Humidity Control for a Coffee Storage Facility in Dubai

Project overview

Coffee is sensitive to its storage environment. Excessive humidity can expose stored products and packaging to moisture, while unstable conditions make it more difficult to maintain a consistent storage process. The client therefore planned dedicated humidity control during the construction stage rather than waiting for moisture-related problems to appear after opening.

ONYX NOVA designed and installed a ducted dehumidification system for the coffee storage room.

The requirement

The client understood from the outset that air conditioning alone might not provide the independent humidity control required for coffee storage.

The objective was therefore not to correct an existing moisture problem. It was to prevent one by incorporating dedicated dehumidification into the project before the facility began regular operation.

An initial relative-humidity reading of approximately 65% was recorded in the storage area. The project target was to reduce humidity and maintain a more stable storage environment automatically.

The ONYX NOVA solution

An ONYX ducted dehumidifier was installed openly beneath the ceiling in the commercial coffee storage room. The unit and its connected ductwork remain visible.

Separate return-air and supply-air ducts draw humid air from the room, pass it through the dehumidifier and return the treated air to the storage area.

Because the system responds directly to humidity, it can operate independently of the room’s temperature demand. This is important in conditioned commercial spaces where the air conditioner may reach its temperature setpoint while the indoor moisture level still requires control — the same effect explained in our article on why a home can stay humid while the AC is running.

The installation was completed in two days and did not require a fresh-air connection or unusual alterations to the property.

Recorded result

Following commissioning, the relative humidity in the storage room was recorded at approximately 50%, compared with the initial reading of approximately 65%. Both figures are recorded project readings, not the outcome of a controlled test or a guaranteed result.

The installed system maintains humidity automatically, providing more stable conditions for coffee storage without requiring the operator to manage portable equipment manually.

At the time the project information was recorded, the system had operated for more than six months, including the peak summer period, with no reported issues.

Why dedicated humidity control matters in storage areas

A temperature reading alone does not describe the complete storage environment. Air conditioning primarily responds to temperature, while the moisture load may vary independently because of outdoor conditions, door opening, ventilation, occupancy and other factors.

A dedicated dehumidifier responds specifically to relative humidity. In commercial storage applications, this can help maintain more consistent conditions through planned return-air and supply-air paths.

The appropriate system must nevertheless be selected from the actual moisture load, required airflow, room arrangement, operating pattern, drainage and available maintenance access—not from floor area alone.

Commercial humidity-control solutions

This project demonstrates how ducted dehumidification can be applied to commercial premises and specialist storage rooms where stable humidity forms part of the operating requirement — from warehouses and storage areas to other commercial and specialised spaces.

ONYX NOVA assesses commercial properties across the UAE and designs dehumidification and air-treatment solutions around the building, stored materials and existing HVAC arrangement.

Planning humidity control for a warehouse, storage room or commercial property? Book a technical assessment with ONYX NOVA.