Tempest PAL-30 Industrial Ventilation Fan: High-Volume Warehouse Cooling with 30-Inch Propeller Performance

Warehouse managers and industrial facility operators know the problem well: a standard box fan moves air in a tight cone, leaves hot pockets in the corners, and barely makes a dent in a 50,000-square-foot floor. Multi-blade impeller fans traded broad coverage for concentrated throw distance. Neither tool solves large-area cooling without a fleet of units running on every circuit you own. The Tempest PAL-30 takes a different engineering path. Its three-blade 30-inch propeller generates up to 15,072 CFM in a wide, diffuse air pattern that covers broad floor space in a single pass, paired with a firefighting-proven shroud and a frame built to survive continuous industrial service. Here is exactly what the hardware delivers and when it is the right tool for the job.

What is the Tempest PAL-30 and how does it differ from impeller-style industrial fans?

The Tempest PAL-30 is a 30-inch, three-blade propeller ventilation fan rated for general high-volume industrial airflow, producing 13,000 CFM at 1.5 HP on its single-speed model and 15,072 CFM at 2.0 HP on the variable-speed PAL-30-VSR. The propeller blade geometry delivers a broad, wide air pattern rather than the concentrated jet associated with multi-blade impeller designs.

Tempest’s own impeller fans use eight blades arranged to generate a tight, high-velocity column suited for directed smoke or fume extraction. The PAL-30’s three composite blades bolted to a center hub trade that concentrated column for lateral spread, making it the better choice when the goal is cooling workers and equipment across a wide floor area rather than purging a defined duct or corridor. Both designs share the Turbo 2000 Tapered Aluminum Shroud, which Tempest rates for a 30% increase in air velocity over an open-blade configuration of equivalent diameter.

How does the Turbo 2000 Tapered Aluminum Shroud increase airflow performance?

The Turbo 2000 Tapered Aluminum Shroud is a converging-profile aluminum housing that accelerates air leaving the blade disk by reducing turbulent boundary separation at the blade tips. Tempest rates the shroud design for a 30% velocity gain compared to operating the same propeller in an open or straight-wall frame, while keeping the overall fan footprint compact at 33 inches wide by 22 inches deep by 33.5 inches tall.

The tapered shroud geometry was originally developed and proven in Tempest’s firefighting positive-pressure ventilation lineup, where reliable throw distance in an uncontrolled outdoor environment is a life-safety requirement. Carrying that shroud design into the PAL-30 means the industrial fan inherits the same velocity efficiency, which directly translates to greater effective ventilation distance from a single fan position. For a facility manager trying to cover maximum floor area from a limited number of electrical circuits, that 30% velocity gain is operationally significant.

What motor and electrical options does the PAL-30 offer, and how far can it run from a panel?

The PAL-30 ships in two motor configurations: a 1.5 HP single-speed TEFC (Totally Enclosed Fan-Cooled) electric motor at 110V/60Hz producing 13,000 CFM (part number 913-1080), and a 2.0 HP variable-speed TEFC motor at 110V/60Hz producing 15,072 CFM (part number 913-1085, designated PAL-30-VSR). Both motors operate on standard 110V single-phase power, which means no dedicated three-phase circuit is required for deployment.

Extension cord capacity is a practical constraint in large industrial facilities, and Tempest publishes specific maximum cord lengths tied to wire gauge: 14 AWG supports up to 60 feet, 12 AWG up to 95 feet, 10 AWG up to 150 feet, 8 AWG up to 240 feet, and 6 AWG up to 380 feet. Running undersized wire beyond these distances risks voltage drop severe enough to reduce motor output and shorten motor life. The TEFC motor enclosure is the correct choice for industrial environments where metal dust, coolant mist, or particulate contamination would damage an open-drip-proof motor. The PAL-30-VSR’s variable speed drive adds the ability to dial airflow down precisely, which is useful when cooling electronics or sensitive materials that cannot tolerate maximum velocity impingement.

How durable is the PAL-30 frame and guard in heavy industrial service?

The PAL-30 is built on a welded 1.5-inch tubular steel frame finished with a powder-coat coating. Tubular steel at that diameter provides the cross-sectional stiffness necessary to absorb the repeated impacts, fork-truck near-misses, and rough floor transit that shorten the service life of thinner-gauge fan housings. The powder-coat finish resists the oil mist, coolant spray, and humid air common on industrial floors without the weight penalty of galvanized plate construction. Total weight for the single-speed model is 131 pounds; the variable-speed model comes in at 154 pounds.

The grille guard is a continuous circular wound external-weld steel wire design with eight welded tie points, zinc-plated and finished with a clear chromate coating. Eight tie points is a meaningful spec: fewer attachment points create flex under vibration, which loosens the guard over time and allows blade contact. The zinc-plating plus clear chromate finish provides corrosion resistance adequate for washdown-adjacent environments. Ten-inch solid rubber wheels with high-strength polymer hubs complete the mobility package. Solid rubber construction eliminates flat-tire downtime entirely, which matters when the fan needs to move between departments or shift positions during a heat event.

When should you choose the variable-speed PAL-30-VSR over the single-speed PAL-30?

The single-speed PAL-30 (913-1080) runs at a fixed 13,000 CFM and is the correct choice when the application is straightforward: maximum cooling airflow directed across a production floor, loading dock, or maintenance bay with no sensitivity constraints on velocity. It is 23 pounds lighter than the VSR model and draws less motor power, which reduces operating cost in continuous-run applications.

