Welding generates gas and smoke containing various types of oxide particles. In addition to oxide particles, many processes also produce gases such as carbon dioxide and ozone. These gases can be hazardous if ventilation is inadequate.
Weld fume also contains additional small particles. The size of the particles can influence the toxicity of the fumes. Smaller particles present a greater danger, and exposure to metal oxides and gas byproducts is one of the leading hazards welders face. Whether you perform fusion welding that applies only heat (electric arc, gas or laser processes) or combine heat and pressure in your welding and cutting processes, the results are the same: All methods generate hazardous fumes.
Metal particles in weld fumes are 50 to 75 times smaller than the width of a human hair, making them extremely easy to inhale. Breathing metal particulates and gases is associated with a number of health effects, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in its fact sheet on the issue.
Ventilation is crucial for drawing fumes away from a welder’s breathing zone. OSHA makes these recommendations about natural and engineered ventilation:
In welding, laser, and plasma cutting applications, there are two common ventilation designs most seen in facilities. The two examples are:
Donaldson can assist in designing the right ventilation system for your shop. We offer Torit dust & fume extractors and the PowerCore TG collector series that includes an ultra-highly efficient filter with a “smaller and smarter” footprint and the lowest maintenance cost in the industry.
Thermal cutting applications, such as plasma and laser cutting, generate considerable levels of fumes and particulate that may present a health risk to operators and be detrimental to cutting machinery.
Frequently, integrated dust collectors in curing systems help reduce workers' exposure to fumes and help protects expensive machinery. When selecting and designing a dust collector, consideration of thermally generated dust should include filtration challenges due to particle size, loading and combustible dust risk.
Model | Product Family | Use | |
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PowerCore TG-8 | PowerCore Dust Collector | Welding |
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Downflo Oval (DFO) 3-12 | Cartridge Dust Collector | Plasma Cutting |
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Downflo Oval (DFO) 2-4 | Cartridge Dust Collector | Welding (Source Capture) |
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Downflo Oval (DFO) 3-3 w / Canopy Hood & Drop Curtains | Cartridge Dust Collector | Welding (Source Capture) |
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Downflo Oval (DFO) 4-80 | Cartridge Dust Collector | Welding (Source Capture) |
Welding fumes can be toxic so you want to make sure you are taking precautions. Using fume extraction like this Easy Trunk Collector from Donaldson can help keep those toxic fumes out of your lungs.
This video is used with permission from Weld.com. The views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the original creators and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Donaldson.
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Donaldson Torit's broad range of collectors and filters gives the customers interviewed in this video exactly what they need for dust, fume and mist collection.