chart) for health is considered to be in the 45% to 55% range. Natural gas humidification and dehumidification systems can add moisture to indoor air during cold, dry winter months and wring excess moisture from hot, humid indoor air during the summer.