What to Look for in a Weld Fume Extraction System

All forms of welding create fumes that pose exposure hazards. You can greatly reduce exposure levels by properly ventilating the workspace. Don`t assume that using a fan, opening a window, or even welding outside will adequately protect your welders. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) prefers Industrial Fume Extractor (also called dust or fume collectors) over natural ventilation for their ability to capture fumes near the source, before contaminants are dispersed throughout the facility.
While each welding facility is unique, the following questions will help you select the most appropriate Fume Extraction System for your operation.
You need to determine the duty cycle of your operation and the volume of particulates your Industrial Dust Collectors will need to handle. Do you operate 24/7 or weld for eight straight hours during a normal workday? If so, you will likely produce a higher level of weld fume particulate and want to consider fume extractors that run continuously, have self-cleaning mechanisms, and also have long-lasting filters to minimize downtime. Robotic welding will also produce a large amount of weld fume with the same requirements.
On the other hand, if you do mostly manual welding and use the weld stations only on an intermittent basis, the ideal option may be a small Mobile Fume Extractors. This equipment can be turned on and off depending on demand.
This equipment draws in contaminated air, filters out particulates, and exhausts filtered air outdoors or possibly back indoors. Particles that settle out in the Extractor are collected in waste containers.