The storage and warehousing of goods (paper, textiles, furniture, steel products, wood, ammunition, etc.) require a sufficiently low level of humidity.

Without humidity control there is a risk that the goods will become spoiled or damaged possibly with loss of value as a result.

Only a few materials tolerate being exposed to high atmospheric humidity for a long period of time. Most materials become ruined after only short periods in humid conditions. Examples of this are: iron which will corrode, salt and fertilizers will become lumpy, wood and textiles will grow mould and rot, cardboard boxes will lose their firmness and sustainability.
Often the limit for the risk of damage from humidity is around 55-60 % RH. If further free water is present (condensation on cold surfaces) the decomposition will take place much more rapidly.

Within storage room the humidity ingresses from outside through the walls and the openings. If no heating or dehumidification is installed the atmospheric humidity will be the same inside the building as on the outside. The ambient humidity of the air in Europe and the UK is approximately 85 % RH.

Dehumidification:

Usually materials do not have special demands for air temperature, most materials are affected by the humidity in the air and the control of this eliment can be essential. Consequently the installation of a dehumidification system that will maintain a constant relative humidity all year round is the correct solution for storing materials.

There are further technical reasons for such an installation:

• Saving of energy compared with heating
• The installation of a dehumidification system is usually more simple and economic than the equivalent installation of a heating system
• No need for heavy insulation of the storage area.
• A building is usually easy to insulate for the installation of a dehumidification system
• Simple storage areas such as tents may be used if they are diffusion-proof and the jointing is vapour tight.
• The saving of energy when using dehumidification compared to heating is approximately 60%.

Dry air storage is a non-heated storage room with a dehumidification installation. Non-heated means that the temperature inside the room is close to the temperature outside. The use of an adsorption dehumidifier is a viable alternative, this being due to the dehumidifiers wide spread area of operation.

HB Adsorption dehumidifiers are used for the following types of dry-air storage:

• Military ammunition houses, stores, warehouses
• Storage of seed grain Industrial storehouses, automatic storage areas, Storage of raw materials containing steel
• Storage of furniture
• Storage of wood
• Shipping containers
• In the cargo compartments of vessels