Dust Collectors and Sustainability

Are you green conscious? You don't have to compromise when faced with buying dust collection equipment for your factory. Ask about the environmental benefits of the dust collector you're considering. By definition, these systems are designed to stop thousands of different pollutants from entering the workspace air and the outside air. Well-built equipment that lasts will create less waste over time. Some high efficiency filters in the dust collector can last twice as long as others, which contributes to sustainability while saving energy. Even the paint used on a dust collector can be contribute to sustainability. The powder paint process is environmentally friendly, emitting no VOCs to atmosphere. Furthermore, premium efficiency fans provide optimum energy efficiency. For further information, download a PDF brochure on sustainability and dust collection here.

What are the biggest misconceptions manufacturers have relative to their OSHA responsibilities related to combustible dust?

The biggest misconception among manufacturers is that OSHA is just presenting them with a guideline, not with something they have to do. The fact is, OSHA is beefing up enforcement of safety measures on several fronts, and combustible dust has become one of the top priorities since the agency re-issued its National Emphasis Program (NEP) on this topic in March 2008.

Under the OSHA NEP, manufacturers are required to follow applicable NFPA standards including the revamped NFPA 68 Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting, which provides mandatory requirements for dust collection applications involving explosive dusts. Sometimes other safety standards such as Factory Mutual may be applied instead, but these are no less stringent than NFPA and all are treated as legal code by nearly every town and county in the U.S.

For additional information, read the article, Five Ways New Explosion Venting Requirements For Dust Collectors Affect You. The article can be downloaded as a PDF.

Case Study: Powder Paint Process Requires Efficient Dust Collection

You may ask what the porpoise was in setting up Dolphins Coatings with this cartridge dust collector after their cyclone went up in flames. This company was in need of a complete filtration system that not only removed dirty air but also filtered the air before it was placed in the atmosphere. The challenges here were a lack of floor space and the air volume required by the booth manufacturer, which was 12,000 m³/h.

Click here to read the solution to this challenge. Oh, and sorry about the porpoise thing...