The PAL-30-VSR (913-1085) is the better selection when airflow needs to be modulated. Spray booths, paint mixing areas, and packaging lines where labels or light materials can be displaced by 15,000 CFM at full speed benefit from the ability to run at reduced velocity. The 2.0 HP motor on the VSR also provides headroom to maintain target airflow against minor backpressure, such as when the fan is positioned at a doorway or loading bay entrance where outdoor wind creates intermittent opposing pressure. The variable-speed drive also allows gradual ramp-up, reducing motor inrush current in facilities where circuit breaker capacity is already stressed by production equipment.

Where is the PAL-30 manufactured and what does USA origin mean for parts availability?

The Tempest PAL-30 is designed, fabricated, and built in the United States at Tempest’s facility in Fresno, California. Domestic manufacture means replacement parts, including the three composite propeller blades, the motor assembly, and the Turbo 2000 shroud, are sourced and stocked domestically rather than shipped from overseas suppliers with extended lead times.

For industrial maintenance buyers, domestic parts availability reduces the risk of extended downtime waiting for a blade assembly to clear customs during a summer heat event when the fan is mission-critical. The keyed shaft and set-or-cap-screw bushing system used on the PAL-30 is a standard industrial mounting interface, which means a qualified in-house mechanic can swap a propeller assembly without specialized tooling. You can review Tempest’s full product documentation and manufacturing background at the Tempest official website.

What industrial applications are the best fit for the PAL-30?

The PAL-30’s broad air pattern, 110V single-phase motor, and solid-wheel mobility make it a practical workhorse across a wide range of industrial cooling and ventilation scenarios. Warehouses with high summer ambient temperatures are the primary use case: the fan can be repositioned on each shift to follow workers through a pick-and-pack operation without requiring a dedicated circuit at each station. Manufacturing assembly areas where heat from process equipment accumulates at worker height are a strong secondary fit, particularly when the PAL-30-VSR’s variable speed allows velocity to be dialed down near precision assembly stations.

Loading docks and receiving areas benefit from the fan’s throw distance, generated by the Turbo 2000 shroud’s velocity amplification, to push hot air out open bay doors during summer receiving hours. Facilities needing a complete cooling solution should also consider the Tempest Warehouse Cooling Kit, which packages complementary equipment for broader coverage. For operations that need a smaller-footprint electric unit in tighter spaces, the Tempest 24-IND Electric Powered Fan offers a 24-inch propeller alternative with the same industrial-grade frame lineage. When grid power is unavailable or unreliable, the Tempest Special Operations Gas Power Blower covers high-volume ventilation off-grid. Buyers comparing propeller fans to positive-pressure alternatives for enclosed-space purge applications should also evaluate the Super Vac 718-EXP 7 Series Electric PPV and the Super Vac V20-GB Valor Series Gas PPV, which are engineered specifically for directed positive-pressure ventilation tasks rather than broad-area industrial cooling.

What are the known limitations of the PAL-30 and when is it the wrong choice?

The PAL-30’s three-blade propeller optimizes for coverage breadth at the expense of throw distance when compared to Tempest’s eight-blade impeller fans. If the application requires moving air through a long, narrow duct, corridor, or confined space with a defined inlet and outlet, an impeller-style fan with a tighter, higher-velocity air column will outperform the PAL-30. The propeller’s wide dispersion pattern dissipates quickly in a narrow channel rather than maintaining velocity through the length of the run.

The PAL-30 is also not rated for explosive or flammable-atmosphere applications. Its standard TEFC motor is not ATEX-classified or rated for Class I or Class II hazardous locations under NFPA 70 Article 500. Facilities with solvent vapors, grain dust, or combustible particulate concentrations must use explosion-proof motor configurations. The 131-pound minimum weight and 110V/60Hz single-phase power requirement mean the PAL-30 is not a practical field-deployable unit in remote locations without a generator, and its 380-foot maximum cord run (at 6 AWG) defines the outer boundary of electrical reach before a second power source is needed.

When the application is broad-area warehouse or industrial floor cooling on standard single-phase power, with a durable frame that survives continuous heavy service and a propeller pattern that moves large air volumes without the constraint of a tight directional jet, the PAL-30 delivers a well-specified solution. When the requirement is duct ventilation, confined-space purge with defined geometry, or hazardous-atmosphere operation, a different tool is the right call.

Tempest Industrial

PAL-30 High Volume Industrial Ventilation Fan

30″ 3-Blade Propeller | Broad Air Pattern | Made in the USA

Overview

The Tempest PAL-30 is a 30-inch high-volume general ventilation fan built for industrial applications where broad area cooling and air movement are required. Unlike the 8-blade impeller fans in the Tempest lineup, the PAL-30 features a three-blade 30″ propeller design — delivering high CFM in a broad, wide air pattern ideal for general warehouse and industrial cooling and ventilation.

Paired with the proven Turbo 2000 Tapered Aluminum Shroud and a solid 1.5″ tubular steel frame, the PAL-30 delivers up to 15,072 CFM (variable speed) with the durability industrial environments demand.

Models & Ordering Information

Manufacturer: Tempest — 4708 N. Blythe Avenue, Fresno, California 93722 USA — tempest.us.com