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Unique solutions for your unique application

keep Workers Safe in Extreme Temperatures

The perforated air vests are available in three sizes: Large, X-Large, and XX-Large which supplies cooled air continuously through its perforated inner lining. The durable vest allows a full range of motion with no airflow restrictions, and does not absorb sweat or other contaminants. Body cooling vests can also be worn under other protective clothing.

*Note: NIOSH approves only complete Supplied Air Respirators (SAR) Systems. None of the Vortec Cooling Vest products listed above are approved for use with a respirator system. More can be found about the requirements in CFR 84.131.

*Vest Color May Vary

Due to ongoing supply chain changes, the color of the Vortec Cooling Vest may vary between green and black. Both color vests are made with the same flame resistant fabric that meets CPAI-84, Sec. 6 Fire Standard Specifications. If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

Benefits

  1. Improves worker safety
  2. Eliminates the incidence of worker heat stress
  3. Reduces the frequency and duration of non-productive cooling breaks
  4. Maximizes worker productivity and comfort in extreme temperatures
  5. Eliminates the need to air condition large warehouse or shop areas

Features

  1. Can be worn under other protective clothing
  2. Three vest sizes available to fit all workers, plus a vest extension for varying sizes
  3. Vest is impermeable to sweat, dirt, and other contaminants; easily cleaned
  4. Vest allows full range of motion with no airflow restrictions
  5. Vest is made with flame resistant fabric that meets CPAI-84, Sec. 6 Fire Standard Specifications

Replacement Vest Specifications

SPECIFICATION Vest-L Vest-XL Vest-2XL
Vest Size Large X Large 2X Large
Girth (inches) 36 - 41 41 - 46 46 - 52
Recommended Cooling Tube 22825 or 22835 22825 or 22835 22835

Product Instructions

Case Studies

Cooling Vest Keeps Paint Booth Workers Safe and Comfortable
Company Overview In Charlotte, NC, summer can be brutal, with temperatures regularly reaching over 90˚F: hot enough to melt the ice cream right out of the cone. It’s hard to stand outside, harder to work outside, and harder still to work in a collision repair center, where the curing oven bakes the cars—and employees—after painting.

The Challenge David Nutter, a Painter at Cadillac of South Charlotte, reports that the thermometer regularly reports temperatures of 100˚F in the summer, creating a potentially dangerous workplace for Nutter and his employees. Excessive heat can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, and in the most severe cases, heatstroke. At worst, the working environment can hospitalize employees if not monitored carefully, but heat can also cause fatigue, slow down productivity, and cloud judgment. Cadillac of South Charlotte is a stand-alone Cadillac dealer with a 9,300-square foot collision center. They have two paint booths, which keep Nutter and his two assistants plenty busy with prep, painting, and moving cars along to the curing oven. For the past four summers, Nutter has worn a 3M Versaflo face shield that supplies fresh air, keeping his face and head from overheating. Bruce Dunehew, the Collision Center Manager, was impressed by the effectiveness of the mask and wanted to expand protection to cool the whole body. “I was excited to see that Vortec offers a cooling vest!” -Dunehew

The Solution Vortec Cooling Vests (VCVs) circulate cold air to minimize temperature-related stress and fatigue, thus improving comfort and productivity. The key to this low-cost cooling vest is the built-in vortex tube. The Vortex Tube converts compressed air to a low-pressure cold air, by spinning it rapidly, splitting into hot and cold airstreams. The cold air stream feeds into the vest, which diffuses the airflow around the worker’s torso, keeping them comfortable and productive. The circulating air is up to 60⁰F cooler than the ambient temperature, keeping workers cool even in oppressive environments, like the 120°F regularly experienced in the Cadillac of South Charlotte paint booths. These durable vests are available in three sizes and provide continuous cooled air through their perforated lining. They do not restrict movement, absorb sweat, or hold contaminants, and can be worn under other protective clothing, like David Nutters painter’s coveralls.

The cooling vest requires no hook-ups other than a compressed air source, which in this case, is supplied by a rotary screw compressor that feeds the Vortec Cooling Vest, along with all of the air tools used throughout the collision center—making the VCV an easy addition to the facilities systems. "Vortec Cooling Vests circulate cold air to minimize temperature-related stress and fatigue, thus improving comfort and productivity."

