The seven main types of industrial ventilation are: natural ventilation, dilution ventilation, local exhaust ventilation (LEV), mechanical supply ventilation, mechanical extract ventilation (MEV), heat recovery ventilation (MVHR), and pressurisation ventilation.
Each system suits different environments, hazard levels, and Building Regulations obligations, and selecting the wrong type can result in poor air quality, compliance failures, and unnecessary energy costs.
What Are the 7 Types of Industrial Ventilation Systems: At A Glance
The table below gives a quick reference overview of all seven industrial ventilation system types, covering their operating principle, primary application, and typical environment to help contractors, facilities managers, and M&E consultants make faster, better-informed specification decisions.
| # | Ventilation Type | Operating Principle | Best Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natural Ventilation | Passive airflow through openings | Low-hazard warehouses, large open factories |
| 2 | Dilution Ventilation | General air mixing to reduce contaminant concentration | Light manufacturing, paint shops, general industry |
| 3 | Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) | Captures contaminants at source before dispersion | Welding, grinding, chemical handling, woodworking |
| 4 | Mechanical Supply Ventilation | Forced fresh air introduction via fans and ductwork | Commercial kitchens, cleanrooms, pressurised spaces |
| 5 | Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) | Powered extraction of stale or contaminated air | Warehouses, production facilities, process plants |
| 6 | Heat Recovery Ventilation (MVHR) | Balanced supply and extract with heat exchanger | Energy-efficient factories, commercial buildings |
| 7 | Pressurisation Ventilation | Controlled positive or negative pressure zones | Hazardous areas, pharmaceutical, cleanroom facilities |
The 7 Types of Industrial Ventilation: Which Is Best for Your Project?
Each of the seven industrial ventilation system types has specific strengths and limitations that make it the right or wrong choice depending on the nature of the workplace, the hazards present, the airflow volumes required, and the energy performance obligations the building must meet.
1. Natural Ventilation
Natural ventilation relies on wind pressure and thermal buoyancy to move air through a building without any mechanical assistance. In large industrial buildings such as warehouses, logistics centres, and open-span manufacturing units, the combination of high ceilings, significant temperature differentials between inside and outside, and large structural openings can generate substantial passive airflow.
This is enough to dilute heat, moisture, and low-level contaminants without running a single fan.
The main advantage of natural ventilation in industrial settings is its near-zero operating cost. There are no motors to power, no ductwork to maintain, and no controls to manage. For facilities managers under pressure to reduce energy consumption and operational carbon, natural ventilation systems in suitable buildings represent a meaningful contribution to building energy performance without capital-intensive equipment.
The significant limitation, however, is that natural ventilation cannot be controlled precisely, and it depends entirely on external weather conditions. On still, humid summer days, passive airflow can drop to levels that are inadequate for worker comfort or regulatory compliance.
For that reason, natural ventilation is most often used as the primary strategy in low-hazard environments and supplemented by mechanical systems where needed.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
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Zero mechanical energy consumption, delivering the lowest possible operating cost of any ventilation system type
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No moving parts means minimal maintenance requirements and no motor or fan replacement costs over the building's life
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Passive system operation supports sustainability credentials and contributes to building energy performance ratings under Part L
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Well suited to large-span, high-bay industrial buildings where volume and structural openings generate meaningful passive airflow
Cons:
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Airflow rate is entirely dependent on external weather conditions and cannot be reliably controlled or consistently maintained
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Performs poorly on calm, warm days when thermal buoyancy and wind pressure are both low, which are precisely the conditions when worker comfort suffers most
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Cannot provide targeted contaminant control and is not suitable where COSHH assessments identify airborne hazards
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Inadequate as a standalone solution in tightly constructed modern industrial buildings with low natural infiltration rates
Best for: Low-hazard large-span industrial buildings, warehouses, agricultural buildings, and any environment where general air movement rather than targeted contaminant control is the primary objective.
2. Dilution Ventilation
Dilution ventilation works by supplying large volumes of clean air into a workspace to mix with and reduce the concentration of airborne contaminants, bringing the overall concentration down below occupational exposure limits (OELs) set by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Rather than capturing contaminants at their source, dilution ventilation spreads clean air throughout the workspace and relies on volume to manage air quality.
