Hot Studio Design Humidity & Heat - Heat and humidity hot studio design - Humidity Solutions Ltd
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Humidity Solutions Ltd
......the solution is clear
Hot Studio Design
Humidity & Heat
p.1
Heat and humidity hot studio design
Hot Studio Design 1
Humidity Solutions Ltd
......the solution is clear
The Author
John Barker
Humidity Solutions Ltd was set up by John Barker and Lindsey Henderson to provide
excellent customer care to the wide variety of industries that require humidity control.
With over 25 years of experience each in the world of providing stable and precise humidity
control – in applications ranging from museums and galleries to chicken hatcheries and
maggot farms - it was not daunting to be faced with our first hot yoga studio application.
Providing stable humidity control within a room / studio, even at the unusually high
temperature of 40°C, was not a concern and was well within our expertise and equipment
specifications.
John has dealt with the majority of the studio applications, causing great amusement in the
office when prospective studio owners ask for the yoga specialist. In fact,’sporty’ John has
never had the flexibility to be called a yoga specialist - but in the area of advising on the
equipment and how it should be applied there is no one in the UK better equipped.
At the 2013 OM yoga show, Humidity Solutions launched Vesuvius, a specially designed all-
in-one heating and humidification product specially designed for the hot yoga studio owner to
simplify the integration between heat and humidity. Subsequently this product has found
several other markets requiring stable conditions but again this demonstrates how standard
products can be adapted to the application with great results so long as you have the
experience and know how to implement them.
John studied Mechanical and Production Engineering and spent 21 years specialising in
humidity control before setting up Humidity Solutions with Lindsey in 2008. Since then the
company has enjoyed year-on-year growth on the back of its expertise, ability to tailor
solutions for each project and focus on customer support.
Humidity Solutions now has a range of equipment which is the envy of the market with
quality products supplied from the best producers of humidification equipment throughout the
world – Neptronic Canada, Devatec France, Airtec Denmark and Fisair in Spain.
This document brings together our many years of experience to provide prospective and
current studio owners with a resource to support successful implementation of humidity and
heating systems while avoiding the pitfalls that others have experienced.
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Contents
Introduction
Health and Humidity
Calculations
Building requirements
Utlities
Insulation
Costs
Temperature control
Ducted warm air electric
Ducted warm air gas
Direct /mobile electric
Infra-red
Advantage and disadvantages of warm air v radiant heating
Humidity
Why humidity?
Humidifiers
Duct electric steam
Duct gas steam
Steam water treatment
In room electric steam
Cold water spray in room
Rotary atomiser in room
Mobile evaporative
Options
CO2 Control
Deodorising / essence pumps
Heat recovery units
Hygiene ozone / UV
Ductwork
Steel ductwork
Ductwork lagging
Fabric ductwork
Controls
Dehumidifiers
Drying mats and changing rooms
Maintenance
Steam rooms
Outdoor cooling
Project management
Different installations
Hot yoga studio design layouts
Sponsorship of yoga championships
Happy customers
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Introduction
Since 2008 Humidity Solutions has provided humidification and/or heating solutions to over
50 studios in the UK and Europe, gaining years of experience on how to achieve good
temperature and humidity control.
It has become evident that while we are very familiar with environmental control, most new
hot yoga studio owners are learning from scratch. Consequently they often don’t know the
right questions to ask to prospective landlords, builders and heating companies. It is also
clear that once studio owners have been through the trauma of find out through ‘the school
of hard knocks’ they are reluctant to pass on this knowledge and knowhow for fear of losing
commercial advantage.
The purpose of this book is therefore to provide a simple guide through the process and
options of creating a pleasant temperature, humidity and air quality in their studio, while also
complying with building regulations. It will also assist with planning applications and property
change of use.
Humidity Solutions offers advice on humidity and, as the UK’s only independent supplier of
humidifiers, can offer a comprehensive range of humidifiers to ensure that we match the
equipment to the application. Our purpose-designed Vesuvius studio heating, filtration and
humidity system is easy to install and meets all climatic needs for a hot yoga studio.
Covering the whole of the UK and Ireland, our team of experienced engineers offers expert
advice, including site visits where required. From these discussions we can develop a
specification of required temperature and humidity levels and note design issues such as
noise and visual impact. This ensures we recommend the best solution for your studio,
taking account of these important issues to match your application and, of course, your
budget.
Health and humidity
Humidity control of the indoor environment is as
important as temperature control. Offices are commonly
humidified to overcome the drying effects of air
conditioning and the low humidity levels experienced
during the cold winter months. Having correct Relative
Humidity (RH) prevents sore eyes, dry mouth and
throat and, most importantly, keeps our protective
respiratory membranes to reduce risk of infection.
Hot yoga studios have embraced humidity control to
ensure that at 40°C the air is pleasant to practice in,
creating a great environment without feeling dry and
dehydrated. The humidity encourages healthy sweating
as perspiration does not evaporate as quickly at a humidity of over 40% RH as it would in
drier air. This ensures maximum benefits from the yoga session.
Other forms of yoga benefit just as much from the health and wellbeing benefits of
humidification and humidity control.
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Humidifiers come in many shapes and sizes so it is important to team up with an
experienced company to identify the right humidification solution for your space - whether
that be a home studio / living area or a purpose built commercial studio.
