Tight environmental requirements create a need for humidification systems in many facilities in the health care sector and beyond. There are six common humidification systems used in the HVAC industry. Each of these systems has advantages and disadvantages that a designer and owner must consider when selecting the system. In addition, ASHRAE Standard 62.1 and ASHRAE Standard 170 have specific requirements that affect the design of a building’s humidification system.
This system uses steam from the heating boiler to inject steam directly into the airstream. These systems are typically used in health care, industrial, and campus facilities where steam is available from a central steam boiler plant. The advantages and disadvantages of this system are described below: