One Factory Area Is Hotter Than the Others How to Find the Cause Malaysia
One Factory Area Is Hotter Than the Others How to Find the Cause Malaysia Most of the factory feels acceptable. But one area is always hotter. Workers may say: “Production Line B is much hotter than Line A.” “This corner becomes very hot every afternoon.” “The warehouse is okay except near this section.” “Workers beside this machine complain about heat.” “The air-conditioning is running, but this room is still hot.” This is useful information. Because when only one area is affected, the factory already has something valuable: A comparison area. Instead of asking: “Which temperature meter should we buy?” ask: What is different about the hot area? The cause may involve: Process Heat → Equipment → Airflow → Ventilation → HVAC → Roof / Solar Heat → Layout → Occupancy → Humidity The investigation should compare: Hot Area vs Normal Area under similar operating conditions. 1. First Confirm the Temperature Difference Do not rely only on: “It feels hotter.” Take representative measurements. Compare: Hot Area with: Nearby Normal Area at approximately the same time. This establishes whether there is a measurable environmental difference. 2. Measure at Worker Level If the complaint is about worker conditions, measure where workers actually perform their tasks. A temperature measurement: Near the ceiling may not represent: Operator position. Measurement location should match the problem. 3. Record Temperature and Humidity A useful first screening step may include: Air Temperature and: Relative Humidity Compare: Area A versus: Area B This provides a basic environmental picture. 4. Map the Hot Area Do not take only one measurement. Create several points: P1 Worker Position P2 Near Machine P3 Near Wall P4 Near Air Supply P5 Adjacent Normal Area Now you can see whether the heat is: Localized or: Spread across the whole section. 5. Time Matters Suppose: Morning → Both areas similar but: Afternoon → Area B much hotter This is a major clue. Possible causes may include: Solar heat production load ventilation changes HVAC performance or other time-dependent factors. 6. Use Data Logging When the Difference Changes Over Time A suitable temperature / humidity logger can help compare: Morning ↓ Midday ↓ Afternoon Peak ↓ Evening Instead of relying on one spot measurement, the factory can see the full trend. 7. Compare Hot Area and Normal Area at the Same Time This is important. Do not compare: Area A at 9 AM with: Area B at 3 PM. Measure comparable conditions. Otherwise, time becomes another variable. 8. Ask What Equipment Is Different Look around the hot area. Does it contain: Oven Furnace Compressor Large motor Boiler Steam pipe Heated tank Electrical equipment More production machines Hot product Equipment may be adding heat to the space. 9. Surface Temperature Can Help Locate Heat Sources Where appropriate, an infrared or contact temperature instrument can help compare: Machine surfaces Pipes Walls Equipment housings Other suspected heat sources This answers a different question from measuring room air temperature. 10. Air Temperature and Surface Temperature Are Not Interchangeable An infrared thermometer may show: A hot machine surface. That does not mean it is directly measuring: Room air temperature. Likewise, a temperature / humidity meter does not tell you the exact temperature of every machine surface. Use the correct instrument for the target. 11. Check Air Movement Two areas may have similar heat sources but very different airflow. Ask: Is air actually moving through the hot area? An anemometer can help compare suitable air velocity at: Worker Position Supply Air Exhaust Louvre Adjacent Area 12. “The Fan Is Running” Is Not a Measurement A fan may be running while: Airflow is weak Air is blocked Air is directed incorrectly Hot air recirculates Storage blocks the path Exhaust is inadequate Measure the airflow rather than assuming it is sufficient. 13. Factory Layout Can Create Hot Pockets A new: Rack Partition Machine Storage wall Temporary enclosure can change air circulation. A previously comfortable area may become a hot pocket. Always ask: Did the layout change before workers started complaining? 14. HVAC Supply Can Be Compared If the area is mechanically cooled, investigate whether the affected zone receives comparable air supply. For suitable troubleshooting, compare: Supply Air Velocity and other relevant HVAC conditions between: Normal Area and: Hot Area This can help maintenance narrow the issue. 15. Roof and Solar Heat Can Create Afternoon Hot Zones Suppose one side of the factory becomes much hotter after lunch. Ask: Does that wall or roof receive strong afternoon sun? Possible comparison: Morning versus: Afternoon and: Affected Zone versus: Opposite Side This can reveal a building-related pattern. 16. Loading Doors Can Affect Conditions A hot area near: Roller shutter Loading bay or: Open door may be affected by outdoor air entering the factory. Compare conditions when: Door Closed and: Normal Loading Operation where appropriate. 17. Production Load May Be Higher in One Area Production Line B may simply generate more heat than Line A. Ask: More machines? Higher speed? More workers? Heating process? Longer operating time? Environmental measurement should be linked to production conditions. 18. Heat Stress May Need a Different Assessment If the concern is not simply: “Why is this room hotter?” but: “Are workers exposed to excessive heat stress?” then an appropriate occupational heat-stress assessment may be required. Depending on the applicable methodology, this may involve: WBGT and consideration of work and environmental factors. A normal thermometer alone does not answer every heat-stress question. 