Caroline at Bikram Hot Yoga Brighton comments: “Humidity Solutions have been providing
my studio with the correct environment to allow my clients to sweat to their optimum. Without
sweat, Bikram Yoga would not be the same. Sweating through the largest organ of your
body -your skin - allows practitioners to detox and get a great deal hotter than with just dry
heat. The service I have received from Humidity solutions from day 1 has been exceptional”.
The boring bit – calculations.
How much heat and humidity do I need to put into the studio?
It is strongly recommended that a professional heating or humidification engineer calculates
this duty but you do need to provide several pieces of information.
A number of factors need to be known so that a calculation can be made to determine the
amount of heat and humidity that your studio will require. We will go into more detail later
with regards to the construction of the studio, which has a major impact on these figures.
Basically, the better sealed and insulated the studio is, the less heat and humidity you will
need to put in. The smaller and cheaper the equipment provided, the less energy you will
use, so that running cost are reduced – to the benefit of your profitability.
It would be reasonable to assume that the building will be heated to a normal comfort level of
around 21°C. So for temperature this would be your starting point, with the condition
required to operate the studio as your finishing point. Let’s assume 40°C.
You now need to know the amount of fresh air that will be brought into the studio from
outside, as this will need to be conditioned (heated and humidified).
This value is determined by the amount of fresh air which has to be brought into a space
where exercise is taking place, as laid down by the Building Regulations. For a yoga studio
this is 8-10 litres/second of fresh air [CIBSE (Chartered Institute of Building Service
Engineers) Guide B2005 Section 2.3.21]
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For a studio of 40 people this equates to 0.4m3/second of fresh air (the amount of air brought
in through a standard domestic ventilation fan is around 20 litres/second). This fresh air is
brought in to replace the stale air, which could be high in CO2, to ensure that the students
are alert and working-out in an oxygen rich environment.
Heat losses occur through windows (even if double glazed), doors and poorly insulated walls
or ceilings. The number of windows, doors and the construction of each need to be identified
to be able to produce an accurate heat load figure.
Humidity is calculated by taking the lowest natural moisture level which occurs externally,
taken from the humidity level required (40 -50% RH) at the temperature you require.
50% RH at 20°C has a far lower moisture
content then 50% RH at 40°C. For this reason
we use the psychrometric chart shown on the
right to determine the start and finish moisture
content required. This is then multiplied by the
total air volume entering the space plus what is
known as the ‘specific volume’ of the air.
Again by providing the figures detailed below a
calculation can be made.
Psychrometric chart
Required conditions:
o Start temperature (assume 20°C).
o Temperature required (40°C).
o Humidity start condition (40°C, 6% RH – humidity at 40°C if no moisture is
added when the ambient air is natural dry such as on a cold crisp winter
morning) 0.0028kg/kg.
o Humidity set point (normally 40 -50% RH) 0.02kg/kg.
o Total air volume (m3/s).
o Fresh air volume (m3/s).
o Number of windows.
o U Value of insulation of walls and ceiling.
o Number of doors – frequency of opening (more unconditioned air entering the
space).
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Building requirements.
The building or space which you select for your hot yoga studio is vital to the success of your
business and the conditions that you will be able to maintain. Good preparation and a
thorough thought process in advance can save you a great deal of money in terms of both
equipment costs and the running costs.
There are a number of factors relating to the building that can impact on the overall cost of
the installation. These include:
Restricted access necessitating bespoke rather than standard equipment.
Long distance between plant room and studio.
Insufficient power available.
Poor building construction resulting in increased heat losses.
Also, make sure that you have a good idea of the type and size of studio you wish to have;
the space and number of showers / changing areas you want and the social / reception area
– all the nice areas. Then ensure you add sufficient space to house your heating,
humidification and air movement equipment. The bigger the space the easier it is to
maintain, which will result in an overall cost saving - even if it does look like a dead space on
your layout drawing.
Ideally, the plant room should be:
Next to the studio
Have an external wall – for fresh air intake and to expel stale air.
Be at least 15% of the studio size in area
Access to the area should be via a door, ideally not from the studio
Sufficient access should be left around the equipment for ventilation and
maintenance
Have power, water and drain available in the right place and in the right
quantity – putting these in place should be included in the costings.
When selecting your premises it is also wise to check the property has a D2 Planning
Licence and if the landlord has agreed to using it as a hot yoga studio. Both can save time
and money if already in place.
To save money in heating and humidifying space that will not be used the best ceiling height
for a hot yoga room is lower than 3m. If the ceiling is higher, adding a suspended ceiling will
help to reduce running costs significantly. For example, a 3.5m high ceiling will require
approximately 30% more volume to be heating, compared to a 2.5m ceiling.
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Utilities
Gas
Mains gas can prove to be the least expensive fuel source for heating but will require
additional installation costs to provide a flue and plant room ventilation – see a GasSafe
engineer for the latest legislation. If you are considering using gas for hot water to serve the
showers and to provide the fuel source for the studio heaters, make sure that the gas main
and pressure is sufficient to supply these appliances. Special care should be taken when
looking at converting shops and offices as these rarely have supplies of the required output.
Electricity
If using electricity for heating a commercial studio, this will more than likely require a 3-phase
power supply. This is 400V and will need to be in the region of 100 amps per phase to have
a reasonable chance of powering the heating for the studio as well as other items like the hot
water, hair driers, lights etc. (up to 200m3)
If this power supply is not available then you will need to research the cost of a new or
upgraded supply. If this is required it is advisable to insist that the landlord facilitates this
before you sign the lease. A new 3-phase power supply can cost in the region of £15,000 to
install.
