Fume Extraction - Why Do You Need It?

Many individuals are exposed to hazardous substances in the workplace and occupational asthma is a growing problem within industry. The UK Health and Safety Executive estimates that each year 7000 people develop work related asthma.

Every UK company has to carry out a risk assessment and comply to the COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulations 2002, which highlights the steps needed to evaluate any potential hazards.

Hazardous substances can be catagorised as either:

chemicals
products containing chemicals
fumes
dusts
vapours
mists
nanotechnology
gases and asphyxiating gases and
biological agents (germs)

These substances are listed as: Toxic, Very Toxic, Harful, Irritant, Highly Flammable, Explosive or Corrosive

They can endanger health by: Inhalation, Adsorption, Swallowing or contact with the eyes.

Typical Symptoms can include Lung Damage, Runny Nose, Eyes, Sore Throat, Nose Bleeds, Dermatitis and Acne.

More serious illnesses can lead to occupational asthma or even cancers. Some of these symptoms can occur at home or at the weekend and not associated with work - this is called a 'late asthmatic reaction' and could be as a result of exposure to fumes in the workplace.

Installing the correct type of extraction can remove these symptoms completely and there are many different forms available.

HSG258 is a document that should be referred to as this highlights the different forms of extraction and helps with the design and choice of system. Typical fume extraction systems can take the form of high pressure tip extraction (as used in the electronics industry for solder fume extraction), or higher volumes systems that can be connected to a range of flexible arms and capture hoods.

For larger applications fume cupboards or fume cabinets may be the best solution.

Fumes that contain particles (such as solder fumes and smoke from resin fluxes) need to be filtered properly. Small low cost bench fans do little to filter these fumes and are no more than fume diffusers - blowing the fumes back into the workplace.

A more professional filtration system will usually consist of a brushless fan or pump unit and a multi stage filter - typically a pre filter for capturing large particles, a HEPA filter for removing particles down to 0.3 microns and a carbon or chemical filter for removing vapours and smells. It should be noted that for vapours only the HEPA filter can be removed and replaced with a much deeper bed carbon filter (of the right type for the substance being removed). HEPA or particle filters will do nothing to remove smells.

As an example, many nail salons use poor quality low pressure fans that capture some of the large dusts created from manicures, however the smells from the acetones and other ketones are not captured - this explains the strong smells associated with high street salons.

Many 'low cost' systems on the market that 'claim' to be efficient still offer low grade carbon filters as the fans do not have enough pressures to pull through deep bed carbons. A major problem is that these systems also fail to realise that ketones used in the salon environment can react to normal carbon filters, generate heat and can easily self combust and catch fire. A professional extraction system will be fitted with a specially treated deep bed carbon filter to avoid this and will ensure a dwell time of 0.2 seconds - the minimum required to adsorb chemical vapours. Never install or use systems with just 'normal' carbon filters - or you may have to invest in more fire extinguishers!

Written by Paul Riddick - Technical Director of Vodex Ltd - with over 25 years of experience supplying and installing fume extraction systems into many industries. More information can be found at http://www.vodex.co.uk or by calling 023 8081 5384
Email: sales@vodex.co.uk

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