Warehouse Fans

Warehouse fans — for cooling, ventilation, air circulation and winter destratification. eFans supplies the full stack for UK warehouses, factories, distribution centres and light industrial units: plate axial fans from 200mm to 800mm for through-wall extract, cased axial fans up to 900mm for ducted extract and make-up air, and Hydor HCF destratification sweep ceiling fans (36"/48"/56") for pushing warm air back down from the roof in heated buildings.

Brands include Systemair, S&P, Elta and Hydor, in single-phase AC, three-phase AC and EC energy-efficient motors, all speed controllable. Trade pricing on multiple-unit installs, UK stock and next-day delivery. Email hello@efans.co.uk or call 0161 399 3825 for a quote, sizing help or wholesale pricing.

Destratification Fans / Plate Axial Fans / Cased Axial Fans / Roof Mounted Fans / Speed Controllers

What fans are used in warehouses?

A working warehouse ventilation scheme usually combines three fan types. Plate axial fans mounted through external walls move large volumes of air in or out at low pressure — the workhorse for summer cooling, fume extract and general air change. Cased axial fans sit inline on ductwork to push air over longer distances, handle pressure drop and serve multiple grilles or diffusers. Destratification sweep ceiling fans recirculate warm air trapped at the apex back down into the occupied zone in winter, cutting heating bills by 20–30%. Larger sites may add HVLS fans for summer cooling comfort. eFans stocks all four types.

How do I size warehouse ventilation fans?

Start with air changes per hour (ACH). A typical warehouse needs 4–6 ACH for general ventilation and 10+ ACH where heat, fumes or moisture build up. Multiply the building volume (length × width × height in metres) by the target ACH to get the m³/h airflow requirement. Divide by the number of fans to get the per-fan duty. For through-wall plate axial installs size one fan per 200–400m² of floor area at typical warehouse heights. For ducted systems add 20–30% to account for pressure loss in the ductwork. If you share dimensions with our team we'll size the scheme and quote matched make-up air.

Do I need destratification fans, HVLS fans or plate axial fans for my warehouse?

The three solve different problems. Destratification fans (Hydor HCF 36"/48"/56") run in winter to push warm ceiling air back down — specified where the warehouse is heated and you want to cut gas or electric costs. HVLS fans are large-diameter sweep fans (7ft+) for summer cooling comfort across big open floors. Plate axial fans mount through external walls and move outside air in or exhaust hot/stale air out — the core summer-cooling and year-round ventilation solution. Most warehouses benefit from destratification fans plus plate axial extract; large or heated sites add HVLS.

What size warehouse fan do I need — 400mm, 600mm or 800mm?

As a rough guide: 315–400mm plate axial suits small units up to around 500m², 450–560mm covers typical industrial units to 1500m², 630–710mm suits larger warehouses and distribution centres, and 800mm is specified for high-heat-load manufacturing or very large spaces. For destratification the equivalent guide is Hydor HCF900 (36") for smaller workshops and offices, HCF1200 (48") for most warehouses with 5–8m ceilings, and HCF1400 (56") for large industrial units and sports-hall-scale spaces. When in doubt, oversize slightly and run at lower speed via a controller — quieter, longer-lasting and more efficient.

Single-phase or three-phase warehouse fans?

Three-phase (400V) motors are more efficient, cheaper to run on larger sizes (450mm+) and standard in commercial/industrial buildings with 3-phase supply. Single-phase (230V) is specified where only 230V is available, on smaller fans (up to ~400mm) or for simpler installs. eFans stocks single-phase and three-phase versions of most Systemair AW, S&P HCBB/HCBT/HXBR and Elta SCP plate axials, plus the S&P TCBT cased axial range in three-phase. EC motors are the newest option — electronically commutated, 30–50% more efficient than AC, soft-starting and controllable with a simple 0-10V signal, specified on new commercial projects where energy performance matters.

What's the best way to cool a warehouse in summer?

A layered approach. Start with plate axial extract fans at high level on the lee side of the building to pull hot air out, combined with louvred openings on the opposite side for passive make-up air. Add destratification or HVLS fans for occupant-level air movement — perceived temperature drops by 3–5°C with moving air even if the dry-bulb temperature is unchanged. For high heat loads (welding, engineering, commercial kitchens) add targeted spot extract over the source. Industrial air conditioning is rarely the right answer for general warehouse cooling — ventilation plus air movement is dramatically cheaper to install and run.

Are warehouse fans speed controllable?

Yes — all Systemair, S&P, Elta and Hydor fans we stock are speed controllable. AC motors use a 5-step speed controller or electronic variable speed controller; EC motors use a 0-10V signal from a BMS, thermostat or manual dial. For multi-fan installs specify one controller per zone or group of fans rather than one for the whole building. Speed control also extends fan life — running continuously at 60% speed is quieter, cooler-running and uses far less energy than cycling on and off at full speed.

How noisy are warehouse extract fans?

Quieter than most people expect. Systemair AW Sileo and S&P Silent-range plate axial fans are engineered specifically for acoustically sensitive installations — typical noise levels are 55–70 dB(A) at 3m, comparable to office background. Running fans below full speed via a controller cuts noise further. For warehouses near residential boundaries or with occupied office space, specify Sileo/Silent versions and run via speed controller; for pure industrial sites, standard models are fine and cheaper. Cased axial fans with attenuators are the quietest option for ducted systems.

Plate axial through the wall or cased axial on ductwork — which do I need?

Plate axial fans sit in a square or circular plate and mount directly through an external wall, with a louvre or grille on the outside. Installation is fast, cost is low, and they move huge volumes at low pressure — the right choice when you can extract or supply directly at the external wall. Cased axial fans sit inline on ductwork, handle longer runs, multiple branches and higher pressure, and are specified when fans need to serve internal rooms, ceiling voids or multi-zone schemes. Typical warehouse: plate axials on the external walls, cased axial only if the scheme needs distributed extract.

Do you supply warehouse ventilation schemes and trade pricing?

Yes — eFans supplies M&E contractors, industrial HVAC installers, facilities teams and end-client maintenance teams across the UK. Send us a drawing, schedule or brief and we'll size the scheme, quote matched fans and controls, price any louvres or grilles, and arrange next-day or scheduled delivery to site. Call 0161 399 3825 or email hello@efans.co.uk.