How much money are you losing because of an over-heated warehouse?

Four hidden factors that reduce your productivity

At Dantherm Group, we have been working for years with logistics operators, plant managers and HSE teams who face the same challenge: 
Heat affects people, energy consumption and process reliability all at the same time.

International studies now confirm what we have long observed in the field: heat is not neutral for business, and its impact is measurable at both operational and economic levels. 

The 4 invisible heat losses in your warehouse

Loss no. 1: a drop in staff productivity

In real working conditions, the impact of heat does not suddenly appear at 35 °C. It begins much earlier. In industrial premises where the internal temperature consistently exceeds 30 °C, we systematically observe:

• Slower work rates
• More unplanned breaks
• Reduced concentration on repetitive or precision tasks

This is not a matter of perception. It is a well-known physiological effect: the body prioritises thermal self-regulation over performance. Organisations such as the ILO and the OECD confirm this at a macroeconomic level, but in an industrial warehouse the effect translates very clearly into lower output per shift.

In regions where heatwaves are becoming increasingly frequent, this impact is amplified over several months of the year.

Loss no. 2: increased energy consumption (with no real benefit)

Faced with the heat, many industrial units react intuitively:

• More fans
• Spot air conditioning
• Doors left open ‘to let the air in’

The result we see on the ground is almost always the same: more energy is consumed, without achieving a stable or uniform temperature.

In large industrial spaces, the problem lies not so much with the technology as with the solution being ill-suited to the volume of air to be treated. Conventional air-conditioning systems, designed for enclosed and compartmentalised spaces, rapidly lose efficiency in high-ceilinged, large-area industrial buildings – a fact widely documented in energy studies.

Loss no. 3: deterioration of products and equipment

Heat does not only affect people. In sectors such as logistics, packaging, light industry and electronics, we frequently see:

• Quality deviations
• More frequent electronic faults
• Accelerated ageing of equipment

European occupational health and safety agencies emphasise that high temperatures in indoor environments can affect both materials and the technical reliability of equipment.  

Loss no. 4: occupational risks and regulatory pressure

Heat stress is now a recognised occupational hazard in some European countries, including in indoor environments.

An increasing number of companies we work with are seeking not only to improve comfort, but also to justify active thermal control measures as part of their occupational health and safety policy. 

Data from the Spanish National Institute for Safety and Health at Work (INSST) confirm that exposure to heat affects millions of workers and that workplace accidents increase during periods of extreme heat.

“It’s always been hot in summer” – not with evaporative cooling

For years, it has been taken for granted that ‘it’s always been hot in summer’. This mistake will continue to cost money. 
The companies best adapting to the current climate context are those that treat temperature as just another industrial parameter, on a par with energy or safety. Solutions now exist, such as industrial evaporative cooling, which can handle large volumes of air whilst keeping energy consumption very low, and are particularly well-suited to hot climates.

The key: it’s not about cooling more, but about cooling better

It is not about ‘cooling more’, but about cooling in a way that is consistent with the building’s architecture and its actual use. 

José María Marcos – Director of Evaporative Cooling Projects at Dantherm Group

Today, there are technologies designed specifically for large industrial spaces, such as evaporative cooling, which allow for:

• Reducing the temperature evenly
• Minimising energy consumption
• Improving conditions without enclosures

Frequently asked questions about heat in industrial buildings (FAQ)

At what temperature does productivity start to decline in an industrial building?

In our experience, the first effects become apparent at 30 °C, with a growing impact above 35 °C, which is consistent with analyses by international organisations on heat stress and work.  

Is heat in an industrial building considered an occupational hazard?

Yes, and furthermore, while heat stress has a very real impact on the workforce of today, data predicts that by 2030, the equivalent of more than 2% of total working hours worldwide will be lost every year, either because it is too hot to work or because workers have to work at a slower pace.

Why is air conditioning not usually effective in large industrial buildings?

Because it is not designed for large volumes or for constant air renewal. In such cases, energy consumption rises much faster than the thermal benefit.

If you want to know more about how to fight the heat in industrial buildings and create a healthier work environment, contact us via the form below.

Sources and references

International Labour Organisation (ILO) – Working on a warmer planet (https://www.ilo.org/publications/major-publications/working-warmer-planet-effect-heat-stress-productivity-and-decent-work)

World Health Organisation (WHO) / WMO – Heat stress at work (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240099814)

EU-OSHA – Heat at work: guidance for workplaces (https://oshwiki.osha.europa.eu/en/themes/heat-work-guidance-workplaces)

INSST (Spain) – INSST and AEMET present a project to prevent the risks posed by high temperatures in outdoor work https://www.insst.es/el-insst-y-la-aemet- presentan-un-proyecto-para-prevenir-los-riesgos-por-altas-temperaturas-en-los-trabajos-al-aire-libre

OECD – Heat stress and productivity (https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/the-heat-is-on-heat-stress-productivity-and-adaptation-among-firms_19d94638-en.html)