What is Make-Up Air?
Make-Up Air is an outside air
supply that is brought indoors to relieve air starvation,
which occurs when air is being exhausted, or to meet
building code requirements. Make-Up Air units may be
required to heat, ventilate, cool, and/or filter. Units
may also be required to replace the air of a conditioned
space, or may be used for part or all of the heating,
ventilating, and/or cooling load.
When is Make-Up Air required?
Make-Up Air is required when
exhaust fans are used, when fresh outside air is needed,
or when building codes or other regulations require
substantial amounts of replacement air. The need for
Make-Up Air arises when there are:
- Activities which create excessive
heat or undesirable odors
- Hazardous
material storage areas
- Ventilation
requirements for building inhabitants
- Processes
which generate contaminants in the form of noxious
fumes or dust
- Exterior doors
are hard to open
- Sever
in-drafts at exterior doors
- Exhaust
systems do not perform at rated volume
- Perimeter of the building is cold
in the winter due to high infiltration
Where is Make-Up air used?
Make-Up Air units not only supply
replacement air for areas where air is exhausted, but
also provide low cost economizing ventilation, heating
and cooling in such areas as:
- Restaurants /
Kitchens
- Schools
(classrooms, gymnasiums, cafeterias, kitchens)
- Jails
- Dog Kennels
- Laundries
- Factories
- Animal Barns /
Stockyards
- Poultry Houses
- Greenhouses
- Warehousing
Facilities
- Rest Rooms
- Garages / Gas
Stations
- Paint Rooms
Are there alternative applications?
YES! A Make-Up Air unit can serve
as a fresh air source when outside temperatures are
favorable, and it can also spot cool or heat even though
no air is being exhausted.