Is there a difference between comfort conditioning and industrial conditioning?
Yes, the object of comfort conditioning as the name implies is solely to provide a comfortable environment for the majority of occupants. Humans are reasonably tolerant to humidity and may be comfortable from a range of between 55% and 20% relative humidity at normal comfort temperatures. It is therefore common when specifying to limit the humidity in summer and not specify a limit in winter. Typically therefore a specification would state an internal condition of 22°C / 50% relative humidity being maintained at 30°C / 20°C wet bulb external conditions in summer. In winter the specification may typically be 21°C internal temperature at -3°C saturated outside air temperature. Industrial conditioning is provided generally for a process which requires a closely controlled atmosphere. A typical specification may be that an internal environment is required of say 21°C ±0.5°C and 50% relative humidity ±2.5% at all external conditions. It will be seen therefore that the industrial conditions