The Plan
Mike Rister had a unique challenge. He was trying to bring the high-end feel, for which large clubs in major markets are known, to a small, almost rural setting in Shelbyville, TN. He knew what kind of elements he would have to address. Rister’s Fit Club would have to be sleek and modern inside. The workout equipment would have to be state-ofthe- art, and the layout would have to be thoughtful and functional. From the beginning, Rister had a few key elements already picked out. Number one on his list was a big, 16-foot diameter, allaluminum- construction, ceiling fan.
“The fan was part of our plan to reach that targeted market with a high-end feel. The aluminum design of the fan totally complemented our look and our goal. From our custom flooring, to our huge fan, we wanted our members to feel like they were in a high-end space,” explains Rister
The Benefits
Big fans, like the one Rister had installed in his facility, are a stylish and efficient alternative to the more commonly used floor and box fans. The giant fans use their size, and not speed, to generate big air movement in a gentle way.
“A lot of clubs have the floor-style fans and they push out such a big burst of air in your face that it is almost annoying. Big fans produce a gentle breeze keeping our members comfortable, not annoyed,” says Rister.
The gentle breeze that big fans create is widespread. A single 24-foot big fan can move air over a space as big as 20,000 square feet. Big fan manufacturers are finding ways to make these types of fans feasible in all size applications. Available in diameters ranging from 6-feet to 24- feet with variable speed controls, there is a big fan for almost any situation.
“The best thing about a big fan is the variable speed control. We can set our fan at some of the lowest speeds and you can stand in the corner of the club and truly feel the air movement. After we worked more with the manufacturer, we came to understand that the volume of air our one 16-foot fan is capable of moving is equivalent to a 20-ton HVAC unit,” Rister went on to explain.
Although the scale of big fans and their air movement is large, the motors they use are not. Since the fans are hollow aluminum they are surprisingly light and can operate using only one- to twohorsepower motors. Those small motors keep the fans’ energy use low. Even the biggest models, 24-foot diameter behemoths, use the same energy as a 60- watt light bulb. That can translate into year-round savings.
“Our fan is going to help us all year too. In the winter, it will push warm air down from the ceiling and circulate it throughout the club. Since we won’t have to heat or cool the facility as much to keep it comfortable year-round we expect to see a 50% savings on our energy bills. The unit operates for less than 10 cents an hour. That’s just phenomenal,” says Rister.
The small motors and slow speeds contribute to another unexpected benefit, big fans are quiet. In fact, big fans are virtually silent. Rister put it best by saying, “Our fan is so quiet. The only noise you can hear when our club is empty is the HVAC unit, not the fan.”
Humidity is another major factor Rister had to consider when designing the Fit Club. His equipment was brand new and top-of-the-line and high humidity can drastically lower its life expectancy, not to mention the havoc it wreaks on members. Rister was able to use the air movement from his big fan to protect his equipment, and his members, against humidity.
The Buzz
As one might expect the fans’ unusually large size makes them an attraction in their own right. Rister uses the interest in his big fan to get people interested in his new club.
“People know us as a high-end facility, but they also know us as a high-end facility with a big fan. People actually stop by just so they can see the fan. Once they do, they usually want to see the rest of the club. Our fan actually helps us reach new members,” explains Rister.
Mike Rister of the Fit Club in Shelbyville, TN was using relatively new technology to the athletic industry when he installed his big fan. Today, fitness clubs across the globe have installed big fans. Their scope extends farther than just fitness centers, having found their way into tennis facilities, stadiums, arenas, even warehouses and factories. Big fans are big on style, big on energy efficiency, and big on solving the air movement problems that plague most fitness centers. Maybe it’s time for your facility to get something…BIG!
Heather Henley is a Technical Researcher for the Big Ass Fans Company. She can be contacted at 877.BIG.FANS, or by email at heather@bigassfans.com, or visit www.bigassfans.com.
