Brick built compressor enclosure?

[gasket999]

Hi folks. About to move to a new property with a substantial workshop (and with no next door neighbour)

I’ll be upgrading to a 5.5HP invertor compressor and, as I’m having some block work done at the new place, thought I’d have them add a small block-built compressor enclosure on the side of the workshop. This would save space inside, would reduce noise inside and would also support an air fed mask.

I’d obviously want it weatherproof and would like some degree of soundproofing - but I’m concerned about airflow and cooling.

Don’t think there’s any need for fans, but thinking about maybe building the sides from two skins of offset air bricks. I’ve seen one online where there were literally missing bricks in the walls - but didn’t fancy that if there was ever driving rain.

Just seeing if anyone has done (or seen done) anything similar?

 

[MetalMonkey]

I would suggest you need some sort of louvered vent as a minimum, and not make it too small so you can service it easily.

 

[Screwdriver]

Yes I made one for outside my shed. Breeze block sides (solid), regular felt roof but vented (like a shoebox lid, slightly lifted), lightweight vented wooden doors. Lined with carpet to dampen noise. Regular Clarke type 150 compressor. 10 years+ no problems.

 

[julianthegypsy]

I'd like to do something similar. My workshop is small, and the compressor is huge. 200 litre abac 5.5hp, and there's nowhere clever to put it where it isn't in the way!

 

[GRW]

I've got a 50-yr-old Ingersoll-Rand 150L compressor. It's not noisy as it just sort of duff-duffs away, but in a less than 4 square-metre shed it does take up premium space.
I fancy doing something similar with mine. I've space in front of my block-built shed where it could go... and was thinking along the lines of the enclosure @Screwdriver has built, but probably all out of timber. (When I built my shed I ran through the 4.8m roof joists so I have a sort of "Porch" over the whole front door/front elevation, so it's already pretty well sheltered).

A bonus would also be to make the compressor easier to access/ drag out/ move. Its already on castors, and as I have no vehicular access to the rear where the shed is - it'd make it far easier to move it out to the driveway if needed.

 

[julianthegypsy]

I bought my compressor off a guy who was retiring and selling up. It was in a brick enclosure but with doors for access on the inside. He said the compressor used to be in a wooden enclosure outside in the same place... until someone nicked it overnight. Bear in mind that it was permanently plumbed in and round the back in a reasonable area. I'd use brick if I could...

 

[GRW]

I bought my compressor off a guy who was retiring and selling up. It was in a brick enclosure but with doors for access on the inside. He said the compressor used to be in a wooden enclosure outside in the same place... until someone nicked it overnight. Bear in mind that it was permanently plumbed in and round the back in a reasonable area. I'd use brick if I could...

Mines at the backing the house, in a back yard/garden that is surrounded by a 6' fence and a 6' locked door/gate. I'm thinking my old compressor should be safe enough (given that anyone would try and steal lighter mote valuable stuff before trying to hump a hefty comp away - but for sure good advice if the comp is more accessible (& valuable) than my oldie.

 

[mike os]

If you are spraying make it big enough for the filters, auto water trap and a chiller ….

Honeycomb wall each end, ( of one end and Louvre in door if you have persistent driving rain … but I wouldn’t imagine it being that much of an issue ) with a reasonable overhang on the roof

 

[gaz1]

my two pennys worth

screwdriver shed looks nice

but id still want to drain away as much heat as possible from that shed infact theres no through run of air

ive never seen a compressor chamber with a chimney on it but with older reference you could fit a flexiable one on the air cooler and blow it out up the chimney

the other method was also store the compressor in a cold place room but that rooms still going to heat up and so is hot days as well

now there is other methods of cooling

 

[fizzy]

my two pennys worth

screwdriver shed looks nice

but id still want to drain away as much heat as possible from that shed infact theres no through run of air

ive never seen a compressor chamber with a chimney on it but with older reference you could fit a flexiable one on the air cooler and blow it out up the chimney

the other method was also store the compressor in a cold place room but that rooms still going to heat up and so is hot days as well

now there is other methods of cooling

I am a firm believer in natural air cooling - or fan assisted - all use far far less energy than aircon.

 

[fizzy]

I would like to build a cage around mine. I am always terrified of the tank going bang. And my tank on the big one is 270L

 

[James1979]

I would like to build a cage around mine. I am always terrified of the tank going bang. And my tank on the big one is 270L

Just get it inspected annually. If it’s a work one you need to anyway. I only employ me and it’s a condition of workshop insurance that it’s done annually.

Mine is in an old coal shed. They weren’t happy with that. I re wrote it to ‘blast wall’ and they said that’s more than required

 

[fizzy]

Just get it inspected annually. If it’s a work one you need to anyway. I only employ me and it’s a condition of workshop insurance that it’s done annually.

Mine is in an old coal shed. They weren’t happy with that. I re wrote it to ‘blast wall’ and they said that’s more than required

No definitely not work related.
How much does an inspection cost?
Is it just visual or do they use ultrasonic/xray or similar?

 

[gaz1]

without the use of fans all the chimney needs is to be painted black and to improve air draw just add a fin system inside of it

as goes for a draw you can pull more out by using a spinner and also a directional turning cowl

as ive stated on here you can make a 25ft tunnel and fill it with water and have those clay pot air coolers at certain points to cool the air

the 25ft tunnel turns into a 50ft tunnel x2 with cement and blocks so it creates a cool mass the water adds to this mass of cool but also transferes to the air the same way

you can have moving water in it by sloping it down and that can be powered by solar water pumps but you still need to drain and also a water tank and by that you can use an ibc tank collecting rainwater

note water part not to be used with air fed masks

 

[James1979]

No definitely not work related.
How much does an inspection cost?
Is it just visual or do they use ultrasonic/xray or similar?

Dunno, insurance pay for it but I can’t imagine it being much. Hundred pounds maybe?

It depends on the reservoir what’s needed, apparently. Mine gets a camera up the hoop as it’s only a 150l one. Bigger than 3’ diameter it’s more. They fill mine with water then over pressure it and do other voodoo to it.

A lot of it is smoke and mirrors to be fair. I get a piece of paper and all is well with the world. It’s Vulcan who do it but it comes under British Engineering services group or similar I think.

 

[WvW]

No definitely not work related.
How much does an inspection cost?
Is it just visual or do they use ultrasonic/xray or similar?

I got a quote for an inspection for the one in my shed - cant remember the company but it was 320 plus vat.

Bought a pump and did my own hydraulic test on mine as it cost a lot less - I don't get the certificate, but I did buy peace of mind at least. And im not a business.

 

[premmington]

Just get it inspected annually. If it’s a work one you need to anyway. I only employ me and it’s a condition of workshop insurance that it’s done annually.

Mine is in an old coal shed. They weren’t happy with that. I re wrote it to ‘blast wall’ and they said that’s more than required

If it is on wheels it is not testable because it is portable - if it is behind a blast wall on three sides - and has a gauge/vent valve and an isolater on the outside of the wall it is not testable!

I know I don't make the rules up.

But pressure is dangerous - it is... Rusty tanks do explode - not seen one - I only seen just leaky rusty tanks (air receivers)

 

[gaz1]

an actual explosion with people in the room

 

[fizzy]

an actual explosion with people in the room

Miracle nobody was killed. Imagine the force from a really big stand alone tank if it let go

 

[gaz1]

Miracle nobody was killed. Imagine the force from a really big stand alone tank if it let go

its a big tank fizzy now go back and look inside of the office while it explodes