19. Example: Line B Is Hotter Than Line A Customer: “The two production lines are beside each other, but Line B is always hotter.” Possible pathway: Temperature / Humidity Comparison ↓ Map Worker Positions ↓ Compare Air Velocity ↓ Identify Equipment Heat Sources ↓ Compare Production Load ↓ Investigate Ventilation ↓ Corrective Action ↓ Measure Again Line A becomes the useful reference. 20. Example: One Warehouse Corner Gets Hot Every Afternoon Possible pathway: Temperature Logging ↓ Compare Morning / Afternoon ↓ Compare Hot Corner / Central Warehouse ↓ Check Roof / Wall Solar Exposure ↓ Measure Air Movement ↓ Investigate Ventilation ↓ Corrective Action ↓ Repeat During Afternoon Peak The time pattern helps identify the cause. 21. Example: Room Is Hot Even With Air-Conditioning Customer: “The air-conditioning is running, but this room stays hot.” Possible investigation: Room Temperature / Humidity ↓ Compare Adjacent Room ↓ Check Supply Air Velocity ↓ Identify Internal Heat Sources ↓ Check Occupancy / Equipment Load ↓ Facility Investigation ↓ Corrective Action ↓ Measure Again Do not automatically conclude: “Need bigger air conditioner.” Measure first. 22. Example: Workers Beside One Machine Feel Much Hotter Possible pathway: Worker Position Measurement ↓ Compare Nearby Worker Area ↓ WBGT Where Appropriate ↓ Equipment Surface Temperature ↓ Air Velocity ↓ Investigate Heat Source / Ventilation ↓ Corrective Action ↓ Re-Test Now the solution covers both: Environmental and: Occupational Safety. 23. What If the Temperatures Look Similar? Workers may still experience different conditions. Ask: Is radiant heat different? Is airflow different? Is humidity different? Is workload different? Is PPE different? A simple air-temperature reading may not explain the entire worker complaint. 24. What If the Temperature Meter Looks Wrong? If readings appear inconsistent: Repeat at the same point Allow appropriate stabilization Check instrument condition Compare with another suitable instrument where available Review calibration status This creates another connection to measurement verification and service. 25. Corrective Action Should Be Verified Suppose the factory: Adds exhaust Moves a fan Repairs HVAC Insulates a hot pipe Changes machine layout Adds heat shielding Do not stop at: “Feels better.” Repeat measurements under the original problem conditions. 26. Keep the Normal-Area Comparison One advantage of this problem is that the factory often has a built-in reference. Continue comparing: Affected Area with: Normal Area after improvement. This makes before / after verification much stronger. What Instruments Might Be Needed? Depending on the problem, a solution may include: Temperature & Humidity Meter For environmental spot measurements. Temperature / Humidity Data Logger For time-based comparison. WBGT Meter For appropriate occupational heat-stress assessment. Anemometer For airflow and ventilation troubleshooting. Infrared Thermometer For suitable surface-temperature investigation. Contact Temperature Instrument Where contact measurement is more appropriate. Instrument Calibration / Verification Support Where measurement reliability needs confirmation. Not every hot area needs every instrument. The correct combination depends on: Location + Time + Worker + Process + Heat Source + Airflow Don't Search Only for “Factory Temperature Meter Malaysia” When one area is hotter than the others, the real questions are: Is the difference measurable? When does it appear? What equipment is different? Is airflow weaker? Is the area receiving solar heat? Did the layout change? Is this a comfort problem or a heat-stress problem? The temperature meter is only the beginning. From Hot Area to Root Cause The better pathway is: Workers Identify Hot Area ↓ Compare With Normal Area ↓ Map Temperature / Humidity ↓ Check Time Pattern ↓ Measure Airflow ↓ Identify Equipment / Building Heat Sources ↓ Assess Heat Stress Where Appropriate ↓ Correct ↓ Repeat Under Same Conditions ↓ Keep Baseline This is factory heat troubleshooting. One Hot Area Can Connect Multiple MTM Solutions Environmental Temperature → Humidity → Data Logging Safety WBGT → Heat-Stress Assessment Facility Air Velocity → HVAC → Ventilation Maintenance Equipment Surface Temperature → Heat Source Investigation Service Instrument Verification → Calibration This is the MTM positioning: “Don't just tell us the factory is hot. Tell us which area is hotter than the others.” The difference itself helps us decide what should be measured. Factory Hot Spot, Heat Stress & Ventilation Troubleshooting Solutions Malaysia MTM Precision supports: Manufacturing plants Production lines Warehouses Workshops Boiler and utility areas EHS departments Safety officers Facility managers Maintenance teams with measurement solutions covering: Temperature Humidity WBGT Heat Stress Air Velocity Ventilation Surface Temperature Data Logging Instrument Calibration & Verification Is One Part of Your Factory Much Hotter Than the Others? Tell MTM: Which area is hot? Which nearby area feels normal? What time does the difference become worst? What machines or processes operate there? Is HVAC or ventilation installed? Did the factory layout recently change? Are workers exposed to hot equipment or radiant heat? MTM can help build the measurement pathway around the difference between the two areas. MTM Precision Sdn Bhd Showroom & Service Centre No. 29-1 & 29-2, Jalan Bandar 18, Pusat Bandar Puchong, 47160 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia WhatsApp: +6016-660 7346 Email: mtmpre@yahoo.com Website: www.mtmpre.com.my Hot Area vs Normal Area → Find what is different. Compare → Measure → Find the cause → Correct → Measure again.
21 Aug 2026
