A true story of effective prevention through an AirGreen industrial ventilation system
In the world of commercial HVAC, the stakes go far beyond simple thermal comfort. Industrial ventilation plays a crucial role in employee health, regulatory compliance, and even the economic performance of businesses. At AirGreen, we were called to intervene in a Québec factory facing a recurring issue: an abnormally high rate of work-related illnesses linked to poor air quality. What follows is the story of a successful transformation made possible by a custom HVAC installation — an intervention that changed everything.
Project context: a high-risk environment
This factory, located on the North Shore of Montréal, employed more than 120 workers in mechanical processing workshops where fine particles, chemical vapors, and metal dust were daily hazards. While the facility had local exhaust hoods and standard fans, health issues were piling up:
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Frequent respiratory irritations,
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Prolonged sick leave,
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High employee turnover.
An internal audit revealed that contaminant concentration levels exceeded CNESST standards, particularly in the grinding and cutting zones.
Technical diagnosis by AirGreen: serious shortcomings in general ventilation
From our very first visit, our team carried out:
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Real-time indoor air quality testing across multiple areas,
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Airflow analysis of the existing systems,
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A complete mapping of air circulation based on activity zones.
The results showed that the general ventilation system could not sufficiently evacuate pollutants, nor did it provide an adequate supply of fresh air. Airflows were unbalanced, creating stagnant zones where contaminants accumulated.
We quickly determined that only a complete redesign of the industrial ventilation system could correct these deficiencies.
The solution: a smart, energy-efficient and powerful industrial ventilation system
At AirGreen, we designed a custom ventilation plan that integrated multiple technologies:
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High-capacity Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) to ensure constant air renewal without thermal loss,
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Fine particle sensors paired with automated variable-speed airflow control based on real-time activity,
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Targeted exhaust ductwork in high-risk zones,
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Intelligent multi-zone control to adapt ventilation per workstation.
We selected equipment from the Zephyr ProLine brand, built for harsh industrial environments, featuring ultra-efficient ECM motors, HEPA filtration, and contaminant detection systems.
On-site challenges and AirGreen’s solutions
As is often the case in industrial settings, the work needed to be done without interrupting production. Here’s how we handled it:
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Installation work conducted at night and on weekends,
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Close collaboration with the plant’s occupational health and safety officer,
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Compliance testing after each installation phase,
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Ongoing communication with line supervisors to adjust schedules.
In addition, we provided on-site training for the maintenance staff so they could monitor the new system’s performance indicators.
Results: measurable, concrete, and lasting impacts
Six months after the system’s full commissioning, the results were nothing short of impressive:
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62% reduction in work stoppages linked to respiratory symptoms,
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45% increase in employee satisfaction at the most exposed workstations (based on an internal survey),
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19% decrease in annual energy consumption thanks to the intelligent variable-speed system,
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Approval of an $18,000 financial incentive through the LogisVert program for eco-efficient industrial ventilation projects.
Why this installation is now a benchmark in Québec’s commercial HVAC sector
A focus on worker health
At AirGreen, we believe that indoor air quality is a key driver of industrial performance. Beyond the machines' efficiency, our work was guided by one simple objective: reducing employees’ exposure to invisible risks.
Full mastery of regulatory standards and available grants
We supported our client throughout every administrative step:
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CNESST compliance documentation,
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Eligibility analysis for financial incentives,
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Submission of applications to public grant programs.
Uncompromising technical expertise
Thanks to our team of engineers specialized in industrial ventilation, we created a solution that is modular, scalable, and fully integrated, considering:
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The types of activities performed,
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The required air volumes,
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Indoor temperature conditions throughout the seasons.
What this installation teaches us about the importance of commercial HVAC
This intervention proves that industrial ventilation is a vital tool not only for worker health, but also for a company’s overall performance. Through rigorous analysis, adapted technologies, and professional execution, we transformed a problematic environment into a workspace that is healthy, efficient, and compliant.
At AirGreen, we take pride in designing commercial HVAC systems that make both human and economic differences.