Even if studio heating is not electric, your electrical power consumption could well be greater
than the existing supply if you are renting an ex-commercial property.
Old industrial properties generally have good power supplies for both gas and electricity.
Water
Mains water is required to serve the humidifier. This should be supplied to the property in a
minimum of 22mm copper pipe and be at an operating pressure of over 2 bar minimum. You
may well require a greater pressure for your hot water boiler and the flow rate should be
checked with this in mind. A good plumber or heating engineer will be able to advise.
Drain
The humidifier requires a drain which is capable of taking water up to 100°C, normally a
copper drain pipe leading to the normal waste drain. Make sure that drains for showers and
toilets are in the correct location.
Insulation of your studio
All six surfaces need to be well insulated – the more insulation the less you will spend on
heating the room in the years to come. If you can create a studio without windows this is
ideal as windows are a significant source of heat loss. If you do have windows invest in
double or triple glazing, while adding additional insulating fibre to the ceiling, floor and walls
will retain heat and reduce both energy bills and the size of the heater.
You should think about the insulation required for a fridge in a desert. You would expect a
high degree of insulation to be required to maintain the low temperature and keeping your
drinks cool. The hot yoga studio works on the same principle – if the outside surrounding air
could be 0°C and you are looking to maintain 40°C in the studio the insulation needs to be
as good at the fridge in the desert to ensure that enormous heat losses do not occur.
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Questions to landlords concerning conditioning the studio
1. What is the site voltage –are 3-phase and 1-phase available?
2. What is the amperage of these supplies?
3. Is gas available?
4. Is there an existing heating or air conditioning system?
5. What is the ceiling height?
6. Size of total area.
7. Construction type of windows, doors and walls.
8. Are the walls insulated?
9. Access for equipment (stairs, restricted access).
10. Does the building have planning permission for hot yoga?
Things you will need to know before speaking to a heating / humidity contractor
1. What are the temperature and humidity conditions required?
2. How many students will the studio hold, maximum?
3. Do you have a lease on the property?
4. Do you have a floor plan? Do you have a proposed studio layout?
5. Who is going to project-manage the construction of the studio?
6. Do you have a design company involved?
7. Where will the heating, humidifier and air movement system be located?
8. Where are the services located? What is the maximum rating of the services?
9. Is the studio a permanent installation dedicated to hot yoga? How many classes are
proposed per day?
10. What is your budget for providing the heating, humidity and air movement?
11. Do you have change-of-use planning permission?
Budgets
Purchase costs
Heating - £15,000 - £20,000.00
Humidity control £3,000 - £6,000
Ductwork and installation £2,000 (all in one system)- £10,000
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Running costs
Typical heating / humidity costs
For a 200m3 studio:
Heating would be approx. 18kW
Humidity control approx. 12kW
Start of day class could require 2 hours to stabilize the conditions from cold, plus the 90
minute class = 3.5 hrs. The heater would back off as the students work out and generate
their own heat and humidity, so the electrical load would be expected to reduce over the
course of the class and once the room has reached the required condition.
For budget purposes if we assume the worst case scenario where the system is operating at
full output for the whole time, we can estimate the electrical running costs to be.
All electric
30kW of electrical energy per hour at 10p per kWh
10p x 30kW x 3.5 hours
Total = £10.50 per class
Gas heating and electric humidifier (steam humidifier)
18kW of gas energy at 8p per kWh
Heating 8p x 18kW x 3.5 hours = £5.04 per class
Humidifier (steam) 10p x 12kW x 3.5 hours = £4.02
Total = £9.06 per class
Heating with gas and cold water adiabatic humidifier
18kW of gas energy at 8p per kWh
Heating 8p x 18kW x 3.5 hours = £5.04 per class
Humidifier (adiabatic) 10p x 2kW x 3.5 hours = £0.70
Total = £5.74 per class
Temperature control
Two basic types of heating are possible – radiant / infra-red or warm air heating.
The radiant panels are generally ceiling-mounted units which heat the objects in the room
rather than the air, whereas the warm air heaters do as the name suggests, heating the air
and distributing it around the studio. These can be linked to a purge fan if the studio needs
to be cooled rapidly for a follow-on ambient temperature class.
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Heat
-
- Warm air ducted electric heating
Air is heated with an electric heater and
transported into the studio with a fan providing the
air movement. Generally the air will be recirculated
to maintain temperature control with the possibility
of adding fresh air.
This system provides constant air flow and
conditioned air moving into and around the studio
providing a stable air condition, assuming that the
ductwork is positioned to allow a flow of air from the
supply to the return air.
The warm air flow can be approximately 70 – 80°C,
coming off the heater unit to achieve 40°C in the
space. This allows for the addition of humidity
which is normally delivered via a steam humidifier.
The high temperatures mean that the moisture
evaporates very quickly to achieve the required
moisture content in the air.
Return air allows the studio air to pass through a
filter to help with the hygiene of the studio.
All in one heating and humidity tower for
internal use
Installed heater and humidifier with Humidifier installed within the combined
ducting tower
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Fresh air can be added – this can be pre-heated by using a heat exchanger, which would
remove heat from the extract air and pass it into the incoming fresh air. This reduces the
heating load on the system but is not essential. Fresh air insures that CO2 is kept to a
minimum and oxygen levels are kept high.
