Natural Ventilation for High-Heat Kiln Facility
Brickworks Austral, one of Australia’s leading brick manufacturers, required a modern ventilation solution when rebuilding their ageing, heritage-listed production facility. With extreme kiln heat, corrosive brick dust and strict compliance requirements, the site needed a system that improved heat extraction, prevented dust-driven corrosion and protected long-term operation
Brickworks Reburnished Facility
KEY OUTCOMES
Powerful Heat Extraction
Keeping Heat Out and Corrosion at Bay
The natural ventilation system rapidly removes rising heat and airborne brick dust before it can settle on structural elements or equipment. This reduces heat stress inside the facility while slowing corrosion caused by dust buildup and trapped moisture.
Corrosion-Resistant System
Built to Withstand Heat, Dust and Time
4 Series roof ventilators were manufactured in aluminium and finished with a specialised corrosion-resistant coating, ensuring long-term durability in Brickworks’ high-temperature, dust-heavy production environment.
Energy-Free, Low-Maintenance
Reliable Performance Without Ongoing Costs
The natural ventilation system operates continuously without power, reducing operating costs and maintenance requirements while delivering long-term, dependable airflow for a high-heat manufacturing environment.
Brickworks Austral is a cornerstone of Australia’s building and construction industry, supplying high-quality clay bricks and architectural masonry to some of the nation’s most iconic residential, commercial and civic projects.
Their advanced kiln facilities run continuously to meet industry demand, where consistent heat management, air quality and asset resilience play a vital role in maintaining product integrity and operational momentum. For a manufacturer built on craftsmanship, innovation and long-term performance, protecting the production environment is essential.
Brickworks needed to replace and expand an ageing production building that had reached end-of-life. As a heritage-listed structure, the facility had to be rebuilt like-for-like while integrating modern, compliant ventilation.
The site presented several critical ventilation challenges:
At another Brickworks facility, warm brick dust had accumulated inside the structure and accelerated corrosion, significantly impacting whole-of-life costs and building performance. With the new Austral rebuild, preventing this issue from reoccurring became a major priority.
The previous ventilation system on the Austral building had also deteriorated and required replacement with a more modern, high-performance solution.
Brickworks needed a ventilation system that could not only handle extreme kiln heat loads, but also protect the new building from dust-driven corrosion and support long-term operational resilience.
To meet stringent airflow, compliance, and heritage requirements, Airocle engineered a high-performance natural ventilation strategy purpose-built for Brickworks Austral’s environment. The solution combines powerful heat extraction with continuous passive ventilation, ensuring hot air and airborne brick dust are removed at the source, without mechanical energy or maintenance-heavy systems.
This included:
To specifically address the corrosion environment, the 4 Series units were manufactured in aluminium and finished with a specialised corrosion-resistant coating. This extends product lifespan by mitigating the effects of heat-activated particulate buildup and airborne mineral dust.
This customised approach ensures the new system delivers the required airflow performance, longevity, and compliance — while matching the heritage roof profile.
| Solution Component | Purpose | Benefit |
| 4 Series Roof Vents | High-heat extraction directly above kiln operations | Removes hot air and airborne brick dust before it settles and corrodes infrastructure |
| 5 Series Roof Vents | General roof ventilation across warehouse footprint | Improves fresh air movement, supports thermal comfort and airflow stability throughout facility |
The system works passively, using temperature differences and natural buoyancy to remove hot, dust-laden air at its source, without relying on mechanical systems or heavy maintenance requirements.
Brickworks now benefit from a natural ventilation strategy engineered for high-stress industrial conditions, reducing maintenance exposure and extending the life of the new facility.
Every manufacturing facility faces unique airflow challenges, especially when heat, dust, and compliance requirements converge.
Speak with our engineering team for a site-specific ventilation design that protects your building and supports production efficiency.
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