Dilution ventilation is appropriate for environments where contaminants are released in relatively small quantities, are of low toxicity, are produced at a reasonably uniform rate, and where workers are not in close proximity to the emission source.
Typical applications include general light manufacturing, paint-spraying booths with high air change rates, vehicle workshops, and storage areas for volatile materials at low concentrations.
The key limitation of dilution ventilation is that it is not suitable for highly toxic substances, variable or high-rate emissions, or situations where workers are positioned close to the source of contamination. HSE guidance is clear that dilution ventilation must not be relied upon as the primary control where harmful dust, fume, vapour, or gas is generated at significant concentrations.
In those cases, local exhaust ventilation is the appropriate and legally defensible choice.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
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Simpler and less expensive to design and install than local exhaust ventilation systems requiring capture hoods and dedicated ductwork
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Effective for low-toxicity, evenly distributed contaminants where general air mixing is sufficient to achieve compliance with OELs
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Provides general air freshness and worker comfort benefits across the whole workspace, not just at specific emission points
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Compatible with a wide range of standard axial and centrifugal fan products available from eFans without specialist LEV engineering
Cons:
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Not suitable for toxic, high-concentration, or variable-rate contaminant emissions under HSE COSHH guidance
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Workers positioned near the emission source may still be exposed to elevated concentrations even when the dilution rate is technically adequate at the general workspace level
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Requires significantly higher airflow volumes than LEV to achieve the same degree of contaminant control, increasing energy consumption and operating costs
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Cannot be used as the primary control strategy for any substance with a low occupational exposure limit under EH40
Best for: Light industrial manufacturing, workshops with low-toxicity solvent use, general warehousing with intermittent emissions, and spaces where general air freshness rather than targeted extraction is the primary concern.
3. Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV)
Local exhaust ventilation is the most important type of industrial ventilation for hazardous process environments, and it is the system type most frequently required under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002.
LEV captures contaminants, whether dust, fume, vapour, mist, or gas, directly at or very close to the point of generation, before they can disperse into the general breathing zone of the worker. The system typically consists of a capture hood or enclosure, ductwork, a fan or blower unit, and a filter or air-cleaning device before discharge.
The effectiveness of an LEV system depends almost entirely on the design of the capture hood and its proximity to the emission source. A well-designed hood positioned correctly will capture 95 percent or more of the contaminant generated. A poorly positioned hood, or one that is moved or obstructed in normal use, can fail to capture contaminants even when the fan is running correctly.
That is why LEV design requires specialist knowledge and why HSE Guidance Note EH40 and HSE document HSG258 both require that LEV systems are thoroughly examined and tested every 14 months.
For contractors supplying ventilation to industrial clients, understanding LEV requirements is commercially important. Applications in woodworking, welding, grinding, pharmaceutical manufacturing, chemical processing, and electronics assembly all carry specific LEV obligations.
eFans supplies inline duct fans, centrifugal fans, and industrial ventilation products that are commonly specified as the air-moving component within LEV systems across these industries.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
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Captures contaminants at source before worker exposure occurs, making it the most effective and legally defensible control strategy for hazardous process environments
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Requires significantly lower total airflow volumes than dilution ventilation to achieve the same degree of contaminant control, reducing fan energy consumption
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Directly satisfies COSHH Regulations requirements for the majority of high-hazard industrial processes, supporting compliance and reducing employer liability
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Can be designed to a very high capture efficiency, with well-specified systems routinely achieving 95 percent or greater contaminant capture
Cons:
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Design complexity is significantly higher than general mechanical ventilation, requiring specialist LEV engineering knowledge and COSHH assessment input
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Capital cost of a properly designed LEV system, including capture hoods, ductwork, filtration, and fan plant, is higher than general dilution or extract systems
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Requires thorough examination and testing every 14 months under COSHH Regulation 9, with records maintained for five years, creating an ongoing compliance and cost obligation
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Capture efficiency drops sharply if hoods are repositioned, obstructed, or damaged in normal use, requiring regular monitoring and operator training to maintain performance
Best for: Welding, grinding, soldering, woodworking, chemical handling, pharmaceutical manufacturing, electronics assembly, and any process that generates hazardous dust, fume, vapour, or mist in the breathing zone of workers.
4. Mechanical Supply Ventilation
Mechanical supply ventilation uses fans and ductwork to actively introduce fresh, filtered outside air into a building at a controlled rate and, in many cases, a controlled temperature and humidity level.
