Dust Collection Systems
In any industrial work environment, there are certain safety precautions that need to be honored in order to ensure workers and products retain the highest possible level of safety. One such safety precaution is to utilize dust collection systems within your facility. A properly-configured system will serve as a useful tool to mitigate potential workplace injuries and it can also foster an overall higher level of worker productivity.
Benefits of Using Dust Collection Systems
- Improved air quality in the work environment
- Air becomes easier to breathe, improving the comfort for your work staff
- Productivity is optimized in a clean and safe work environment.
The benefits of using dust collection systems in your facility are many and the above list is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Failing to utilize an efficient and properly-configured dust collection system can even lead to potential explosions and fire. A bit of advance planning can serve to minimize or hopefully entirely eliminate any possibility of potential explosions resulting from excess particles in the environment, as well as any other health concerns that might arise in such an environment.
Dust collection systems employ a standard three-step process
Capture: This first stage of the dust collection process can take place in various locations of your work environment simultaneously. Some such locations include in the near proximity of machines that have their own collection components as well as through a single or potential series of capture hood devices, which offer a general intake area.- Convey: Collecting dust particles is an important first step to removing harmful particles from any work environment, but those particles need to go somewhere. All dust collection systems employ a series of ductwork, intricately connected, to ensure that dust is moved to the final stage of the process, which is the collection step.
- Collect: In this final stage of the dust collection process, hazardous particles are captured in a specialized receptacle. In this collection phase, your system will employ a HEPA filter which collects certain harmful particles that are often present in the air.
Capture: This first stage of the dust collection process can take place in various locations of your work environment simultaneously. Some such locations include in the near proximity of machines that have their own collection components as well as through a single or potential series of capture hood devices, which offer a general intake area.Once you have made the crucial decision to install a dust collection system to increase the safety and productivity of your fabrication shop, the question then becomes one of choosing a system type. Some systems can be purchased in a pre-fabricated form while others are made custom to the specific dimensions of the facility in question. You will soon discover that custom dust collection systems usually require a highly skilled installation team.
HVAC Integration and Fan Selection Options
When sifting through the various choices for dust collection systems to be employed at your facility, you will want to ensure that the fans being utilized are of a high enough capacity. The flow of dust particles to your capture units will be insufficient if the airflow and suction aspects are not optimized to the dimensions of your work environment. The manufacturer of your dust collection system will review fan options with you prior to selling you a system.
A relieving discovery for many facility foremen is the fact that in many cases, dust collection systems can be easily integrated into your facility’s HVAC system. This is an option that is more sensible for certain facilities over others and will still require the careful instruction and recommendation of a professional installation and dust collection systems sales team. While optimizing energy usage is a desired outcome, you don’t want to underpower your dust collection capabilities simply for the sake of trying to save a little bit off of your energy costs.
State Regulations and Permits
Be sure to consult with a legal representative from your company or minimally approach your local state’s department of environmental protection before choosing among available dust collection systems. In many cases, permits are required and, in those cases, you are going to want to have the relevant authorities look over your plans for the system prior to your beginning installation or even signing a sales contract.
Final Considerations
There are many serious considerations upon which you, your staff, and company executives need to discuss prior to choosing a system for your facility. The required budget can vary rather significantly between the various dust collection systems on the market and some have better capacity and efficiency than others. How your preferences and needs fall in line with the various solutions available will depend on budgetary considerations as well as how long you plan on occupying your facility. No matter what your demands might be a custom fabricator will be able to create a dust collection system to match each and every one of your specific needs.
The sooner your organization chooses an expert fabricator to create your dust collection system the better the overall result will be in regard to efficiency, environment air quality, worker productivity and, of course, how the bottom-line will be affected. Having a dust collection solution in place can increase productivity, keep your employees safe and improve the quality of your products. It is an essential component of any industrial facility. If you do not have a proper system in place yet there is no time like the present.