Bauhaus & Merlin^®

Healthy indoor climate for a modern Service Center

BAUHAUS is the specialist for workshop, house and garden products and is one of Europe's leading providers.
It operates a modern administrative and office facility in Wels, which forms part of the company's strategic development in Austria.
The site combines efficient workflows with a strong focus on service quality and employee comfort.

Initial Situation

The new administrative and office building was completed in 2023/2024. During the first winter after commissioning, the indoor air was found to be extremely dry.
Initially, the company waited to see whether humidity levels would stabilise naturally as the building continued operating.

However, this was not the case.
Relative humidity occasionally dropped to as low as 10%, well below the level recommended for a healthy and comfortable indoor climate.
As a result, some employees experienced symptoms such as dry skin and irritated mucous membranes, making it clear that action was required and a sustainable solution had to be found.

Solution

To sustainably improve the indoor climate, a central humidification system was integrated into the existing ventilation system.
The chosen solution was the merlin^® CORBIT^® high-pressure AHU humidification system with an air volume of approximately 15,000 m³/h and integrated RO-EASY water treatment.

Implementation

The project was implemented in close cooperation with the existing HVAC partners responsible for the building services of the new facility.
A key objective of the retrofit was to ensure a stable relative humidity of at least 40%, ideally within a range of 40 to 50%.
The system was successfully installed and commissioned in June 2026.

Result

The installation of the merlin^® CORBIT^® high-pressure AHU humidification system has created the technical conditions for maintaining a stable humidity level throughout the Service Center.
The aim is to keep the indoor air within a comfortable range during the heating season and to sustainably reduce the effects of excessively dry air.
A comprehensive evaluation of the results will take place after the upcoming autumn and winter season.

Customer Statement

"With the new humidification system, we have created the conditions necessary to ensure a pleasant and healthy indoor climate, even during the winter months. We look forward to observing its effects throughout the coming heating season."
Horst Greisinger, Management, BAUHAUS Austria

Conclusion

This project clearly demonstrates that even a modern building does not automatically guarantee an optimal indoor climate.
By integrating a humidification solution, BAUHAUS has laid the foundation for making its Wels Service Center an even more comfortable and healthier workplace in the long term.
The project therefore makes an important contribution to meeting the high requirements of modern office and administrative buildings in daily operation.