The Result Dunehew purchased an XL size vest and immediately implemented it into their facility's daily operations. Although Dunehew and his team have not calculated the additional throughput or efficiency since adding the cooling vest, they have seen improvement, making the $300 investment "well worth it." Especially considering the fact that it hasn't broken down or needed further maintenance. The vest system is an added boost, providing necessary cooling without any additional technical problems or bulky systems. "It helps immensely," exclaims Nutter. "I am significantly cooler and a lot more comfortable. I'm able to concentrate more on the task at hand, which is extremely!" When trying to stay cool in the summer heat, it may seem counterintuitive to add layers of clothing, but when that clothing is a cooling vest, the effects are immediate and substantial, as demonstrated by the team at Cadillac of South Charlotte.

Safety and Comfort for Foundry Workers
Company Overview Ohio Valley Aluminum Company (OVACO) manufactures aluminum billets for the aluminum extrusion industry and has been an industry leader since 1955. OVACO melts down scrap aluminum then pours it into log shapes in order to produce billets for the extrusion business. Its Shelbyville, Kentucky plant uses separate melting and holding furnaces to promote cleaner metal as well as in-line de-gassing for lower hydrogen content and porosity.

The Challenge Multiple furnaces and a high volume of billet production means that OVACO’s manufacturing facility operates at an extremely high level of heat. Temperatures in the pit area sometimes soar to 150 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months. Corporate Safety Manager Laurie Ireland sought a way of keeping workers in the plant cool and safe. “Previously, we had provided them with Gatorade and ice pops,” Ireland says, “but we wanted to enhance their comfort and safety levels beyond that.”

The Solution Ireland sought a technology-based solution to this challenge, one that would be cost-effective, portable for each worker and not interfere with ambient temperatures since heat is a necessity to produce high quality billet. Through an internet search, she learned of Vortec’s cooling products and contacted Vortec for further information. After hearing Ireland describe the environment at her plant, Vortec’s experts recommended the combination of Vortec's cooling tube and Diffuse Air Vests. The cooling tube attaches to the back of the vest and blows cool air into the vest to keep users working in hot environments cool and comfortable, allowing them to work longer periods between breaks. The vest can be worn either over or under any other protective clothing that is required. The Vortec Cooling Vest (VCV) is connected to a compressed air supply via a compressed air hose. It converts the compressed air into a temperature-adjustable cold air stream that is then blown into the diffuse air vest. The vest is available in three sizes, L – XXL. The temperature of the cold air produced by the VCV is adjustable by the user via a large knob, and allows them to set it to their own comfort level even with gloved hands. Ireland reports that “the Vortec products did everything they claimed to in their literature. Our workers are more comfortable and happy and we are pleased to have improved conditions for them. And productivity has improved too. Vortec was very informative about their product and offered a good price. They are easy to work with and deliver promptly.”

The Conclusion OVACO has been using Vortec products for four years. The company’s relationship with Vortec may expand in the future, Ireland says. “Given how successful our use of their products has been, I can see ordering more of what Vortec offers. I know they make several types of vests and we may order those at some point.” Ohio Valley Aluminum’s Corporate Safety Manager says that she has already informed other businesses of the excellence of Vortec’s products: “One of our contractors was visiting our site and I gave him one of the vests to wear and let him know who made it. I definitely recommend Vortec. They are excellent to work with.”

Keeping Veteran Employees Cool and Healthy Under Hot Conditions
Company Overview DRS Technologies works with a wide range of commercial and governmental clients, including the US Department of Defense, providing mobile and stationary refrigeration systems and decontamination systems, or as they like to call them “pressure washers on steroids.” The 35-year old firm, which has facilities in Florence, KY and Cincinnati, OH, has been listed on Military Times EDGE magazine’s annual “Best for Vets: Employers” list .

The Challenge Providing a healthy work environment for their employees, many of whom are veterans, is a high priority for DRS. Therefore, the company management team was concerned about the conditions in DRS’s paint booths. These facilities handle painting and coating of steel, aluminum sub-assemblies, and weldments. The structure of these buildings makes air conditioning cost prohibitive. Still, the management team wanted to generate environmental improvement that would enhance the working conditions, helping to reduce the effects of working during hot Midwest summers. The employees working in the paint booths already wore air-cooled helmets, but this left the rest of their bodies vulnerable to the heat. DRS was employing a temporary solution to the heat issue by using area fans and having paint booth employees take frequent breaks, during which they were supplied with cold Gatorade. However, the Management Team knew they needed a more reliable way of keeping workers cool. “Our employees’ health and well-being is very important. We didn’t want anyone to suffer heat stress. One of the employees in this area is over 50, and we particularly wanted to improve the environment for him.” In conducting an online search for personal cooling products, the Manufacturing Engineer found Vortec’s website. “It was obvious to me that what Vortec offered was an entirely different level of body cooling compared to what other companies were selling. The other firms had products which either required a power supply or used ice which would melt quickly in the paint booths, neither of which were viable solutions.”

