Many industrial processes generate airborne contaminants that have the potential to be harmful to both human health and to productivity.
This risk can be unseen, because particles less than 20 microns in size are not visible to the naked eye, unless they form a dense cloud. However, it isn’t what’s visible that’s important, it’s what’s breathable and, critically, respirable and able to penetrate into the lungs.
The monitoring and regulation of such emissions creates a benchmark for effective atmosphere management strategies, with local agencies around the world setting or advising on workplace exposure limits for fume, dust and gases, including volatile organic compounds.
If not adequately controlled, some airborne contaminants resulting from industrial processes are known not only to cause or exacerbate health conditions, but they can also infiltrate equipment and result in unplanned downtime and/or a degradation in product quality.
For these reasons, and in order to be compliant with regulations governing exposure limits, a broad spectrum of industries adopt a comprehensive local exhaust ventilation strategy.
To help companies balance the needs of their people with productivity objectives, Donaldson BOFA has developed a broad range of extraction systems that not only help companies meet their health and safety obligations, but do so in a way that actively promotes a more productive environment.
“We work closely with industry to design and manufacture fume and dust extraction systems tailored to specific workplace exposure limits,” says Arran Morgan, Senior Product Manager at Donaldson BOFA. “This can be challenging because production processes and materials science constantly evolve, which is why Donaldson BOFA has built a global network of laboratories to meet the changing needs of its growing customer base, whether that’s for electronics, lasering, 3D printing and many more sectors.”
Every Donaldson BOFA solution incorporates a suction pump that draws airborne emissions into advanced filtration technology. This filtration architecture will often include a patented DeepPleat DUO pre-filter, a main HEPA filter and a layer of activated carbon to remove vapors and gases. The exact configuration, airflow rates and filtration media will depend upon each application and the industrial process involved.
While the primary function of extraction is to keep work environments safe, keeping production equipment free from the debris is also a key ROI consideration for businesses.
“In addition, this commitment to safety clearly chimes with the environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies increasingly being adopted in the corporate world,” says Arran.
Donaldson BOFA has a wide range of extraction systems and accessories available; to find out more details, please refer to:
