RVT Group Sites:
Learn how an industrial ventilation system works and how you can enhance air quality on your site without upfront purchase or maintenance costs.
17th April 2025
In industrial environments, air can quickly become thick with dust, fumes, or heat, creating risks that build over time if left unchecked. Whether it's thick dust hanging in the air or heat accumulating in a confined space, industrial environments require a range of ventilation equipment.
An industrial ventilation system is designed to remove stale or contaminated air from a workspace and replace it with clean air. These systems help control temperatures, humidity, and airborne contaminants, such as dust, fumes, gases, and vapours.
Compared to residential systems, industrial ventilation must work much harder because of larger spaces, higher pollutant loads, and equipment that may release heat or hazardous substances. The goal is to keep the air breathable and conditions safe for workers.
Without proper ventilation, contaminants can build up quickly, particularly in confined or enclosed areas like tunnels, basements, pits, and shafts. These spaces are common in Australian worksites, and maintaining adequate airflow is not only a matter of good practice but also a legal requirement.
Australian workplace laws are clear on the importance of air quality. Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, employers must ensure that the work environment does not pose risks to health and safety. The supporting Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 goes a step further, requiring ventilation that enables work to be carried out safely.
Exposure to airborne contaminants like fine dust, solvents, fumes, and excessive heat can lead to a wide range of health issues. These include respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea, fatigue, and, over time, serious conditions like asthma, lung disease, or heat stress.
Workers in enclosed areas are particularly vulnerable, especially if exposure occurs daily. That is why Safe Work Australia requires employers to control these risks under the Workplace Exposure Standards for Airborne Contaminants. Failure to do so can lead to regulatory penalties, compensation claims, and even project shutdowns.
Beyond compliance, there is also a practical business case. Well-ventilated sites are more productive. They reduce absenteeism, improve concentration, and support safer, more efficient operations. Good ventilation also controls odours and condensation, both of which can damage equipment and products.
Whether it is clearing out welding fumes or keeping equipment from overheating, having the right ventilation system in place reduces downtime and helps keep your workers healthy.
There are several industrial ventilation methods, and choosing the right one depends on the nature of the hazard, the space, and the task. Broadly, ventilation falls into two categories: general (or dilution) ventilation and local exhaust ventilation (LEV).
General ventilation systems work by diluting contaminated air with fresh air. These are useful for temperature and odour control or for reducing exposure to low-concentration airborne particles.
On the other hand, LEV systems capture contaminants at the source before they have a chance to spread into the wider workspace. These are especially effective for controlling welding fumes, dust from cutting or grinding, and chemical vapours.
Industrial ventilation solutions may include axial fans, centrifugal blowers, ducting, extraction arms, filtration units, or air scrubbers. Systems can be natural, which use airflow and pressure differences, or mechanical, powered by motors and fans to ensure consistent movement of air. At most high-risk sites, mechanical ventilation is the recommended option to ensure consistent airflow.
You will often see these systems in use across warehouses, welding bays, paint booths, and large-scale manufacturing facilities. The same applies to enclosed construction areas, where ventilation is necessary to protect workers from dust, diesel exhaust, and heat buildup.
Both fixed and portable industrial ventilation systems can be used, depending on the specific requirements and situations. Fixed systems are ideal for long-term installations in factories, warehouses and processing facilities. These include hooded roof fans, which remove heat, dust and fumes while helping regulate indoor temperatures, especially when used alongside cooling systems.
Wall exhaust fans offer a more economical option and can be paired with louvres to improve airflow efficiency. For more targeted extraction, inline ventilation fans are mounted within ducting systems to draw out contaminants like smoke, fumes and dust with precision.
On the other hand, portable systems offer flexibility for dynamic or temporary worksites. They work by extracting airborne pollutants and improving air circulation. Portable ventilators with ducting are easy to reposition around a site and are commonly used in areas where fixed systems are not feasible due to space or access constraints.
Industrial ventilation systems are vital in any environment where airborne contaminants or heat could compromise worker safety or operational performance. That includes:
Manufacturing facilities dealing with dust, fumes, or vapours
Mining and mineral processing sites where confined spaces and heat are a concern
Food processing plants managing odours and humidity
Metal fabrication workshops using welding or grinding tools
Warehousing operations with poorly circulated air
Chemical handling or storage areas
Large-scale construction sites, particularly where temporary enclosures, tunnels, or underground areas are involved
Australian workplaces are governed by strict standards, and that includes ventilation. On many projects, poor airflow in enclosed spaces can halt operations entirely until proper systems are installed.
The risks extend beyond the workforce, too. In public-facing environments, inadequate ventilation can lead to complaints or even public health concerns.
When it comes to complex, long-term or evolving projects, hiring industrial portable ventilation systems makes solid operational sense. It gives you access to industrial-grade solutions without the upfront cost of purchase, plus the flexibility to scale or adapt as your site changes.
Ventilation equipment hire allows you to tailor systems to your exact needs, whether that is dust control in a tunnel or fume extraction at a construction site. You can match the equipment to the hazard, the layout, and the number of workers onsite. When regulations shift or your layout changes, you are not stuck with a fixed system.
At RVT, we work with clients across Australia to design and supply site-specific ventilation systems. Our technical consultants assess every aspect of your worksite, including hazard type, workforce size and access constraints, to ensure you are fully protected. Our hire fleet includes industrial floor fans, axial fans, and centrifugal fans, all of which are maintained to meet safety and compliance standards.
At RVT, we have supported a wide range of industries with effective industrial ventilation fans along with other hazard control equipment. Each site presents its own challenges, which is why we take the time to assess and recommend a tailored solution.
From deep excavation projects and tunnel ventilation to large-scale industrial workshops, we ensure every hire is purpose-fit for the job. Our goal is to help you keep your teams healthy, your operations compliant, and your project moving without interruption.
If you are managing a site with complex air quality risks or simply want peace of mind that your industrial ventilation systems meet current standards, we are here to help.
Please keep hold of a copy and give us a call should you need anything.
Download