The Solution The Manufacturing Engineer contacted Vortec Engineering Manager Steve Broerman, who visited DRS’s Kentucky facility to gain a comprehensive view of the company’s cooling needs. Broerman also brought demonstration models of the Vortec Cooling Vests. The ME recalls that “The operators really liked the effects of the vest from the first time they tried the model units Steve brought. They were able to work for much longer stretches of time and still feel comfortable.” The Result Based on rave reviews from workers who used the demo models of the Vortec Cooling Vests, DRS purchased two vests for their facility in Kentucky. Less than one month after seeing the positive effects on employee satisfaction and productivity, DRS decided to purchase an additional two vests for the remaining workers in their Kentucky facility. They are currently evaluating the possibility of additional units for their Ohio location. The Manufacturing Engineer notes, “I had a very good experience with Vortec. Their Vortec Cooling Vests do exactly what they say, and I found Vortec’s personnel to be extremely helpful. Working with Vortec is a very beneficial relationship for our company.”

Body Cooling Under Pressure Protective Equipment

Keeping workers cool while protected from hazardous materials was a 10-year quest at TCI of Alabama, an electrical equipment recycling facility located about a half hour drive from Birmingham, AL. Thanks to Vortec’s cooling and heating vests that concern has been resolved. TCI of Alabama, a 23-year old company employing 100 workers, serves a wide range of clients including industry, utility companies, hospitals, universities and governmental institutions by recycling their obsolete oil filled transformers and other electrical equipment. Among the materials they recycle are old underground high-voltage power cables. Many of these older cables contain PCB’s and lead, so they must be handled with care. Paul Eddins, Environmental Health and Safety Director for TCI, explains the dilemma the company has faced: “Because of the lead, it’s necessary to maintain negative air pressure in our cable stripping areas. Our workers wear protective gear including coveralls and respirators to protect them from the lead.

The high number of air exchanges in the room make it impossible to successfully cool the entire area with air conditioners. Added to that is the fact that this area has a west-facing metal wall and that we’re situated in Alabama where our summer temperatures frequently rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.” Early on, TCI tried a variety of approaches to resolve this dilemma. An attempt at air conditioning the entire area proved unsuccessful not only due to the air exchanges but because cool air could not reach the workers through their protective gear. Workers were given ice vests at one point, but these proved to be “too much of a headache,” Eddins notes. “They were messy—the vests sweated and the ice didn’t last long. The condensation created potential health problems for our employees.” Eddins also experimented with other brands of cooling vests but found them unsatisfactory. “The vests made by other companies use cloth material which became easily saturated with sweat. There was a whole mold and mildew issue due to the material the vests were made of. Also there were problems with hose connection points on the vests breaking or tearing.

After ten years of trying other things, I heard about Vortec,” Eddins recalls. “It was obvious to me right away just from their website that their vests were completely different. Instead of using a woven cloth fabric, the Vortec vests are comprised of solid plastic which makes them easy to clean and disinfect. In addition to that, the connection tubes are attached to the vests more reliably. Unlike the other vests we tried by Vortec’s competitors, the Vortec vests don’t get kinks in the hose and then come loose. There’s a strong enough connection so the worker wearing the vest receives a steady, yet adjustable supply of cool air.” TCI of Alabama has used Vortec’s Cooling Vests for over three years. Eddins notes that the Vortec vests have an additional advantage. “Besides being highly effective personal cooling systems, the Vortec vests also cover a wider range of body sizes.” Eddins declares himself a satisfied Vortec customer: “I see no reason to ever use any other product for personal cooling—besides distributing one as standard equipment to each worker in the cable stripping area, we’ve purchased some additional ones for other areas of our facility. There are less expensive versions of personal coolers out there, but they don’t really compare in terms of performance. Vortec is worth the money.”