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Will Evaporative Cooling Work for You?
What Is Evaporative Cooling?
Evaporative cooling is a low-energy, eco-friendly method of reducing indoor temperatures by drawing warm air through water-saturated pads. We have a nice and simple diagram below of how it works. As the water evaporates, it naturally cools the air, which is then circulated into the building. This process mimics the cooling effect of a sea breeze or the sensation of being near a waterfall!
It’s a super efficient solution in large, well-ventilated spaces and is increasingly used in UK commercial and industrial environments. However, it’s not suitable for every type of building or use case. This is what our article focuses on – to help property, FM and asset managers initially weigh-up if it is right for their business.
For more information, please call us on 01204 929 999. Free consultation and site visit, as required.
❌ Evaporative Cooling May Not Be Suitable If…
🏢 Building Characteristics
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Fully sealed buildings with no ventilation: Evaporative cooling needs a steady supply of fresh air and an outlet for humid air. Without proper ventilation, moisture builds up, reducing cooling efficiency and potentially causing damp or mould.
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Low ceiling heights: Limited space overhead can restrict airflow, reducing system performance.
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Multiple enclosed rooms: These systems work best in open-plan spaces; enclosed rooms with no shared airflow limit effectiveness.
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Multi-storey buildings with poor ducting access: Cooling air evenly across multiple floors can be challenging without the right infrastructure.
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Pre-existing air conditioning that isn’t compatible: Integrating systems needs careful planning to avoid conflict.
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Obstructions in open-plan areas: Machinery or partitions can impede airflow, undermining the cooling process.
🌧️ Environmental Factors
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High ambient humidity: The system relies on dry air absorbing moisture. In already humid environments (like coastal areas in summer, swimming pools, or commercial kitchens), performance is reduced.
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Where low indoor humidity is essential: Places such as data centres, museums or archives may require drier air to protect equipment or artefacts.
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Air quality concerns: Locations near busy roads, industrial areas or dust-heavy zones may not be suitable since outside air is constantly drawn in.
🏭 Operational Considerations
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Internal heat or moisture production: If machinery, ovens or large groups of people are already generating heat or humidity, cooling can be harder to manage.
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Need for precise temperature control: Laboratories, medical spaces or precision manufacturing areas may need tighter control than evaporative cooling offers.
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Strict hygiene or contamination controls: Cleanrooms or food production zones may have requirements incompatible with open air systems.
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Noise sensitivity: Although quieter than many HVAC systems, the fans used can still create some noise, which might be a concern in certain workspaces.
🔌 Infrastructure & Installation
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No access to a water supply: These systems need a regular water source.
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No suitable wall or roof space: Installing ducting and units requires external access points.
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Planning or landlord restrictions: Some buildings may face restrictions that limit or prevent installation.
✅ When Evaporative Cooling Works Best
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Large, open-plan areas: Warehouses, factories, and logistics centres benefit from open layouts that allow for consistent airflow.
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Well-ventilated environments: Whether naturally or mechanically ventilated, air movement is key to effective operation.
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Low-humidity locations: Inland UK regions typically experience low enough humidity in summer to support this type of cooling.
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Where energy savings are a priority: Businesses looking to reduce running costs and environmental impact often find this a suitable solution.
Interested in Exploring Evaporative Cooling for Your Site?
Inergy Group offers a complete commercial solution for evaporative cooling systems, from site surveys to installation and maintenance. Their expertise includes market-leading products such as Breezair units and they’ve published a detailed guide to evaporative cooling for those wanting to better understand the benefits and limitations.
Whether you manage a warehouse, production facility, or commercial site, Inergy can help assess your building and determine if evaporative cooling is the right fit.
Some examples of suitable industries include:
Manufacturing facilities
Warehouses
Industrial plants
Food & Beverage Manufacture
Workshops and Garages
Contact Inergy Group
At Inergy Group we are specialists in evaporative cooling systems in the UK and we are more than happy to discuss and advise. We design, install and maintain evaporative cooling systems.
To speak to our team or to book a free site survey for your facility please contact us on 01204 929 999. Alternatively, you can email info@inergygroup.co.uk.
