The necessity of factory temperature and humidity control and guidelines
We will introduce why temperature and humidity control is important for factories, guidelines for appropriate temperature and humidity levels for different types of factories and industries, and examples of temperature and humidity control to prevent problems.
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Many factories place great importance on temperature and humidity control, but why is this? And what are the recommended levels of temperature and humidity control?
This time, we will introduce why temperature and humidity control is important for factories, guidelines for appropriate temperature and humidity levels depending on the type of factory and industry, and examples of temperature and humidity control to prevent problems.
If you are in charge of temperature and humidity control in a factory or have any related questions, please refer to this article.
Factory temperature and humidity control is necessary for both people and equipment (products)
Temperature and humidity control in factories is essential for both the people who work there and the equipment (products). Let's take a look at why this is so.
It is stipulated by the Occupational safety and Health Regulations
One of the reasons factories control temperature and humidity is the Industrial safety and Health Regulations.
The Industrial safety and Health Regulations are laws enacted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to ensure that workers can work safely in a hygienic environment without their health or safety being compromised. Articles 606 and 607 of the regulations require employers to "regulate the temperature and humidity" and "measure the temperature and humidity" in indoor workplaces.
Article 606. In indoor workplaces where the temperature is too hot, too cold or too humid and there is a risk of harm, the employer shall take appropriate measures to regulate the temperature and humidity, such as air conditioning, heating and ventilation.
Article 607 The employer shall, with respect to indoor workplaces that are hot, cold or humid as prescribed in Article 587, periodically measure the temperature, humidity and radiant heat (with regard to radiant heat, this applies only to indoor workplaces as specified in items 1 to 8 of the same Article) at least once every two weeks.
*Excerpt from the Industrial safety and Health Regulations
Temperature and humidity control is important for equipment, products, and merchandise
The second reason why temperature and humidity control is important in factories is to maintain the quality of equipment and products. Temperature and humidity have a significant impact on factory operation rates and defect rates.
When the goal is to maintain quality, it is not possible to maintain a uniform temperature and humidity throughout the factory; rather, the temperature and humidity must be adjusted to an appropriate level depending on the individual equipment, product, location, etc., and this is controlled more strictly.
For more information on temperature and humidity control issues and specific countermeasures, please refer to the following article:
Related article: "Temperature and Humidity Control"
Temperature and humidity control guidelines for factories
There are standards for temperature and humidity inside factories depending on the type of work and products being handled. The rough guidelines are as follows:
| place | temperature | humidity |
|---|---|---|
| Food Factory | <Cooking area temperature> 25℃ or less (Adjustments may be required depending on the food being handled) <Storage temperature> Prepared food processing: 10 to 15°C or less Fresh food below 15℃ Meat products below 10℃ Fresh seafood: below 5°C Frozen meat products -15℃ or below | <Cooking humidity> 80% or less <Storage humidity> Avoid high temperatures and humidity Adequate ventilation Adjustments may be required depending on the food being handled |
| clean room | Around 23℃ | Around 55% |
| Precision equipment factory | 18～26℃ | 40～50％ |
| Server Room | Around 27 to 28°C | 40～50％ |
Food processing plants have detailed regulations for each food item to prevent food poisoning, and precision machinery factories require strict humidity control, where static electricity and rust can directly damage products.
In order to ensure food safety and product quality, the temperature and humidity in the factory are strictly controlled.
The relationship between temperature and humidity control and quality
The relationship between factory temperature and humidity control and quality varies depending on the type of product being produced.
In the case of a food factory
Food factories that handle perishable fresh foods and prepared foods undergo strict temperature and humidity control to prevent food poisoning.
Each food item is stored at its optimum temperature, such as butter and milk at 10°C or below, and fresh seafood at 5°C or below, and the room temperature in production line areas is generally kept low, around 15°C to 20°C.
In particular, in factories that handle perishable goods such as seafood and meat, in order to prevent deterioration in quality, it seems that the room temperature outside the storage area is often set to around 5°C, as low as inside a refrigerator, in order to keep the food temperature as low as possible.
Precision equipment factory
The problem with precision equipment is humidity rather than temperature. Precision equipment often uses materials that are prone to rust, and if humidity exceeds 50%, the risk of rust and corrosion increases, adversely affecting quality.
However, if the humidity falls below 40% and the environment becomes too dry, static electricity will be generated, which can damage electronic circuits. For this reason, many precision equipment factories take great care to keep the humidity between 40% and 50%.
In the case of a printing factory
One thing that printing factories must pay attention to is the condition of the paper. Paper that easily absorbs moisture can develop paper tendencies such as rippling and curling due to changes in humidity, which can cause printing problems. Humidity also affects the drying rate of ink and the temperature rise of rollers.
In the case of a textile factory
Dryness is the enemy of textiles. Low humidity can lead to thread breakage and unevenness, so it is essential to install a humidifier during dry seasons.
Furthermore, in knitting factories where looms are in operation to delicately weave the fabric, dust and dirt are strictly prohibited, so special humidifiers are used to humidify the environment while maintaining a clean state.
In addition, if the loom generates a lot of heat, appropriate measures will be necessary, such as running air conditioning and ventilation equipment even in winter.
The importance of temperature and humidity control goes beyond quality
Controlling the temperature and humidity in a factory also helps prevent problems caused by static electricity and heat.
Preventing static electricity problems
Static electricity can sometimes cause serious damage, but it cannot be prevented with just a hygrometer. To effectively prevent it, you need to understand the relationship between humidity and temperature.
First, the limit of the amount of water vapor that air can contain (saturated water vapor amount) changes depending on the temperature. The reading on a hygrometer indicates the percentage of humidity up to that limit. The higher the temperature, the higher the limit of water vapor, so "50% humidity" at 30°C contains more water vapor than "50% humidity" at 15°C.
*Source: https://weathernews.jp/s/topics/202002/280095/
Even if you keep the humidity at 40% to 50% on a hygrometer, it may not be possible to prevent static electricity depending on the room temperature. To prevent static electricity, it is important to manage the room temperature and humidity in combination.
Preventing heat-related problems
In factories where industrial equipment and machine tools are in operation, temperature control is essential because friction between metals and heat from motors can cause expansion and deformation of machine parts.
It is important to properly manage the temperature of heat source equipment, such as by introducing cooling pipes, dedicated cooler, and fans.
Also, if there are many heat-generating devices, the room temperature is likely to rise, so be sure to pay attention to creating a comfortable working environment.
summary
Temperature and humidity control in factories has two purposes: to achieve a legally mandated working environment and to maintain product quality. The appropriate temperature and humidity varies depending on the type of product and equipment being handled, such as food, precision machinery, printed materials, or clothing, so it is important to install air conditioning equipment that is appropriate for your company.
Accurate temperature and humidity control is also important in preventing problems. Because the humidity in the air is greatly affected by the temperature, it is important to properly manage both temperature and humidity. A production site maintained in optimal conditions will also lead to safety of the people working there.
Are there any seasonal fluctuations in yield and measurement data?
Apiste, a manufacturer specializing in precision air conditioning, can provide a constant temperature and humidity environment year-round in a short delivery time.
- Changes in the viscosity of the material can cause uneven thickness and coating.
- Expansion and contraction of the workpiece is a problem
- Data varies due to fluctuations in measurement conditions
