At Portacool, safety and wellbeing are always top of mind. We create evaporative cooling products that aid in preventing heat stress to help companies and their employees stay cool and safe, including those in our own manufacturing plant. With safety as a top brand focus, it’s only natural that we extend features to protect those who use our Portacool portable evaporative coolers. In addition to the cooling power our coolers provide to combat heat-related illness and injury, our engineering team has incorporated product features that make operation harmless and hassle-free.
Fan Guard
One of the main components of a portable evaporative cooler is the fan, which pulls warm air through the evaporative media and pushes cool air out to the surrounding area. However, the fan blades can pose a risk if exposed. That is why we have implemented fan guarding to keep objects from contacting moving parts. We utilize an ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standard for determining the minimum distance that the guard needs to be away from a moving component. The ISO creates documents that provide requirements, specifications, guidelines or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose. However, in many cases, we are reaching beyond the standard of “fit” and shielding moving parts farther than minimally required. This ensures there is no risk of fingers or other objects getting caught in the blades.
Preventing Shock
Given that our cooling is dependent on water, we have implemented Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) in all of our evaporative coolers. As one electric company aptly explains, “A GFCI is required in any areas with an increased risk of shock due to electrical hazards, such as water. In order to protect you from electrical hazards, a GFCI monitors electrical current, turning off an electrical circuit when it detects an imbalance – or current flowing along an unintended path.” As an industry leader, we strive to go above and beyond what is expected to protect our users.
Safe Mobility
Locking casters are more than an “ease of use” feature for rolling an evaporative cooling where it is needed. It might seem like a small,
insignificant detail, but the installation of locking casters to keep the cooler in place during operation is imperative when you consider many of our portable evaporative coolers are quite large and push out large quantities of air. Take the Portacool Hurricane 370, for example. This evaporative cooler measures about 92” H x 86” W x 41” D and can weigh upwards of 400 pounds. It’s not something you want rolling away from you, nor rolling towards you. Not only can unlevel ground allow product movement; the sheer velocity of the air being moved can actually push the product backward if the casters are no properly locked. The locking casters make it easy to roll the evaporative cooler where you need it and even easier to keep it there.
Quality Material
The last safety notation, which may not inherently seem like a safety feature, is the quality of raw materials we use in our products. At Portacool, we don’t cut corners. We use the highest quality materials to ensure we build an optimal performing cooler, as well as the safest product possible. For example, our housings are extremely durable and are designed to absorb impact versus subjecting an operator to an unsafe situation from a cracked and broken mold. These small manufacturing decisions can make a huge difference. We strive to sweat the details so customers can rest easy with their evaporative cooling choice.
Overall, our goal is to produce a high-performing cooling product that is safe to operate. We truly have every Portacool user, from the plant employee to the hobbyist in his garage, in mind when we design and manufacture these products. To learn more about our company’s efforts, visit https://www.portacool.com/company.