Unlike natural ventilation, mechanical supply systems maintain consistent airflow regardless of external weather conditions, which is critical in environments where air quality, temperature, and contamination control cannot be left to chance.
In commercial kitchen environments, supply ventilation delivers makeup air to compensate for the high volumes extracted by cooker hood systems, preventing the kitchen from operating under negative pressure and ensuring cooking equipment performs correctly.
In pharmaceutical and electronics manufacturing, supply ventilation is part of cleanroom designs where filtered, conditioned air is introduced at carefully designed velocities and pressures to maintain particle counts within specification.
Mechanical supply ventilation is also used to pressurise specific zones within a building, preventing cross-contamination between production areas, or stopping external pollutants from entering sensitive spaces.
eFans supplies a range of inline fans, axial fans, and centrifugal fans suitable for use as supply-side components in mechanical ventilation systems, available across 100mm to 400mm duct diameters for both residential-scale and full industrial-scale installations.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
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Delivers consistent, controlled fresh air supply regardless of external wind conditions or seasonal weather variation
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Enables positive pressurisation of sensitive zones, preventing contamination ingress from adjacent production areas or external environments
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Can be combined with filtration and air conditioning to deliver conditioned, particle-controlled supply air in cleanroom and pharmaceutical applications
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Fully controllable via variable speed drives and building management systems, enabling demand-based operation that reduces energy consumption during low-occupancy periods
Cons:
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Requires designed supply air inlets, ductwork, and fan plant, increasing both capital cost and installation complexity compared to natural or simple extract systems
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Supply-only systems without balanced extract can create positive pressure that causes issues with door operation, uncontrolled air leakage, and potential condensation in the building fabric
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Air handling units for filtered and conditioned supply air carry significant capital, maintenance, and energy costs, particularly in cleanroom or pharmaceutical specifications
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Regular filter maintenance is required to maintain supply air quality and prevent pressure drop increases that reduce fan performance over time
Best for: Commercial kitchens, cleanrooms, pressurised production zones, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and any industrial environment where consistent, controlled fresh air delivery is a process or regulatory requirement.
5. Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV)
Mechanical extract ventilation uses powered fans to draw stale, contaminated, or humid air out of a building or specific zone, creating a negative pressure that draws replacement air in through trickle vents, air bricks, or purpose-designed air inlets.
MEV is the most commonly installed active ventilation type in UK commercial and industrial buildings, covering everything from simple single-point extraction in washrooms and changing areas to large-scale multi-point continuous systems across entire production floors.
For facilities managers, the key advantage of MEV over natural extraction is control. Fan speed can be adjusted to match occupancy patterns, production schedules, or air quality sensor readings, which means the system runs at the ventilation rate the building actually needs rather than a fixed design figure.
Variable speed drives (VSDs) and EC motor fans reduce energy consumption significantly on MEV systems compared to fixed-speed equivalents, and that saving compounds over the continuous operating hours common in industrial facilities.
MEV systems in industrial environments range from simple roof-mounted extract fans over production areas through to complex multi-fan ductwork networks serving dozens of extraction points across a large factory floor.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
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Delivers reliable, consistent extraction regardless of external weather conditions, with full control over airflow rates via fan speed adjustment
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Variable speed drives and EC motor fans significantly reduce energy consumption compared to fixed-speed AC systems, delivering measurable running cost savings over continuous operation
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System can respond to occupancy, production schedules, or air quality sensor inputs, enabling intelligent demand-controlled operation
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Wide range of fan types and sizes is available from eFans to suit everything from single-point washroom extract through to large multi-fan industrial system builds
Cons:
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Creates negative pressure in the building that must be managed with designed air inlets, as uncontrolled infiltration through gaps in the building fabric reduces system efficiency and can cause draughts and thermal comfort issues
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Energy consumption is higher than passive systems, and on large industrial sites with continuous extraction requirements, running costs can be significant without EC motor or variable speed technology
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Ductwork networks for multi-point MEV systems require ongoing maintenance, including periodic cleaning and inspection, to maintain performance and prevent contamination build-up
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System design must account for makeup air provision, which adds complexity to the overall ventilation strategy and coordination with the supply side of the building's air balance
Best for: Warehouses, production facilities, process plants, commercial washrooms and changing areas, server rooms, and any industrial space where reliable powered extraction of stale or contaminated air is required on a continuous or demand-controlled basis.