Using electric heating means that installation is relatively straightforward and does not
require a flue, as would gas heating - which would also require planning consent.
At current energy prices, electric heating will result in higher running costs than gas.
Steam humidifier housed in a weather
proof housing on the side of a large
air handling unit (fan, heater, filters)
serving a large London studio.
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-
-
- Ducted Warm air gas
This is possibly the most commonly used heating system as it is favoured by many heating
engineers. This system would commonly be used for heating large areas to comfort
conditions – areas such as factories, churches and warehouses. The units are normally
suspended at high level with the heat exiting straight out of the heater - convection or ceiling
stratification fans provide the air movement and distribution.
These systems can be adapted to allow
duct work to be fitted – in this case the
gas heater can be situated outside the
studio with the heat brought into the
studio via ductwork in a similar way to
the electric duct heater. This
arrangement can also incorporate the
humidity control. Return air would be
via ductwork into the plant room and
back onto the heater.
The issue with some of these systems
is that modulation of the burner is
crude, so when the system hits its
Warm air heater
temperature set-point the burner turns
off along with the fan. This start and stop airflow can be irritating to the students and provide
erratic control.
Another issue can be that re-ignition of the burner can be noisy, again affecting the
concentration of both students and teacher alike.
Installation of these units must be by gas specialists and may also require planning consent.
However, they are economical to run and straightforward to use.
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-
-
- Direct air electric wall or mobile
This is by far the simplest system to use as these units sit in the space and produce heat
until they turn off on their thermostat. There is no installation as they are plugged into the
mains and are therefore excellent for moving from studio to studio where temporary
solutions are required.
This is probably the best system for the domestic living room / studio as well.
CAPTION NEEDED CAPTION NEEDED
They are, however, unattractive and often have a thermal cut-out at around 32°C as a safety
feature for normal domestic operation, so this should be checked.
Designer fans without moving blades are able to achieve 40°C. However, using them in a
small studio does mean that whichever part of the body is facing them will be slowly cooked
as the heat can be intense and localised before it mixes into the room. If this can be avoided
then they can quickly get a room to the required temperature and then top up as the workout
proceeds.
Designer fan with no moving blades
With this method you would require a separate humidifier, fresh air would have to be
introduced through an open door or window and there is no air filtration.
They are inexpensive to install, highly portable and have no installation costs unless
mounted on a wall.
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- Infra-red heating
-
Infra-red heating is described as a more natural heat to work out to, replicating the sun’s
rays.
Radiant / infra-red panels heat the object and not the air within the room.
Radiant panels are usually about 25mm thick and approx. 60mm x 120mm in size with a
resistive wire embedded inside the panel. These provide an alternative to warm air heating
within yoga studios and are also used in applications where the air volume would be
expensive to heat - such as garages, warehouses and storage areas which are staffed
infrequently so that heating the whole space would be uneconomic.
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Infra-red panels can be used for the heating of the studio for the following principal reasons:
1. They are easy to install - no pipework, no moving parts, they come with brackets.
2. They are easy to control - one thermostat rigged up to one circuit.
3. You can move them if you want to change the design of the room.
4. They blend in with the design of the room - they are designed to be discreet.
5. The heat is instant - you can feel the infra-red heat when you stand directly under the
heater.
6. They are energy efficient and green - no harmful gases or emissions, perfectly safe.
7. The infra-red waves emitted from the heaters will be absorbed by the surfaces and
the people within the room. It has been stated that the human body can absorb 98%
of the infra-red waves that are emitted from the heaters, meaning you can literally
feel the heat from within and the heat will not be wasted.
When using infra-red heaters using a high quality industrial fan heater is often also
recommended to increase the ambient air temperature so that it feels warm when people
enter the studio and also helps to maintain the optimal temperature. The fan heater can be
wall mounted or portable, making it easy to control the temperature as the class progresses.
(such as with direct air electric heaters).
It is said that the experience is of an all-round feeling of wellbeing as the body warms under
the infra-red waves.
Radiant panels mounted at high level
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Advantages and disadvantages of warm air vs radiant heating
Advantages of warm air
1. Adjusts to room conditions quickly.
2. Suitable for gas or electric.
3. Additional requirements can be met within the system such as fresh air
supply, essence, filtration, humidity control.
4. Good even air temperature throughout the studio.
5. Easy to control and adjust set point.
6. Can be portable if an all in one system.
Disadvantage of warm air
1. Requires specialist design.
2. Can be noisy.
3. Requires regular maintenance and spares.
4. Can be expensive to run in a poorly insulated studio.
5. Requires duct work and installation.
Advantages of radiant heating
1. Can heat people in the space quickly.
2. Quiet.
3. Simple to operate.
4. Ideal for home use – portable units available and inexpensive.
Disadvantages of radiant heating
1. Expensive to operate for large areas.
2. Can be 60% greater energy use compared with warm air heaters.
3. Uneven heating – heats the head first which can cause health and comfort
issues.
4. Provides different intensities of heat – tall people will be effected in different
ways to shorter people.
5. Can cause burns or fires if not installed correctly – Some panels heat up as
well as down so radiant insulation is required above the panels.
