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Office Product Guide

How does a fan actually function?

Did you know that at the time of its invention in 1740, the main function of a fan was to “banish foul air and introduce fresh air*”?

The cooling effect that accompanied it was a lucky side effect for its inventor, physicist Stephen Hales. This is because fans do not actually provide cool air, with their rotating motion instead circulating the air in the room by drawing in air on one side and discharging it on the other.

* Source: Brockhaus Conversations-Lexicon – 1809

And why does this feel like cool air?

  • Cooling effect through heat dissipation

When the body's temperature is warmer than the ambient air surrounding it, that person's body heat is always released directly into the layer of air that surrounds the skin. The air circulated by the fan blows this warm air away, which speeds up the cooling process and the person cools down faster.


  • Cooling effect through sweating

When it is warm, we sweat – one of the body's mechanisms to ensure survival. After all, sweat evaporates, thereby automatically cooling the body. The movement of air caused by the fan makes sweat evaporate faster, cooling the body down while doing so.

How does a fan actually function? wt$

Tips on which fans to purchase.

Fans for the office

  • Ceiling fan: requires very little space, as it is ceiling-mounted, providing a high level of air circulation at a low speed
  • Wall fan: requires little space, as it is wall-mounted
  • Tower or pedestal fan: requires little space, quiet
  • Standard fan or floor fans: are placed on the floor, can be used in different locations, highly effective, move large volumes of air
  • Desk fan, covered fan: small, quiet, sturdy, highly versatile – can be given to others to use

Fans for the workshop and warehouse

  • Wind machines: for use in industry in warehousing and production, highly effective, certified for use in commercial environments
  • Mobile evaporative cooler: ideally suited for large, open or ventilated halls, suitable for immediate use, sustainable and cost-effective
  • High power drum fan: very high output, ideal for machine and hall ventilation

Key questions to ask yourself before purchasing a new fan.

Fans vary: output and size, function and area of use, as well as the type of housing. The following factors can also influence which fan you decide to purchase: wall switch or pull switch, lighting and remote control, height adjustable or oscillating. This is why it is always a good idea to check whether the fan you've set your sights on is suitable for your purposes before making a purchase. Of course, we will also be happy to help you with this any time you like.

  • In which room is the fan going to be used?
  • How large is the room: is it a small office, a workshop or large industrial building?
  • Can the speed at which the fan operates and its speed setting be change and adjusted?
  • Is it height-adjustable or oscillating?
  • Can the guard screen be removed?
  • How loud is the fan?
  • Does it feature a timer?
  • Is it equipped with a circuit breaker?
  • Which accessories does it come with, e.g. a remote control?

Buying fans and using them correctly: tips and tricks.

Important: the right cleaning!

Clean your fan after an extended period of non-use; germs and bacteria may cling to the rotor blades, and may multiply unchecked when the fan is not in use. If you were to switch on the fan again without cleaning it, you'd spread all the bacteria all over the room.

Please give it an occasional rest

When used over extended periods, fans draw moisture out of the air in the room, which is why your skin, along with mucous membranes in your nose and throat, dry out. And this, in turn, creates ideal conditions that make it easier for bacteria and viruses to penetrate the body's natural protective barriers. This usually results in catching a cold. This is why we recommending giving the “wind” a rest from time to time – and a timer function makes this particularly easy! Tip: because fans only cool down people and not rooms, please switch off the fan when you leave the room. This will also help save electricity.

Setting up the fan the right way

Set up your fan in different places around the room if you can. An uninterrupted flow of air coming from one direction can make your muscles stiff and tense.

Allergy sufferers beware! Fans using outside air

Fans that use outside air to ventilate a room can also draw pollen and dust into the room together with the flow of air. Allergy sufferers or other persons with sensitivities will have an immediate reaction to pollen and dust. Therefore please make sure you have a good particle filter!

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