6. Heat Recovery Ventilation (MVHR)
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery brings together balanced supply and extract in a single system, using a heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy from outgoing stale air to incoming fresh air before it reaches the occupied space.
In industrial and commercial buildings with high ventilation rates, that heat transfer reduces heating energy demand significantly, often recovering 70 to 90 percent of the heat that would otherwise be discharged through standard exhaust ventilation.
For large commercial and industrial facilities operating continuous mechanical ventilation, MVHR represents a compelling case study in long-term running cost reduction. A building exhausting significant air volumes at elevated temperatures during a UK winter is effectively throwing away heated air and paying to heat its replacement.
MVHR closes that loop and makes the whole-building ventilation system dramatically more energy efficient without compromising fresh air delivery rates.
The commercial case for MVHR in industrial settings strengthens further when set against the UK's building energy performance obligations and the push under Part L of the Building Regulations towards lower carbon operational performance.
eFans stocks a range of heat recovery ventilation units including Vent-Axia Sentinel Kinetic MVHR units, suitable for both commercial and larger residential applications, available with free UK delivery and free expert technical advice.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
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Recovers 70 to 90 percent of heat from outgoing exhaust air, delivering significant reductions in heating energy demand and annual operating costs compared to standard extract-only systems
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Provides fully balanced supply and extract in a single integrated system, eliminating the air pressure imbalance issues associated with supply-only or extract-only mechanical ventilation
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Supports compliance with Building Regulations Part L energy performance requirements, making it increasingly the standard specification on new-build and major refurbishment commercial and industrial projects
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Summer bypass function on leading units allows warm incoming air to bypass the heat exchanger during warmer months, preventing unnecessary heat gain in the occupied space
Cons:
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Capital cost of MVHR unit and associated supply and extract ductwork is higher than simple mechanical extract systems, requiring a longer payback period that may not suit all project budgets or building types
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Heat exchanger requires regular cleaning and filter replacement to maintain heat recovery efficiency, with maintenance access requirements that must be factored into plant room or unit location decisions
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Not suitable for industrial processes that generate high concentrations of grease, dust, or chemical contamination in the extract air, as these will foul the heat exchanger and degrade performance rapidly
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Whole-building ductwork distribution for balanced supply and extract adds design complexity and installation time compared to simpler extract-only or natural ventilation strategies
Best for: Energy-conscious commercial and industrial facilities, new-build commercial buildings targeting high energy performance ratings, manufacturing sites with continuous mechanical ventilation, and any building where reducing heating energy costs is a strategic priority.
7. Pressurisation Ventilation
Pressurisation ventilation controls the air pressure differential between zones within a building or between the interior and the exterior, using supply and extract fans operating at carefully calibrated different rates to create either positive pressure (more air in than out) or negative pressure (more air out than in) as the application demands.
Positive pressure is used to prevent external contaminants or pathogens from entering sensitive spaces. Negative pressure is used to contain hazardous materials within a specific zone and prevent them from spreading to adjacent areas.
In pharmaceutical manufacturing, hospital isolation rooms, nuclear facilities, and specialist chemical processing environments, pressurisation is a primary safety control rather than simply a comfort measure. The pressure differential must be maintained within tight tolerances, monitored continuously, and supported by a ventilation system that responds automatically to any deviation.
Fan reliability, control system integration, and alarm capability are all critical specification requirements in these environments.
