Exhaust Fans for Indoor Arena: Dust Problem?

We are getting closer to finalizing the plans for our new indoor arena. We are going with a Morton building, and I am very impressed so far with all of the people involved.

The plan is to have two cupolas on the roof, with exhaust fans in each. This should provide adequate ventilation for the size of our building.

However … does anyone have experience with this kind of setup for an indoor arena? I have visions of turning on the fans and a rising dust storm filling the air with arena dust.

Is that likely to happen? If so, alternative ideas for ventilation?

Thanks!

I don’t think those types of fans, that high up, are strong enough to raise any dust.

Those exhaust fans pull air up and out…they aren’t like regular ceiling fans that push air down. Having spent several years working out of a lovely Morton barn and arena with exhaust fans, they were really never a problem and were very beneficial for air quality.

[QUOTE=King’s Ransom;8954519]
However … does anyone have experience with this kind of setup for an indoor arena? I have visions of turning on the fans and a rising dust storm filling the air with arena dust.

Is that likely to happen?

Thanks![/QUOTE]

Nope

I’ve followed your threads on your new building with interest but haven’t replied, I am more of a lurker type. But, I have almost the exact Morton building you are contemplating, just a little bigger (75’ x 125’) built in 2010. I love it, there were less expensive options, but they didn’t come with the warranty, engineering, and reputation of Morton so we spent the extra $$. The big sliding doors alone work so much better than what I see in locally built farm buildings as to be worth the extra cost when I’m holding a spooky three year old pulling a door closed in a high wind : - ) We also got a quote from Lester and it was more than Morton, actually. A local guy was quite a bit less. Oh wait, that wasn’t the question, was it?

You shouldn’t have any issue with the exhaust fans raising dust, if you have sufficient dust control that you can ride without a problem. What kind of footing are you planning to use?

I have washed concrete sand (ASTM-35, I think was the rating?) and even though it’s washed, it was dusty without regular watering. If I let it dry out I had very fine dust hanging in the air from riding. I watered it for a couple of years, but it took a lot of time and water, was always dry when I wanted to ride (full time job in town), so I’ve been using MAG for the past three or four years.

But, even when it was dusty, the fans alone wouldn’t raise the dust.

Thank you Cottonwood!

We are using a mix of soil and washed river sand on a base of compacted limestone screenings.

I am looking into treating it with ArenaKleen. I got a flurry of emails from them yesterday, all very informative, but I have not gotten a reply on my pricing request. I saw someone on CoTH used it and said it was “pricey” – but I still do not have a price quote. From all reports, it works a charm.

We have exhaust fans in our indoor–they don’t raise any dust but do allow enough of a cross breeze to keep it much cooler in the summer time.

[QUOTE=King’s Ransom;8954519]
We are getting closer to finalizing the plans for our new indoor arena. We are going with a Morton building, and I am very impressed so far with all of the people involved.

The plan is to have two cupolas on the roof, with exhaust fans in each. This should provide adequate ventilation for the size of our building.

However … does anyone have experience with this kind of setup for an indoor arena? I have visions of turning on the fans and a rising dust storm filling the air with arena dust.

Is that likely to happen? If so, alternative ideas for ventilation?

Thanks![/QUOTE]

Will Morton give you a reference for someone in your area with a similar set up?

Then you can go see, ask questions, and reassure yourself.

I doubt that will happen, but for dust control from riding nothing beats magnesium chloride.

I’m looking at ArenaKleen, too, for dust control. A friend of mine nearby uses mag-chlor, but the ArenaKleen looks like it might be a good option as well.

Will probably be posting about to ask about that as well. :slight_smile:

HydroKeep is another option.
http://www.hydrokeep.com/index_files/products.htm