6. Some units glow red or orange causing a distraction.
7. Difficult to regulate.
Typically, infrared heaters are used where the heat in the room is set to a comfortable 32-
35°C (Bikram studios can be heated up to 45°C).
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Humidity
General information on humidity control – why, how
Humidifiers come in many shapes and sizes ranging from large industrial units down to
porcelain humidifiers hanging on radiators The latter are a good choice for increasing
humidity in a dry house in the winter months but they are not a viable solution for a hot yoga
studio.
The correct humidifier type and duty is essential, as is controllability.
Evaporative and decorative radiator
humidifiers
Humidity is expressed as a percentage relative humidity (RH). For example 21°C 50% RH is
the idea condition for a home or office – it is the condition that humans are most comfortable
with as much of our body consists of water and at 50% RH our bodies give up very little
water so we do not become dehydrated. At 20% RH at 21°C you would see paper start to
curl and feel dryness in the mouth.
50% RH means the air is holding 50% of its maximum moisture carrying capacity. 100%
would be fog – saturated with no additional moisture-carrying capacity.
What is sometimes misunderstood is that when the outside air in winter is say 2°C and
raining heavily – this is clearly 100% RH. However when this air is brought into a building
and heated up, whilst its moisture level stays the same, the moisture-carrying capacity of the
air increases as it is heated. In this example this outside air condition would result in air at
21°C being at 27% RH. Even though the air was saturated when cold it is low humidity when
heated – this is why in winter humidifiers work their hardest as the natural humidity is at its
lowest.
This is also why to achieve 40% RH at 40°C you actually require a lot of water to be
evaporated, so a good commercial or industrial humidifier is required. A radiator humidifier or
even domestic DIY store humidifier are not up to the job.
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Outside air WITHOUT humidification during winter time
If 1 m3 outside air with an average temperature of –5°C and 80% relative humidity is influxed into a
production plant and heated up to 20°C, the relative humidity will fall from 80% to approx. 14% RH. The
water content remains the same.
Outside air WITH humidification during winter time
To preserve a relative humidity of 55% RH at 20°C each cubic metre of fresh air at –5°C must have 6.97g
water added after heating up to 20°C.
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Dehydration
The human body is about 70% water and this is essential to the normal working of the body.
It lubricates the joints and eyes, aids digestion, flushes out waste and toxins and keeps skin
healthy.
Dehydration occurs when the normal water content of the body is reduced. This leads to a
change in the vital balance of chemical substances in the body, especially sodium and
potassium. In order to function properly, many of the body’s cells depend on these
substances being maintained at the correct levels.
Even though your body is mainly made up of water, the amount of water in your body only
has to decrease by a few percent for dehydration to occur.
Symptoms - dehydration occurs when there is a 1% or greater reduction in body weight due
to fluid loss. Depending on the percentage of body weight lost, dehydration can be described
as mild, moderate or severe.
Humidifiers
- Steam electric (electrode, resistive or gas) in-duct
These are the most common humidifiers used in hot yoga studios as they increase the
humidity with excellent control and do not cool the supply air in any way. Evaporation in the
supply air duct, where the temperature is normally close to 60 -70°C, is rapid with no
problems of wetting or condensation. Evaporation distance in the ductwork under these
conditions is less than 500mm from the steam distribution pipe to the first ventilation grille
take-off point or bend.
Electrode, resistive or gas humidifiers all produce the same end result, which is sterile steam
generated in a controlled manor with modulating output in response to a humidity sensor
working to a set-point which is set on the humidifiers.
Electrode boiler
This is an entry-level steam humidifier but the most frequently
used. It is powered by electricity and passes electrical current
through the water contained in a polypropylene cylinder to
generate heat / steam. The water level is varied by means of
the water being boiled off or being regulated by the inlet and
drain valves to proportionally vary the amount of current
pulled and therefore the output of the unit. The more water,
the more current, the more steam generated.
As the pure H2O is boiled off as steam, creating the humidity
in the space, the minerals contained in the mains water
precipitate out as limescale. This stays in the cylinder and
generally forms sheets of scale which have to be removed as
part of the maintenance programme. This can be by using a
cleanable cylinder or more commonly by replacing the
consumable disposable cylinder.
Electrode boiler with steam pipe taking
steam from the humidifier to the insulated
warm air duct
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In a hard water area where several classes are taking place each day
this scale removal could be required as frequently as once every 6
weeks. In a soft water area the cylinder could last for a year. However,
this is a good workhorse humidifier that is simple to use and provides
excellent control.
Steam pipe not lagged. No anti-frost
heating in cabinet
Electrode plates inside the disposable or
cleanable cylinder.
.
Steam humidifier servicing a fresh air
duct
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Resistive
These work like a kettle, in that a heating element heats up the surrounding water to produce
the steam. As the unit does not pass current through the water a stainless steel tank can be
used, making this type of unit robust and more tolerant of scale build-up.
The tank is designed to have the scale removed by cleaning, with the elements mounted on
the tank lid making them easy to remove and for the tank to be cleaned. Thus fewer
consumables are required and maintenance is less frequent than on the electrode boiler but
the capital cost is higher.
Insulated stainless steel cylinder Resistive boiler humidifier
with heating elements.