For general industrial applications outside specialist hazardous environments, pressurisation principles are also applied in a more practical way, for example, keeping clean production areas at slight positive pressure relative to corridors and external doors to reduce particle ingress.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
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Provides precise control over airborne contaminant movement between zones, making it the most reliable method of preventing cross-contamination in pharmaceutical, healthcare, and specialist manufacturing environments
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Positive pressure protects sensitive production or clinical spaces from external particulate, pathogen, and contaminant ingress more effectively than any passive or dilution strategy
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Negative pressure containment prevents hazardous substances from migrating out of process zones, directly reducing risk to adjacent workers and satisfying specific regulatory requirements in nuclear, chemical, and pharmaceutical settings
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Modern pressure control systems with variable speed fan drives maintain differential pressure automatically, responding in real time to door openings and system changes without manual intervention
Cons:
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Design, commissioning, and ongoing validation of pressurisation systems requires specialist engineering input and is significantly more complex and costly than standard mechanical ventilation
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Maintaining precise pressure differentials requires high-quality fan equipment, reliable control systems, and pressure monitoring instrumentation, all of which add to capital and ongoing maintenance costs
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Any failure in the fan, control system, or building fabric airtightness that disrupts the design pressure differential creates an immediate safety or process quality risk in high-hazard environments
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Building airtightness requirements for effective pressurisation are stringent, and poorly constructed or degraded building envelopes make it difficult to maintain specified pressure differentials without excessive fan energy consumption
Best for: Pharmaceutical manufacturing, hospital isolation and operating rooms, cleanrooms, nuclear or chemical processing facilities, and any industrial environment where controlled pressure differentials between zones are a regulatory or process requirement.
How Did We Choose Which Types of Industrial Ventilation to Cover?
This guide was compiled by the ventilation specialists at eFans, drawing on hands-on experience supplying fans, air terminals, heat recovery units, and industrial ventilation equipment to UK contractors, M&E consultants, and facilities managers. Every system type covered here reflects a real specification scenario that trade customers encounter on industrial and commercial projects across the UK.
The selection criteria focused on:
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Regulatory relevance: Systems that directly support compliance with HSE COSHH Regulations, Building Regulations Part F, Part L, and Approved Document O were prioritised, as these are the frameworks within which UK contractors and facilities managers must operate.
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Application breadth: Each system type covers a distinct class of industrial environment, from large open warehouses through to specialist hazardous process facilities, ensuring the guide is useful across the widest range of project types.
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Trade practicality: System types were assessed on whether contractors and specifiers can realistically design, supply, and install them using commercially available equipment, reflecting the real-world scope of most industrial ventilation projects.
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Energy performance: With building operational carbon reduction increasingly driving specification decisions, systems with significant energy efficiency credentials, particularly MVHR, were given appropriate prominence.
How to Choose the Right Type of Industrial Ventilation for Your Project?
Choosing the right industrial ventilation system type starts with a clear assessment of the specific hazards, operational requirements, and regulatory obligations associated with the project.
No single system type is universally correct, and the most effective industrial ventilation strategies often combine two or more types to address different aspects of the same building or process.
Identifying the Hazard Level and Nature of Contaminants
The nature and concentration of airborne contaminants in the workspace is the single most important factor in system selection. HSE COSHH Regulations require that the risk posed by airborne hazardous substances is properly assessed before a control strategy is chosen, and ventilation is only one of the controls available.
For processes generating toxic dust, fume, or vapour at significant concentrations, local exhaust ventilation is the legally required starting point, not dilution ventilation or general extract.
For environments with lower hazard levels, such as general warehousing, light assembly, or commercial offices within industrial buildings, mechanical supply and extract or natural ventilation may be adequate provided the ventilation rate meets the minimum requirements under Approved Document F and HSE guidance for workplace air quality.
Getting the hazard assessment right at the outset saves significant cost and project delay later.
Matching System Type to Building Characteristics
The physical characteristics of the building, including its size, construction type, existing ductwork infrastructure, and planned occupancy patterns, all influence which ventilation system type is practical and cost-effective to install. A large, high-bay warehouse with a steel frame and roof-level opening lights is well suited to natural or dilution ventilation.
A tightly constructed modern industrial unit with low ceilings and significant process equipment will almost certainly need mechanical ventilation, and potentially LEV at specific workstations.
Retrofit projects in occupied industrial buildings present additional constraints around ductwork routing, fan plant locations, and disruption to ongoing operations.
eFans supplies a range of inline duct fans, roof fans, and wall-mounted axial fans that are well suited to retrofit installation scenarios, with compact profiles and flexible mounting options that make installation in constrained spaces more manageable.
Energy Performance and Running Costs
For facilities managers responsible for managing energy budgets across large industrial sites, the running cost of the ventilation system can exceed the capital installation cost within a few years of continuous operation.
Variable speed control, EC motor fans, and heat recovery technology all significantly reduce the energy consumed by mechanical ventilation systems compared to fixed-speed AC motor installations running at full capacity around the clock.
