Room To Room Fan

Larry007

EC here so a little out of my field, but I have a customer that would like to use a room to room fan to move air from a data center to a storage room. It has a raised floor, and they are just looking to draw more into that room vs the rest of the area. (raised floor goes into different rooms. They would like at least 3000cfm's. I know this is not ideal, but the customer gets what he wants, even if we don't agree. Thanks for the help.

mdshunk

My gut reaction is twofold...
1) That going to be a seriously loud fan.
2) I'm not sure if that's permitted. There are lots of special rules (fire related) regarding raised floor installations. I'm not saying it's not, but it merits a little investigation.

Teetorbilt

A squirrel cage fan will cut down the noise quite a bit.

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RonS

The answer is that it depends.

Is the datacenter an NEC Article 645 datacenter with an EPO, fire rated separation from other rooms, etc.
NEC 2002 section 645.2 allows for the system to share air with another room, if they install motorized smoke dampers that close during a fire condition and EPO activation.

If it is not a 645 datacenter, then it's just a regular room, and the fan can blow wherever they want it to, just like and office building fan system.

atlas06

If you want 3000 CFM's. You must be talking about a heck of a large storage room. For information, storage rooms over 100 SF require smoke rating per IBC. Then where do the 3000 CFM come from and where do they go? if you pull the 3000 CFM from the storage room, then you are vioalting IMC (using a room as return air plenum). How does that affect your air balance at the source? ect, ect.
Looks like you need a set of plans presented to a Mechnaical Engineer. You will need a permit, PE stamp and the like. Charge your client Engineering fees, seems like you might get burnt without Engineering for this one.

skymaster

All other issues aside, look into vent fans used by resturants and high volume stoves. I have installed a few that have the motor outside the building and run 3 1/4 x 10" duct , dont have specs handy but they move lots and lots of air and inside the building virtually silent.