What is destratification

Thermal destratification is the process of mixing the internal air in a building to eliminate stratified layers and achieve temperature equalization throughout the space. Air stratification occurs in all buildings and can result in dramatic temperature differences from floor to ceiling and wall to wall. Thermal stratification is caused by hot air rising up to the ceiling because it is lighter than the surrounding cooler air. This means that HVAC systems are typically over delivering either heating or cooling and cycle on to try and maintain a set and even temperature throughout the building to compensate for stratification. Large amounts of heat can build up at ceiling level and the difference in temperature can rise as much as 15°C higher than the temperature at floor level. This heat can easily be captured and reused by the installation of a destratification fan. This is one of the most simple energy reduction initiatives that can be installed into both new and existing buildings. The Carbon Trust has rated thermal destratification as one of the top carbon reducing initiatives for any type of building. Destratification can be just as important when cooling as some areas can become overcooled trying to maintain even temperatures throughout the occupied zone. This can result in poor comfort conditions and increased energy costs. This is particularly important in buildings such as cold storage that require close temperature control or buildings with mezzanine areas.