When specifying new industrial ventilation systems, calculating the annual energy cost at the design airflow rate and comparing that figure across system types is a worthwhile exercise that often shifts the specification towards more efficient solutions. eFans stocks EC motor fans, variable speed drives, and MVHR units from leading brands including Vent-Axia and Systemair, all available with free UK delivery and expert technical support.
Regulatory Compliance and Third-Party Verification
Industrial ventilation systems in the UK operate within a layered framework of regulations and guidance documents, including HSE COSHH Regulations, Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, Building Regulations Parts F and L, and HSE Guidance Notes EH40 and HSG258.
Understanding which regulations apply to a specific project type is a prerequisite for correct system selection, and contractors specifying systems for industrial clients carry a professional responsibility to get that assessment right.
LEV systems require thorough examination and testing every 14 months under COSHH Regulation 9, and records must be kept for at least five years. MVHR and mechanical ventilation systems in new-build and notifiable refurbishment projects must be commissioned and the airflow rates verified before Building Control sign-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
What regulations apply to industrial ventilation in the UK?
Industrial ventilation in the UK is governed by several overlapping regulatory frameworks. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 require employers to assess, control, and maintain ventilation systems that manage airborne hazardous substances, including a thorough examination of local exhaust ventilation systems every 14 months.
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 set general requirements for effective and suitable ventilation of all workplaces. Building Regulations Approved Document F covers ventilation rates and system types for new-build and notifiable refurbishment projects, while Part L governs energy efficiency requirements affecting fan selection and system design.
HSE Guidance Note EH40 sets occupational exposure limits for hundreds of substances, and HSE document HSG258 provides detailed guidance on designing, using, and maintaining LEV systems.
What is the difference between local exhaust ventilation and dilution ventilation?
Local exhaust ventilation captures airborne contaminants at or very close to their source, before they disperse into the general breathing zone of workers. It is the appropriate choice for toxic, high-concentration, or variable-rate emissions. Dilution ventilation supplies large volumes of clean air to mix with and reduce the overall concentration of contaminants throughout a space.
It is only appropriate for low-toxicity, low-concentration, evenly distributed contaminants where workers are not in close proximity to the emission source. HSE guidance is clear that dilution ventilation must not be used as a substitute for LEV where COSHH assessments identify significant airborne hazard, as dilution does not prevent workers from being exposed to elevated contaminant concentrations near the source.
How often does industrial ventilation equipment need to be serviced?
Maintenance frequency depends on the type of ventilation system and the applicable regulatory requirements. Local exhaust ventilation systems must be thoroughly examined and tested at least every 14 months under COSHH Regulation 9, with records kept for a minimum of five years.
General mechanical ventilation systems, including supply fans, extract fans, and heat recovery units, should be serviced at least annually as a minimum, with filter changes, impeller cleaning, and motor checks carried out according to the manufacturer's schedule and the operating conditions of the specific environment.
In dusty or contaminated industrial environments, more frequent inspection and cleaning is typically required to maintain performance and prevent system failure.
Can industrial ventilation systems be used for both cooling and air quality control?
Yes, many industrial ventilation systems serve both cooling and air quality functions simultaneously. High-volume general extract ventilation removes both heat generated by machinery and process equipment and airborne contaminants from the general workspace, effectively addressing thermal comfort and air quality in one system.
Mechanical supply ventilation can be combined with adiabatic cooling or air handling units to deliver cooled, filtered air in large manufacturing spaces where process heat loads are significant. For targeted cooling of specific heat sources such as electrical panels, server rooms within production facilities, or operator workstations near high-temperature equipment, spot cooling fans and directional ventilation are often used alongside the general building ventilation strategy.
What fan types are most commonly used in industrial ventilation systems?
The most commonly used fan types in industrial ventilation systems are axial fans, centrifugal fans, and mixed-flow fans. Axial fans move large volumes of air at low static pressure and are widely used for general ventilation, roof extract, and wall-mounted supply and extract in warehouses and production spaces.
Centrifugal fans generate significantly higher static pressure than axial units and are specified for ductwork systems with long runs, multiple bends, or inline filtration where resistance is high, including many LEV applications. Mixed-flow fans combine axial and centrifugal principles, offering a useful balance between airflow volume and pressure capability with lower noise levels, making them popular in commercial and light-industrial mechanical ventilation systems.