Article: Determining Total Cost of Ownership of Your Dust Collector Filters

Many of you may have an existing dust collector and have a need to replace or add an additional collector to a new process or application. A recent article in the 2011 Q4 issue of SprayTime, a quarterly magazine published by the International Thermal Spray Association (ITSA), addresses ways of determining your true cost of ownership. To most facilities a replacement filter is just a commodity and the cheapest priced filter is often purchased. So how much does that filter really cost you in the long run?

There are so many things to be considered when deciding on the true cost of a dust collector replacement filter. Emission thresholds, dust size and shape, energy, disposal, and even maintenance costs to name a few. This four page article is full information that can assist you in making informed decisions when it comes time to replace your dust collector filters.

You can visit the ITSA website, get a free subscription to the magazine, or download the PDF file of the complete issue and article from the highlighted links.

FAQ: When Choosing a Dust Collector, Is There an Advantage to Using Vertical Filters Versus Horizontal Style Filters?

We have covered many topics over the last few weeks for you to consider when purchasing a dust collection system. Our goal is to provide you with the information and tools necessary for you to make the best decision for your application. This week we explore the pros and cons of horizontal filters versus vertical dust collector filters. Something as simple as how a filter is installed or mounted in a collector whether vertical or horizontal can have a major impact on both safety and performance.

A horizontal filter has a tendency for dust to build up on the top side of the filter. This reduces the efficiency of the filter and can also increase the chance for a fire from a spark. Bridging as it is commonly called is when the build up of dust on the top of a filter is thick enough to reach a filter above it as seen in the photo. You can read more of the comparisons through this link:

When choosing a dust collector, is there an advantage to using vertical filters versus horizontal style filters?

Article: Good Housekeeping for Five Problem Areas

A recent article in EHS Today magazine covers some important information regarding keeping you facility clean and organized and give you greater compliance with environmental, health and safety regulations. You will notice many of the recent governmental agencies mentioned have been discussed in our blog updates.

Among the areas explored are spills and liquids, dust, clutter, and lack of a housekeeping plan. Planning around production schedules and keeping the proper cleaning tools is a necessity.

You can read the full article by Karen Hamel here Good Housekeeping for Five Problem Areas

Article: Five Ways New Explosion Venting Requirements For Dust Collectors Affect You

We have mentioned government agencies like OSHA, EPA, and the US Chemical and Safety Board in some of our previous blog updates. There is one more agency that you should be familiar with and it is known as the National Fire Protection Agency. The NFPA was established in 1896, with a mission to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.

The NFPA develops, publishes, and disseminates more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks. It is one of these standards that could influence your dust collection decision or may concern the system you may already have in place. NFPA 68: STANDARD ON EXPLOSION PROTECTION BY DEFLAGRATION VENTING

Reading and understanding this standard can be overwhelming to some, but an article that appeared in Powder & Bulk Magazine may offer some help. The article by experts Lee Morgan and Tony Supine will help you better understand the changes in this revised standard and how it will affect your dust collection choices now as well as the future.

You can read and download a PDF of the full article here Five Ways New Explosion Venting Requirements For Dust Collectors Affect You.