Gas fired humidifier
Gas is burned to generate hot gases which pass through a heat exchanger, heating the
water in the tank. These are suitable for large projects as the minimum duty of the gas
humidifier is 40kg/hr. Whilst the fuel is less expensive than electricity, the installation
requires more design and expense as a flue needs to exit the building which may require
planning permission and will dictate the humidifier position.
Steam humidifier water treatment
Maintained in a similar way to the resistive & gas humidifiers – both able to operate off
reverse osmosis water which removes the scale from the water - making the humidifiers
virtually maintenance free – however the capital cost of this water treatment may mean that
it is not an economical solution.
Water softeners should not be used as when the water is boiled it acts like boiling milk,
creating a foam on the top of the water which can create problems with water level control.
Also in the absence of calcium, the minerals in the water create sheets of hard scale forming
a ‘mud’ which will eventually block the water inlet and outlet ports. This leads to rapid
deterioration in the time between required maintenance procedures so no advantage is
gained.
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- Steam electric in room
Where space is an issue and the humidifier cannot be housed in a separate room, or
if no warm air ductwork is available, then the advantages of the steam humidifier can
still be accommodated by either installing the humidifier outside the space with a fan
unit in the studio or by introducing the moisture through a wall mounted grille. This
method does not achieve the same degree of distribution within the studio but still
maintains an even control of humidity. Fan noise can be a concern but there are
many examples where this approach has worked very successfully
A studio with a steam humidifier fan head which
introduces the steam into the studio- positioned centre
sun. And red fabric ducting introducing the warm air.
Alternatively the whole humidifier with fan unit can be put onto the studio wall.
This method is controlled using a room humidistat.
Humidifier mounted externally with vent into studio Room mounted humidifier, vent on humidifier.
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- Cold water spray in room
High pressure water is a quiet energy-efficient way to humidify a studio, with the humidifier
pressurisation pump being mounted outside studio and the humidifier heads mounted on the
walls or pillars.
Airtec high pressure water system
mounted on studio pillars
This creates a point of interest in the studio as well as providing good even humidity across
the studio, if you are not able to, or choose not to, inject the moisture into an air movement
system. In the picture above you can see wall mounted electric heaters in the far corners.
These systems are extremely energy-efficient, requiring only 2kW of power compared to
24kW 3 phase for a 30kg/hr steam humidifier.
These systems do require more design and installation but the effect can be very satisfying.
When selecting this type of unit care should be taken that the ceiling height is sufficient to
allow for the sprays to disperse before reaching the head / raised hand height of the
students practicing in the space.
High pressure water systems do cool the air slightly and this should be discussed with your
heating provider to ensure that air movement and heater duty take this into account.
Water treatment is the other possible requirement for this unit. The pure H2O will be
evaporated into the air to create humid air but any dissolved solids (scale) in the mains water
will precipitate out as a mineral dust. This can be removed prior to the humidifier with water
treatment such as reverse osmosis, which removes 98% of minerals from the water,
prevents the dusting and extends the life of the nozzles. This is an option to be discussed
with your provider. What does need to be included is an ultraviolet sterilizer and a built-in
water management system within the humidifier to ensure that the system is hygienic.
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- Rotary atomiser in room
This is ideal for studios of all shapes and sizes as it is a
modular system, allowing extra units to be added as the size
of studio increases. This is an adiabatic (cold water humidifier
) so cools the air slightly but does give a studio a fresh feel
whilst creating the humidity required while the air temperature
is maintained.
The spray is cruder than the high pressure spray unit and the
device is not as aesthetically pleasing but, nonetheless, is
effective. This system must be installed with water hygiene
processes to ensure that the water does not stagnate and to
prevent bacteria breeding. Rotary atomiser
- Mobile evaporative / ultrasonic (hot pod)
Studios that are created in temporary locations such as gyms, Pilates rooms, at home, in a
garden summer house or in mobile studios need a portable humidity solution that uses
normally a 16 amp domestic power supply and can operate off a tanked water supply.
This would fall into the domestic / office humidifier bracket and whilst they will create a
comfortable environment they don’t offer precise control. But with a small amount of fresh air
entering the room they still offer a great solution.
Evaporative units such as the one shown in the picture below should be positioned close to
the heaters to increase the effectiveness of the evaporation process and to put the maximum
amount of water in the air. The hotter and drier the air, the more moisture will be given off by
the humidifier.
Small ultrasonic units also work well as they positively spray moisture into the air – however
do be aware that unless they are used with demineralised water they become scaled in a
hard water area and fail after a short period of time.
Evaporative humidifier in a mobile pop-
up yoga studio. You can see a fan heater
to the right of the humidifier.
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Options
CO2 control
The studio should be designed to have sufficient fresh air coming into the space for the
number of students practicing in the space. This is normally 8 -10 litres/second per student.
However a CO2 sensor can be installed so that if the CO2 level rises above a set point it can
then signal to the fresh air damper that more fresh air should be brought in to increase the
oxygen levels to an acceptable level.
Deodorising / essence pumps
Constantly recycled and filtered air, when mixed with external fresh air and reheated, keeps
the studio feeling fresh and pleasant to workout in, whilst also encouraging perspiration to
remove toxins from the body. It is very easily possible to create a hot humid atmosphere
without issues concerning condensation, mould or mildew but design does need to be
considered.
However for small studios that do not have full ventilation systems, or studios using infra-red
heating, it is desirable to remove stale odours or to introduce a fragrance to give the room a
pleasant aroma. This can be achieved by using an essence pump where the fragrance or
deodorising solution can be added to the air supply or via the steam humidifier.
