Maintenance schedules depend on the type of humidifier and the humidifier application. Humidification and dehumidification equipment supplier Humidair owner Pieter Aldred notes that modern humidifiers are sophisticated and can assist end-users in identifying faults or servicing requirements.

Little attention is paid to humidification levels and equipment. High or too low humidification levels and unmaintained equipment can lead to significant increases in bacteria, which presents health risks, particularly in hospital environments, laboratories, pharmaceutical facilities and the food industry, says Aldred.

Equipment can be linked to business management systems, such as Modbus and BACnet, to provide warnings or alerts on a centralised system for larger buildings or facilities that use multiple humidification equipment. These solutions are often used together to provide efficient climate control in an environment.

Humidair provides and represents commercial and industrial humidification manufacturer Condair Switzerland, with a wide range of humidification such as steam, evaporative, spray nozzles as well as condensing and desiccant dryers. Humidification solutions are not common in offices across South Africa, compared to those in European countries. However, for various industries, humidification is critical to ensure quality product control, explains Aldred.

Humidification solutions are also required in environments that need to eliminate static in the atmosphere such as detonator assembly facilities.

In such environments, static electricity can potentially cause explosions; therefore, using humidification prevents the air from being dry, which prevents static and its associated potential hazards.

Aldred says it is important to evaluate the requirements of each application when selecting humidifiers or dehumidifiers.

Through its experience of more than 25 years in the humidification industry, Humidair accumulated insight into matching the most appropriate solution to the required application, and how the selection works with air-conditioning systems or related products.

He stresses the importance of selecting capacities accurately to avoid providing under- or oversized equipment. Throughout the process of finalising a solution, Humidair ensures that the customer is aware of all the aspects of the recommended selection.

Industries that require humidification and dehumidification solutions include art-related facilities, data server centres, laboratories, mass printing presses and various manufacturing facilities, as well as mining applications pertaining to climatisation chambers.