The Benefits of a Fume and Dust Extractor
Using the right fume and dust extractor can help you reduce hazardous compounds in your shop to levels below the Permissible Exposure Limits set by OSHA. Camfil product experts can help you choose the best system for your application.
Fume extraction systems use a powerful airflow to pull dangerous particulates away from your breathing zone. They work great for welding, woodworking and mechanic’s garages.
Air Flow
A fume extractor can be installed in a workshop or other closed indoor area to help filter airborne chemicals that may cause health issues or harm your staff. They help your organization meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) PELs or Recommended Exposure Limits for specific chemicals. This can protect your business from costly lawsuits as well as improve employee morale.
A benchtop fume extractor will sit close to your source of operation and has a small footprint design. It is ideal for welding and other applications that produce smoke and/or dust particulate. It can be used with a variety of source capture arms with various lengths and attachments. Some of the options include a hybrid arm that is ideal for high heat applications, a flex arm with 62.5” swivel radius and an extended reach arm that provides a long reach for larger workspaces.
Many industrial metalworkers use a fume extraction system to control the production of dangerous fumes from welding and other processes. These fumes contain dangerous substances such as hexavalent chromium and manganese. Long-term exposure to these fumes can lead to lung cancer and respiratory infections.
These systems are also available with HemiPleat extreme media filters that can be cleaned by applying pressurized air to the filter exterior. This removes particles and chemical contaminants that have built up and helps your facility comply with OSHA indoor air quality requirements for combustible metal dusts.
Filtration
Fume extractors work by drawing in the polluted air, filtering it, and then either recycling it back into your workspace or expelling it to the outside. This helps you comply with environmental standards and maintain a healthy workplace for your employees.
A fume extraction system consists of three primary sections: the blower section, the filtration section and the dust collection system. The blower section creates the static pressure that pulls the polluted fume and dust extractor air through the filtration system. The filtration process separates out the dangerous gases and chemicals from the dust and particulate, leaving you with clean air that is safe to breathe.
There are many different types of filters available depending on your needs. Some have one-step filtration through a single filter cartridge that you replace when full, while others have pre-filters and HEPA filters to help ensure your breathing zone is always free of harmful contaminants. Some systems also have a spark arrester to prevent hot burning sparks from laser marking processes from entering the filtration system and damaging the unit.
A few systems also have wet filtration for flammable or explosive materials. This wet filtration process forces contaminated air into water, removing the chemical or flammable particle from the atmosphere. This eliminates the need for alternative explosion protection and reduces flammable or explosive dust buildup within the ductwork.
Power
Using a power fan and negative pressure, fume extractors pull impactful gases and harmful particles that are lingering in the air from your workspace into a safe filtration system. The filtered air can then be returned to the workshop or vented out of the building. This can help you avoid costly lawsuits from chemical exposure, and it will also show your employees that you care about their health and safety which will boost morale.
The best fume extraction systems strike a balance between mobility and extraction fume and dust extractor company features with cutting-edge filtration technologies. They use a number of filters to capture varying levels of contaminants and fumes. One important thing to look for is a MERV rating. This rating identifies how adept a filter is at capturing minute contaminants. It ranges from 1-4, with a higher MERV rating meaning that it is better at capturing the smaller contaminants.
A quality fume and dust extractor will have a blower section, a filter section, and a collection system. It will be able to clean the filter automatically and push the dust into the collection bin, or it will have a wand that you can use to manually clean the filter. You can also find systems that have a timer or a sensor that can tell when the filter is full and needs to be cleaned, which will automatically initiate this process so you can continue working.
Maintenance
Providing safe and efficient airflow in the workspace is vital for anyone working with metal, whether they are welding or using a variety of other tools. Fume extraction systems help reduce health risks and ensure that the work environment is comfortable for employees while also helping keep equipment clean. However, the effectiveness of any extraction system depends on its proper maintenance, and there are many tasks that must be performed regularly to keep a welding fume extractor in good condition.
Probably the most basic maintenance task your system will need is emptying out its dust tray on a regular basis. This is the compartment that holds the heavy particulate matter your extractor sucks up, and if it gets too full, it can stress the entire system by overwhelming its filter. The best way to prevent this is to check the system’s pressure differential gauge for a warning light that tells you when the system is overloaded.
Other important tasks include checking for blockages and damage to hoses and ducting, as well as cleaning all accessible parts of the extractor unit itself. In addition, it is a good idea to have the system checked by professionals for any problems that might not be obvious during a visual inspection. For example, a worn-out motor seal will allow fine particles to escape the extractor, nullifying its airflow efficiency and increasing wear and tear on the entire unit.