Deodorising/essence pumps
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Heat recovery units
HRUs (heat recovery units) work by
adding fresh air (see quantity per
student figures) to the room through
ductwork whilst removing an equal
amount of stale air. The heat recovery
unit will retain up to 90% of the heat
being expelled from the room by
transferring this heat energy into the
cooler fresh air entering the room. This
pre-heats the incoming air, thereby
reducing the amount of new heat
energy required to bring it up to the Heat recovery unit
desired room condition.
The heat recovery unit does have a capital cost, a cost of installation and a small
running cost but the payback time is usually short when compared to the heat energy
that would have been required to heat the incoming air without any pre-heating.
Within the heat recovery unit, there is a cross flow heat exchanger which allows the two
air flows to transfer heat energy without any mixing of the two airstreams.
The air is normally moved via a small fan built into the heat recovery unit.
Heat exchanger production drawing
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Heat exchange unit installed next to the heater unit and connected to the outside air.
Hygiene – Ozone / UV
UV technology can be used to eliminate bacteria as the air passes
over it. This is effective for controlling allergens, mould, infectious
airborne diseases and other microbes that can affect the air quality
of an indoor facility.
Ultraviolet (UV) technology has been used for more than a century
as a germicidal solution for a variety of applications from
disinfecting water to controlling airborne diseases.
Ozone molecule The microorganisms have no defence against high frequency ultra-
violet (UV-C) light. Studies in the medical journal "Lancet" in 2003
showed that UV light reduced microbial contamination within the HVAC system by greater
than 99% and reduced occupant respiratory illnesses by more than 40%. UV light systems
can be designed to disinfect the air, fight odours and reduce indoor air pollution without the
use of chemicals.
Ozone sterilization
Ozone is created as three oxygen particles and is one of
the strongest oxidants and disinfectants available for the
treatment of aqueous solutions and gaseous mixtures.
After ozone oxidizes or disinfects, it decomposes into
totally safe oxygen particles. This is the primary reason
that it cannot be stored and, therefore, must be generated
and used on-site.
Produced in the studio itself via a small self-contained unit, Ozone generator
ozone in its gaseous phase is also a proven deodoriser for a
variety of odorous materials. Applying ozone to any medium (liquid or gaseous) does not
add other chemicals.
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Ductwork
Steel ductwork
Steel ductwork is simple to use and can be put above or below the ceiling dependent on the
design and look of the studio you wish to create. If it goes above the ceiling then ceiling
grilles can be positioned to provide supply and return air pathways
Ozone generator for the heating system.
Circular duct with vent Rectangular duct with
vents exposed
Alternatively the ductwork can be exposed, giving a more industrial look:
Square metal ductwork with the humidifier
in the studio and steam piped into duct. Ductwork is not
. lagged as it is in the studio
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Studio under construction but showing exposed ductwork and lighting. See central
. low profile main duct with vents either side
Ductwork lagging
When the duct carrying the hot air for your studio runs outside the studio area, whether this
be above the false ceiling or through some other part of the building, it is essential that the
duct is lagged as much as possible to prevent heat loss. This will reduce energy bills and
ensure that heating demands are met. It is also possible that with good insulation the size of
the generating equipment could be reduced in size and capacity at design stage.
Ductwork lagging
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Fabric ductwork
Instead of using traditional metal ductwork custom-made fabric ducting allows air to be
dispersed uniformly throughout the studio and can be colour matched to your studio
decoration. It can be laundered and is antimicrobial so is both practical and visually
interesting.
Low in capital cost and with a wide selection of styles and outlets to suit airflows and
velocities, the fabric duct is a versatile solution.
Different air outlets in fabric ducting Different shapes to suit the studio layout
Half circle fabric duct – in red
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Quarter fabric duct being installed between the ceiling and wall.
Nozzles at the top of the quarter propelling hot air. Return air grille can be seen at low level.
Controls
The best equipment in the world is useless unless it is controlled properly. It is a good idea
to make sure that the sensors and controllers controlling your heating, humidity, air
movement and fresh air are providing what you require. It is
very easy to complicate the controls technology or philosophy -
but be clear in your mind what you actually need and want to
achieve with regards to conditions and stick to this. ‘Nice to
haves’ often cost a lot of money for no real gain in control or
conditions.
Be mindful that if you ask for very tight control (40°C +/-1°C)
you will have to pay for high specification equipment where
realistically +/- 5% around the set point is very satisfactory. Wall-mounted controller
Also bear in mind start-up times. If you want your
studio to go from 20°C to 40°C in 5 minutes this is
possible but the heater will have to be 3x bigger
than required to heat the space in, say, 30 minutes.
Having the larger heater will cost more to purchase
and install, probably take up more valuable space
and cost more to run and maintain.
In addition all the components (filters, fans,
humidifiers) will have to be sized accordingly and
power supplies will need to be enlarged.
Hand-held controller
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Dehumidifiers to dry mats, changing rooms
Drying mats can either take an age as they slowly drip dry or
heat energy can be used to evaporate the moisture – though
this is slow and expensive. The environmentally friendly way
to dry mats is to gently pass dry air over them from a
dehumidifier to remove the moisture.
Either refrigerant or desiccant dehumidifiers can be used.
The refrigerant dehumidifier is
ideal when you have a drain in the
area and the storage area is
Purpose-built drying room
heated. The desiccant units
remove the water as humid air which is vented to outside much
like a tumble drier - with the added advantage that the unit can
operate at low temperatures (below 15°C) and still be efficient.
Excess moisture in changing rooms and showers can be removed
in the same way to reduce the likelihood of mildew or mould
Typical desiccant dehumidifier
growth in these humid environments.
Maintenance
As a studio owner you will be
spending your hard earned cash
in setting up the studio to make it
as good an experience as you
possibly can. Like a car or
domestic boiler the equipment
heating and humidifying your
studio will require maintenance
from time to time. This is vital to
ensure the smooth running of your
studio.
Emergency call outs can be
expensive both in time, cost to get
the engineer and lost studio time
Qualified engineers can provide valuable planned maintenance and reputation. It is therefore
strongly recommended that you
take out a maintenance contract with your supplier. You will then receive planned
maintenance, which can fit around your schedule, at a considerably lower price than
emergency call out costs, while also providing peace of mind. Not putting this in place is
really a false economy.
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Steam rooms
Steam baths / Turkish baths use humidifier technology but control the temperature to
generate the required steam and heat. Many health spas, gyms and hotels have steam
rooms and it is a trend which the hot yoga industry seems to also be adopting.
Massage and physiotherapy rooms in many of the top professional sports clubs also have
humidity control to prevent dehydration and to ensure a healthy environment during
treatments.
There is little to be gained from having a great work out in an unhealthy environment where
low humidity or poor temperature control can leave you exposed to bacteria and other
pathogens.
Large domestic health suite Steam generator (humidifier) installed in a
steam room equipment area
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Hot Studio Design 34Humidity Solutions Ltd
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Outdoor cooling
Outdoor air conditioning seems like a mad idea yet in the
Mediterranean and North Africa it is common to have fountains in
village squares and water features within houses to create a cool
atmosphere in the heat of the midday sun.
Keeping cool outdoors is easy to achieve. With the cold water spray
system you can create a cool zone for competitors, athletes or outdoor
restaurants to help with sporting achievements or simply to keep cool
by the pool.
Outdoor cooling provided by high pressure water spray which creates adiabatic cooling of up to 8°C.
Hot Studio Design 35Humidity Solutions Ltd
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Project Management
Project management of the studio build should not be underestimated. If you are not an
experienced project manager, or do not have the time to be fully involved, then it is worth
employing a professional. If you undertake this position then you will be taking a lot of the
design responsibility, checking the compatibility of various suppliers’ equipment fitting and
operating together and speaking to each other. A project manager will handle all liaison
between suppliers and allow you to manage the budgets and studio design – whereever
your strengths lie.
A good project manager will be able to plan the construction of the studio and arrange for
relevant trades to attend site at the most appropriate times and in sequence to reduce their
on-site time – which helps to keep expenses down and accelerate the overall project
schedule.
Stick to the agreed design – changes will slow progress and incurr costs.
With efficient management and planning the project has every chance of being completed on
time and on budget.
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Different installations
Wall mounted steam humidifier mounted in the studio – radiant heat 30 -32°C
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Circular white fabric duct suspended from the ceiling. Warm air ventilation
Orange fabric duct running along one side of the studio at high level – semi circle
.
In room electric heater
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Radiant panels in studio operated at 32°C.
See separate fresh air supply on back wall, which is pre heated.
Steam humidifier lance in front of fresh air outlet. Duct is too small and the fresh air
too cool to evaporate steam moisture before it enters the studio. This is an application
serving a studio heated by radiant panels
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Hot yoga studio layouts
Studios are designed and laid out in different configurations, based on space and size of
studio desired. These are just some examples showing good design and thought processes
as well as areas where more consideration as to how the air conditioning equipment can be
installed and maintained.
The studio drawings are as follows.
1. Studio is nicely laid out but there is no facility for heating or humidity plant. This
studio decided to use in-room temperature and humidity control but with services
away from the studio it has meant that humidifiers are manually filled daily and
heating is via direct electric heaters. This was due to the cost of re-design at this late
stage, which would have been required to incorporate a more effective air movement
system including heating and humidity control.
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2. The equipment room is behind the tea station. Very small, far away from the studio
with poor access. The equipment room was later relocated to the area with the
external door, with one of the internal doors being blocked up. Now the plant is close
to the studio – resulting in reduced duct runs and heat loss – near to an external wall
for fresh air and better access.
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3. Plant room is next to the hot yoga studio, good access and an external wall.
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4. Heating room to house the heating and humidifier has an external wall for fresh air
and is close to the studio. Providing the services (power, water and drain) needs to
be taken into account as an expense as is it not located near to where the services
come into the building.
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5. No space allocated for heating plant. It was suggested that it be located in the
corridor to the left of the studio (store) but this provided poor access, a long way from
services and the external wall was beside an avenue so fresh air vents could not be
included without planning permission.
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6. Layout drawing of heating unit with heat recovery system to pre heat fresh air.
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Sponsor of hot yoga championships 2013, World championships 2014.
Humidity Solutions have been supporting hot yoga studios for many years, creating the
perfect humidity-controlled environment in which to practice. Having worked with over 50
studios we felt that it was time to put something back into the sport and have been delighted
to sponsor the UK and World Asana Yoga Championships.
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